TikTok is packed with claims that high levels of cortisol are responsible for everything from sudden weight gain to fatigue and the way your face looks. With that, it’s understandable to wonder where your own cortisol levels stand. In case you’re not familiar with it, cortisol is a hormone made by your adrenal glands which are two small glands that sit above your kidneys. Cortisol influences nearly every organ and tissue in the body, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. This hormone helps your body respond to stress, reduces inflammation in the body, manages blood sugar and metabolism and controls your blood pressure, among other things.
Having cortisol levels that are too high or too low can be a sign of an underlying health issue. But doctors say that there are limits to what cortisol testing can tell you—and that’s why they don’t recommend picking up an online cortisol test. Here’s what they want you to know… To read the full story.