Cortisol Drip Destroys Soft Tissue

 What is Cortisol? From the Cleveland Clinic

Before we get into the science portion of this teaching, it is imperative to find the cause of excessive cortisol because of the destruction it does to our physical health.  I call it cortisol drip (hypercortisolism).  Meaning, it is a perpetual drip affecting all soft tissue.  Science and doctors don’t know the cause of cortisol drip or how to stop cortisol drip.  It is amazing how cortisol affects so much of the body.  The Bible gives us scripture to help explain excessive cortisol drip and how to be healed. That will be explained at the end of the science part of this teaching.  It is mind blowing why excessive cortisol secretion is not discussed much not only in the science and the medical field, but especially how it pertains to what the Bible tells us about what causes cortisol drip.  Just what the enemy wants.

Cortisol

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that your adrenal glands produce and release.  Hormones are chemicals that coordinate different functions in your body by carrying messages through your blood to your organs, skin, muscles and other tissues. These signals tell your body what to do and when to do it.

Glucocorticoids are a type of steroid hormone. They suppress inflammation in all of your bodily tissues and control metabolism in your muscles, fat, liver and bones. Glucocorticoids also affect sleep-wake cycles.

Your adrenal glands, also known as suprarenal glands, are small, triangle-shaped glands that are located on top of each of your two kidneys. They’re a part of your endocrine system.

Cortisol is an essential hormone that affects almost every organ and tissue in your body. It plays many important roles, including:

• Regulating your body’s stress response.
• Helps control your body’s use of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, or your metabolism.
• Suppressing inflammation.
• Regulating blood pressure.
• Regulating blood sugar.
• Helps control your sleep-wake cycle.

Your body continuously monitors your cortisol levels to maintain steady levels (homeostasis). Higher-than-normal or lower-than-normal cortisol levels can be harmful to your health.

Is cortisol a stress hormone?

Cortisol is widely known as the “stress hormone” or a “fight or flight hormone” which secrets when confronted with a trauma. However, it has many important effects and functions throughout your body aside from regulating your body’s stress response.

It’s also important to remember that, biologically speaking, there are multiple different kinds of stress, including:

• Acute stress: Acute stress happens when you’re in sudden danger (fight or flight) within a short period of time. For example, barely avoiding a car accident or being chased by an animal are situations that cause acute stress.
• Chronic stress: Chronic (long-term) stress happens when you experience ongoing situations that cause frustration or anxiety. For example, having a difficult or frustrating job or having a chronic illness can cause chronic stress.
• Traumatic stress: Traumatic stress happens when you experience a life-threatening event that induces fear and a feeling of helplessness. For example, experiencing an extreme weather event, such as a tornado, or experiencing war or sexual assault can cause traumatic stress. In some cases, these events can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Your body releases cortisol when you experience any of these types of stress.

What does cortisol do to the body?

Almost all tissues in your body have glucocorticoid receptors. Because of this, cortisol can affect nearly every organ system in your body, including:

• Nervous system.
• Immune system.
• Cardiovascular system.
• Respiratory system.
• Reproductive systems (female and male).
• Musculoskeletal system.
• Integumentary system (skin, hair, nails, glands and nerves).

More specifically, cortisol affects your body in the following ways:

• Regulating your body’s stress response: During times of stress, your body can release cortisol after releasing its “fight or flight” hormones, such as adrenaline, so you continue to stay on high alert. In addition, cortisol triggers the release of glucose (sugar) from your liver for fast energy during times of stress.
• Regulating metabolism: Cortisol helps control how your body uses fats, proteins and carbohydrates for energy.
• Suppressing inflammation: In short spurts, cortisol can boost your immunity by limiting inflammation. However, if you have consistently high levels of cortisol, your body can get used to having too much cortisol in your blood, which can lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system.
• Regulating blood pressure: The exact way in which cortisol regulates blood pressure in humans is unclear. However, elevated levels of cortisol can cause high blood pressure, and lower-than-normal levels of cortisol can cause low blood pressure.
• Increasing and regulating blood sugar: Under normal circumstances, cortisol counterbalances the effect of insulin, a hormone your pancreas makes, to regulate your blood sugar. Cortisol raises blood sugar by releasing stored glucose, while insulin lowers blood sugar. Having chronically high cortisol levels can lead to persistent high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). This can cause Type 2 diabetes.
• Helping to control your sleep-wake cycle: Under regular circumstances, you have lower cortisol levels in the evening when you go to sleep and peak levels in the morning right before you wake up. This suggests that cortisol plays a significant role in the initiation of wakefulness and plays a part in your body’s circadian rhythm.

