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Our body runs smoothly thanks to hormones, chemicals that influence everything from mood to metabolism. They ride in our blood, steering the functions of organs and tissues to maintain our system in equilibrium. These include cortisol and cortisone, two compounds with varying roles vital for promoting health.
What is Cortisol?
Cortisol hormone is a steroid hormone released by the adrenal glands, just above the kidneys. Known popularly as the stress hormone cortisol, it’s crucial for how our body responds to stress. Cortisol regulates crucial processes of the body, including metabolism, immune function and blood pressure.
Metabolism
Cortisol sustains our energy by regulating glucose levels. It metabolizes glycogen stores in our liver when we’re hungry, or the going gets tough.
Anti-inflammatory Effects
Cortisol inhibits inflammation by dampening our immune response. This property protects our body from damage from excess inflammation, especially during injury or illness.
Blood Pressure Regulation
The adrenal hormone cortisol can influence blood pressure by making blood vessels more responsive to another hormone, adrenaline. Cortisol hormone regulates blood pressure during a stressful situation.
Cortisol levels change throughout the day, following a natural rhythm—they are highest early in the morning, helping us wake up, and drop gradually by evening.
Medical Uses of Cortisol
Synthetic forms of the cortisol hormone — including prednisone and hydrocortisone — are prescribed to treat inflammation and to manage autoimmune disorders like arthritis, asthma and life-threatening allergic reactions.
How to regulate your cortisol levels: Cortisol levels must be maintained for physical health, mental clarity, and emotional stability. Say the cortisol level stays elevated too long. In such cases, you can develop problems, including anxiousness, insomnia and even impaired immunity. High cortisol symptoms can include difficulty sleeping, gaining weight and being tired all the time.
What is Cortisone?
What is cortisone? It’s a hormone the adrenal glands produce, chemically related to cortisol. Cortisone itself is not active—it’s converted into cortisol in the liver, where it becomes active.
Cortisone uses focuses on reducing inflammation, most often by injecting cortisone directly into the painful joints in arthritis treatment. It’s a very effective treatment for localized pain and swelling localized.
Key Differences Between Cortisol & Cortisone
| Aspect | Cortisol | Cortisone |
| Biological Roles | Primary stress hormone; affects metabolism, immunity, blood pressure | Precursor to cortisol; anti-inflammatory effects |
| Origin | Produced directly by adrenal glands | Produced as a precursor, converts to cortisol |
| Conversion | Directly active | Converted into active cortisol in the liver |
| Medical Applications | Synthetic forms treat autoimmune, allergic conditions | Used in injections for localized inflammation |
| Circadian Rhythm | Peaks in early morning | Levels depend on cortisol conversion |
1. Biological Roles:
Cortisol and cortisone are chemically related C21 steroid hormones with similar chemical structures. They convert from one to the other via an enzyme known as 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD). This enzyme, found in liver, fat, and brain tissues, regulates the conversion process. In certain organs, cortisol is converted to cortisone (inactive) to control activity and maintain cortisol levels. In contrast, cortisone can be activated to cortisol (the active form) in the body when it’s needed, particularly with stress or inflammation.
2. Origin:
- Cortisol: A hormone by the adrenal glands, especially in stress response.
- Cortisone: Another adrenal gland product, though primarily a prohormone to cortisol.
3. Conversion:
- Cortisol: Directly active and does not need conversion.
- Cortisone: Metabolized in the liver by the enzyme 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 to cortisol.
4. Medical Applications:
- Cortisol: Synthetic versions (prednisone, hydrocortisone) are used to treat inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases and allergies.
- Cortisone: Common cortisone uses include giving it as injections to treat inflammatory joint conditions.
5. Circadian Rhythm:
- Cortisol: Has circadian rhythm, highest in the early morning, and gradually declines over the day.
- Cortisone: Its levels depend on general body levels of cortisol.
Cortisone side effects: Common cortisone side effects are weight gain, mood changes and high blood sugar levels. Understanding cortisone side effects is important since long-term use may alter your body’s natural hormonal homeostasis.
The Biological Relationship Between Cortisol and Cortisone
Cortisol and cortisone are steroid hormones that differ by only one chemical group. They can convert into each other via the enzyme 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) in the liver, fat and brain. In certain tissues, cortisol turns into cortisone (inactive form) to help regulate the responses of composition within the body. Cortisone can be turned back into cortisol (active form) when necessary — especially during stress or inflammation. This transformation will keep the body at optimum cortisol production to help control the inflammatory response and stress levels.
How These Hormones Are Related to a Person’s Health & Wellness?
Cortisol and cortisone balance is crucial to health. Chronic stress causes increased cortisol levels, which can be detrimental to overall well-being.
Chronic stress, poor sleep and unhealthy lifestyle choices — all contribute to high cortisol levels and can influence your day-to-day lifestyle. Finding the triggers that lead to elevated cortisol levels in your body is the first step towards improving your health by better managing stress.
How to manage cortisol levels? Get help from an expert. A Health and wellness coach teaches confidential techniques and strategies to manage stress and keep cortisol levels (which reduce the immune response) low. Lifestyle changes like a healthy diet, exercise initiatives, and good sleep can greatly influence the balance of hormones. Health and Wellness Coaches work on simple daily techniques that help reduce stress, which improves mental and physical health.
