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Cortisol – the central stress hormone

Cortisol and Burnout – Causes, Symptoms & Prevention

Cortisol burnout is a term that is increasingly mentioned in connection with chronic stress and exhaustion. But what is cortisol, and how is it related to burnout? In this article, you will learn how the stress hormone cortisol works in the body, what happens during a burnout, and how you can specifically prevent cortisol burnout.

Key messages on cortisol and burnout

💡 Cortisol is the body's stress hormone and affects energy and health.

💡 An imbalance can promote fatigue, sleep problems, and burnout.

💡 Blood tests help identify stress levels and take targeted action.

To the Burnout Check
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Cortisol and Stress in Everyday Life

In our fast-paced world, the demands on body and mind are constantly increasing, and many people feel increasingly overwhelmed and stressed. Chronic stress is one of the main triggers for the so-called burnout syndrome – an exhaustion crisis that can have serious health consequences in many cases. 

A central role in stress management is played by the hormone cortisol. But what is it, what is the cortisol level, and why is the cortisol value so important? In this article, we take a look at the function of cortisol, the importance of a healthy cortisol level, and the reference ranges used to assess this value. Additionally, we introduce other important values that contribute to stress and burnout diagnosis.

We also recommend the excellent article by AOK for more in-depth information: How Cortisol and Stress are Related as well as the article by Helios Health.

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What is Cortisol?  – An Overview of the Stress Hormone

Cortisol, often referred to as the "stress hormone", is produced in the adrenal cortex and plays a central role in responding to stressful situations. During periods of stress, cortisol levels rise to make the body alert and release energy reserves—an adaptation that was crucial for survival in human evolution to quickly respond to threats.

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Cortisol and Burnout — What Happens in the Body?

Burnout is far more than "just" stress – it is a  profound physical and mental exhaustion that is often closely associated with
a  disrupted cortisol level . A cortisol burnout occurs when the body releases too much cortisol over an extended period, causing an imbalance. What does cortisol do in the body? It provides short-term energy, alertness, and increased performance. However, with chronic stress, the cortisol level remains permanently elevated, which can lead to sleep disturbances, weight gain, concentration problems, and a
weakened immune defense.

What increases cortisol levels?

Various factors can increase the
cortisol level: persistent stress, lack of sleep, unhealthy diet,
lack of exercise, and certain illnesses.Also, psychological stress and
overstrain in everyday life are common triggers for an elevated
cortisol level and thus for the risk of cortisol burnout.

What happens during a burnout?

In a burnout, the cortisol level is
initially permanently elevated, which overloads the body. Over time,
the reserves are depleted, the cortisol level drops, leading to severe exhaustion,
lack of drive, and increased susceptibility to infections. The entire organism
becomes unbalanced.

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Cortisol Burnout — Values and Reference Ranges

Measurement Instructions

To properly interpret the cortisol level, it is important to know the natural fluctuations throughout the day. Cortisol follows a circadian rhythm that varies depending on the time of day.

In the morning, the cortisol level reaches its peak to activate the body for the day and enhance performance. Throughout the day, the level should gradually decrease so that it is low in the evening, helping the body to relax and fall asleep.

Disruptions of this rhythm – such as consistently elevated levels or a high cortisol level in the evening – can indicate chronic stress, burnout, or other stress-related conditions. Accurate measurement helps to detect these deviations early and take targeted countermeasures.

Reference ranges depending on the time of day

The cortisol level varies throughout the day and follows a natural rhythm. The reference values for healthy adults are:

Morning (7–9 AM): 200–700 nmol/L

Afternoon: 100–400 nmol/L

Evening: < 100 nmol/L

More about Cortisol

Suitable tests for cortisol, burnout, and stress

Burnout Stress Check

Regular Price €99,00
Sale Price €99,00 Regular Price €125,00

More than Cortisol!

A burnout check helps you recognize, understand, and act preventively on your body's warning signals early on. This way, you get to know your body and its limits better and stay fit in the long term. The burnout blood test from Probatix provides you with the necessary foundations for this:

  • Precise Stress Analysis: Measurement of cortisol, TSH (sensitive), magnesium, hemoglobin, folic acid, and transcobalamin to assess your stress levels and nutrient supply.
  • Early Detection: Identifies stress and nutrient deficiencies before they affect your health.
  • Convenient & Discreet: Sample collection easily from home – professionally evaluated.

Recognize potential stress burdens and gain valuable insights for your well-being.

Cortisol Test

Regular Price €39,00
Sale Price €39,00 Regular Price €55,00

How well does your body handle stress? Find out.

  • Precise Stress Analysis: Determining your cortisol levels to assess your stress response.
  • Early Detection: Identifies imbalances that may affect your energy and health.
  • Convenient & Flexible: Easy sampling from home with professional lab evaluation.

How to recognize if stress is already affecting your well-being.

Tip: Cortisol is also tested in our comprehensive Complete Check for Men and in our Complete Check for Women .

