Cortisol, the primary glucocorticoid hormone, plays a central role in the body's stress response and immune regulation. Released by the adrenal cortex via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis ...

New research suggests that the bias against darker skin tones does more than affect social standing; it physically alters the ...

A small spark of stress can ignite a firestorm, but it doesn’t have to. Give yourself an hour of "time out" and you will go from stressed to rest. You can design your own happy hour without alcohol or ...

Higher cortisol levels can raise blood sugar levels. This can happen because of stress, sleep irregularities, caffeine and alcohol, certain medications, and even times of the day. You may experience ...

Certain foods and drinks, like alcohol, fried foods and sweets, can raise cortisol levels. Eating these foods regularly may worsen stress, inflammation, blood sugar levels and sleep quality. Focus on ...

Cortisol is often referred to as the "stress hormone", but it plays many vital functions in our body, according to experts. However, too much cortisol can cause issues from trouble sleeping to mood ...

Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years of experience in consumer-facing health and wellness content. Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone.