Produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol helps to determine when your child goes to sleep, senses temperature changes and responds to stress. New studies have emerged finding a link between low or high cortisol levels and increased incidence of depression and obesity in teenagers. Understanding the symptoms or cortisol fluctuations may help your teen better respond to stress.
Function
Cortisol is a hormone found in the body that performs a number of functions, according to a news summary published by the Endocrine Society. These include converting fat, protein and carbohydrates into energy. Cortisol also is known as the "stress" hormone, meaning it controls some of the body functions that respond to stress. Cortisol levels have been studied in teenagers because this hormone can provide clues to the way a teenager's body responds to stress --- including weight gain and depression.
Symptoms
Your teen's cortisol level can be elevated or low. Signs cortisol levels are low includes weight loss, unexplained fatigue, stomach pain and muscle weakness, according to Lab Tests Online. Chronically low levels indicate the presence of a condition known as Addison's disease or adrenal insufficiency. Too much cortisol causes high blood sugar levels, obesity, thin skin, purple streaks on the abdomen and muscle and bone weakness. Excess cortisol also may cause teens to experience irregular menstrual periods and facial hair --- which can be especially difficult during the teen years. When levels are chronically high, this condition is known as Cushing's syndrome.
Testing
If your child's physician suspects your child may be suffering from a cortisol imbalance, he may recommend a test to measure cortisol levels. Cortisol can be determined via a blood, urine or saliva test, according to Lab Tests Online. Because stress can affect your teen's cortisol levels, it's important for your teen to be as relaxed as possible to ensure the readings are accurate.
Considerations
While chronic stress is often considered an adult problem, studies of children's cortisol levels are revealing teenagers experience elevated levels as well, according to the Endocrine Society. This is cause for concern because of how the body responds to stress --- by increasing heart rate, releasing glucose into the blood and more, according to the Franklin Institute. Functions the body does not consider essential also slow or shut down --- including the immune system, growth and reproduction. While stress is necessary to keep a teen safe from dangerous situations, chronic stress can lead to increased incidences of illness and weight gain.
Impact
A 2005 study led by Edith Chen and R. Murali published in the "Annals of Behavioral Medicine" found teenagers exposed to violence --- such as domestic abuse, fights at school or other violent acts --- were more likely to have higher incidences of cortisol in their body. The more violence the teens were exposed to, the greater the amount of cortisol in their bodies. This higher level of cortisol can affect teens for the rest of their lives, sometimes contributing to heart disease, according to Chen.
References
- "Annals of Behavioral Medicine"; Exposure to Violence and Cardiovascular and Neuroendocrine Measures in Adolescents; Murali, R. & Chen, E.; 2005
- The Endocrine Society: Symptoms of Depression in Obese Children Linked to Elevated Cortisol; P. Pervanidou; 2009.
- The Franklin Institute: Stress on the Brain
- Lab Tests Online: Cortisol
