EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Cortisol is ordinarily anti-inflammatory and contains the immune response, but chronic elevations can lead to the immune system becoming “resistant, ” an accumulation of stress hormones, and increased production of inflammatory cytokines that further compromise the immune response [18].

Detailed explanation-2: -Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or harmful in a fight-or-flight situation. It alters immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes.

Detailed explanation-3: -Risk for upper respiratory viral infection increases with increasing basal cortisol. Higher basal cortisol is associated with more days of viral shedding. Basal cortisol is unrelated to severity of clinical illness subsequent to infection.

Detailed explanation-4: -Too much cortisol can cause some of the hallmark signs of Cushing syndrome-a fatty hump between your shoulders, a rounded face, and pink or purple stretch marks on your skin. Cushing syndrome can also result in high blood pressure, bone loss and, on occasion, type 2 diabetes.