Cortisol Evening

High levels of cortisol in the evening could indicate that your body is not following its normal rhythm of cortisol production, which could be due to a variety of factors. This could be a sign of conditions like Cushing's syndrome, which is characterized by the overproduction of cortisol, or it could be due to chronic stress, which can cause your adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol. Certain medications, such as corticosteroids or hormonal contraceptives, can also increase cortisol levels. Additionally, factors like poor sleep, excessive caffeine intake, or a high sugar diet can disrupt your body's natural cortisol rhythm and lead to elevated levels in the evening.

Symptoms of high levels of cortisol in the evening could include difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, fatigue, weight gain, mood swings, high blood pressure, and frequent urination.

Low levels of cortisol in the evening could indicate that your body isn't producing enough of this important hormone. This could be due to conditions like Addison's disease, which affects your adrenal glands' ability to produce cortisol. Certain medications, such as steroid drugs like prednisone, can also lower your cortisol levels. Chronic stress or fatigue can disrupt your body's natural cortisol rhythm, leading to lower levels in the evening. It's also possible that your body's internal clock, or circadian rhythm, is out of sync, causing a drop in cortisol production when it should be higher. Low cortisol levels can disrupt many of your body's functions, including its response to stress, blood sugar regulation, inflammation control, and memory formation.

Symptoms of low levels of evening cortisol may include chronic fatigue, low energy, unexplained weight loss, lightheadedness, and difficulty coping with stress. You may also experience low blood pressure, muscle weakness, mood swings, and an increased craving for salty foods.