Too much cortisol – what to do? How to recognize symptoms

An imbalanced cortisol level – whether consistently elevated or too low – can affect the entire body. Since cortisol plays a key role in energy balance and stress management, imbalances often lead to symptoms that develop gradually and are easily overlooked or attributed to other health issues.

What does too much cortisol do to the body? The symptoms:

  • Chronic fatigue and exhaustion: Despite getting enough sleep, affected individuals feel constantly tired and lacking energy.
  • Weight gain, especially around the abdomen: Cortisol promotes fat storage, particularly in the abdominal area.
  • Sleep disturbances: An elevated cortisol level makes it difficult to fall or stay asleep, especially in the early morning hours.
  • Concentration and Memory Problems: High cortisol levels impair brain function and lead to concentration difficulties.
  • Mood Swings and Irritability: A disrupted cortisol level affects the neurotransmitters, which can lead to mood swings and irritability.
  • High Blood Pressure and Heart Palpitations: Cortisol increases heart rate and can raise blood pressure in the long term – a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. A lipid check can provide insights here.
  • Weakened Immune System and Allergies: A persistently elevated cortisol level weakens the immune system and increases susceptibility to infections.

Important: If you notice one or more of these symptoms, a cortisol test can provide valuable insights. Early diagnosis and targeted measures can effectively manage the effects of a disrupted cortisol level.

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Specific Symptoms in Women– What Does Cortisol Do in the Body?

An imbalanced cortisol level can cause additional or intensified symptoms in women that are closely related to hormonal fluctuations and the menstrual cycle.

Typical symptoms in women:

  • Irregular menstrual cycle or missed periods: A persistently high cortisol level affects the hormonal status and can lead to menstrual disorders.
  • Changes in skin health: Many women experience increased skin problems, such as acne or dry skin, with elevated cortisol.
  • Increased hair loss: Hormonal imbalances and persistent stress can lead to hair loss or thinning hair.
  • Stronger PMS symptoms: Women often report increased premenstrual complaints such as headaches, mood swings, and water retention.
  • Loss of libido: A disrupted cortisol level can affect sex hormones, such as testosterone, and decrease sexual interest.
  • Increased risk of osteoporosis: Long-term high cortisol levels can reduce bone density and thus increase the risk of osteoporosis, especially in women.

These symptoms illustrate how significantly the hormone cortisol can influence not only general health but also the female hormonal balance and well-being.An early check of cortisol levels offers women the opportunity to take targeted countermeasures and sustainably support their women's health. To the website of Yazen Health

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Other relevant values for burnout diagnosis besides cortisol levels

In addition to cortisol levels, there are other important blood values that provide insight into the body's stress load and exhaustion level:

  • Folic Acid: Folic acid is essential for cell regeneration and the production of neurotransmitters. A folic acid deficiency can contribute to exhaustion, cognitive impairments, and impaired stress management. Folic acid is also important for blood formation and the nervous system.
  • Transcobalamin (Vitamin B12 transport protein): Transcobalamin binds Vitamin B12 and transports it into the cells. A deficiency can lead to Vitamin B12 deficits, which impair the nervous system and cognitive function and promote symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings, and memory problems – symptoms often associated with burnout.
  • DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone): DHEA is a hormone that is also produced in the adrenal glands. A healthy DHEA level is important because an imbalance between DHEA and cortisol can indicate chronic stress.
  • CRP (C-reactive protein): An inflammation marker in the body. Chronic stress can lead to an increased tendency for inflammation, which can be measured by the CRP level.
  • Vitamin D: Vitamin D is important for the immune system and overall energy production. A  low vitamin D level  can contribute to fatigue and susceptibility to illnesses.
  • Blood sugar: Stress can increase blood sugar levels because cortisol boosts the body's glucose output. Prolonged elevated blood sugar can indicate chronic stress.
  • Thyroid values (TSH, T3, T4): Since the
    thyroid also responds to stress,  altered thyroid values can be a sign of body exhaustion. A simple thyroid check can help here.

By combining these values, the health status can be better assessed, and the connection between stress and physical condition can be determined more precisely.

Tests for Symptoms

Prevent Cortisol Burnout – Next Steps for Your Health

With Probatix, you can conveniently test your cortisol levels – either at home or directly at the pharmacy. The process is straightforward:

  1. Order a home-testing kit and have it delivered to your home.
  2. Collect the sample independently – quickly and easily.
  3. Receive results: Your values are reliably analyzed and provided online.

A cortisol test from Probatix helps you to recognize stress levels early and actively prevent burnout – without long waiting times or doctor visits.

Summary: Keep an eye on your health

A balanced cortisol level is crucial for your well-being and stress management.A permanently elevated or disrupted cortisol level can indicate chronic stress and increase the risk of burnout.

In addition to cortisol, other values such as DHEA, CRP, and Vitamin D are valuable indicators for assessing stress levels.

With Probatix, you can test these important blood values easily and reliably from home. This way, you can always keep an eye on your health and take targeted measures to lower your cortisol levels and sustainably improve your well-being.

To the Burnout Check

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions Cortisol and Burnout

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