Optimum cortisol levels are necessary for life and for maintaining several bodily functions. If you have consistently high or low cortisol levels, it can have negative impacts on your overall health.

How does my body control cortisol levels?

Your body has an elaborate system to regulate your cortisol levels.

Your hypothalamus, a small area of your brain involved in hormonal regulation, and your pituitary gland, a tiny gland located below your brain, regulate the production of cortisol in your adrenal glands. When the levels of cortisol in your blood fall, your hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which directs your pituitary gland to produce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH then stimulates your adrenal glands to produce and release cortisol.  In order to have optimal levels of cortisol in your body, your hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal glands must all be functioning properly.

What tests can check cortisol levels?

Healthcare providers can measure your cortisol levels through blood, urine (pee) or saliva (spit) tests. They will determine which test is best depending on your symptoms.

What causes high levels of cortisol?

Experiencing abnormally high levels of cortisol (hypercortisolism) for an extended period of time is usually considered Cushing’s syndrome, which is a rare condition. Causes of higher-than-normal cortisol levels and Cushing’s syndrome include:

• Taking large amounts of corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone, prednisolone or dexamethasone, for treatment of other conditions.
• Tumors that produce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). These are usually found in your pituitary gland. More rarely, neuroendocrine tumors in other parts of your body such as your lungs can cause high cortisol levels.
• Adrenal gland tumors or excessive growth of adrenal tissue (hyperplasia), which cause excess production of cortisol.

What are the symptoms of high cortisol levels?

The symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome depend on how elevated your cortisol levels are. Common signs and symptoms of higher-than-normal cortisol levels include:

• Weight gain, especially in your face and abdomen.
• Fatty deposits between your shoulder blades.
• Wide, purple stretch marks on your abdomen (belly).
• Muscle weakness in your upper arms and thighs.
• High blood sugar, which often turns into Type 2 diabetes. 
• High blood pressure (hypertension).
• Weak bones (osteoporosis) and fractures.
• Soft tissue cell destruction

What causes low levels of cortisol?

Having lower-than-normal cortisol levels (hypocortisolism) is considered adrenal insufficiency. There are two types of adrenal insufficiency: primary and secondary. The causes of adrenal insufficiency include:

• Primary adrenal insufficiency: Primary adrenal insufficiency is most commonly caused by an autoimmune reaction in which your immune system attacks healthy cells in your adrenal glands for no known reason. This is called Addison’s disease. Your adrenal glands can also become damaged from an infection or blood loss to the tissues (adrenal hemorrhage). All of these situations limit cortisol production.
• Secondary adrenal insufficiency: If you have an underactive pituitary gland (hypopituitarism) or a pituitary tumor, it can limit ACTH production. ACTH signals your adrenal glands to make cortisol, so limited ACTH results in limited cortisol production.

You can also have lower-than-normal cortisol levels after stopping treatment with corticosteroid medications, especially if you stop taking them very quickly after a long period of use.

What are the symptoms of low cortisol levels?

Symptoms of lower-than-normal cortisol levels, or adrenal insufficiency, include:

• Fatigue.
• Unintentional weight loss.
• Poor appetite.
• Low blood pressure (hypotension).

How can I reduce my cortisol levels?

If you have Cushing’s syndrome (very high levels of cortisol) you’ll need medical treatment to lower your cortisol levels. Treatment usually involves medication and/or surgery. You’ll also need medical treatment if you have lower-than-normal cortisol levels.

When should I see my doctor about my cortisol levels?

If you experience symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome or adrenal insufficiency, contact your healthcare provider.

If you’re concerned about your daily stress levels, talk to your provider about steps you can take to minimize your stress and stay healthy.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Cortisol is an essential hormone that impacts several aspects of your body. While there are several things you can do to try to limit your stress, and therefore manage your cortisol levels, sometimes having abnormally high or low levels of cortisol is out of your control.

If you experience symptoms of high or low cortisol levels, such as weight gain or loss and high or low blood pressure, respectively, it’s important to contact your healthcare provider. They can run some simple tests to see if your adrenal glands or pituitary gland are responsible for your symptoms.

Soft Tissue Damage

High levels of cortisol can damage soft tissue, particularly by inhibiting the production of collagen, a key protein responsible for tissue structure and repair, leading to thinner, more fragile skin and potentially impaired wound healing when cortisol levels are chronically elevated; essentially, excessive cortisol can weaken connective tissue throughout the body, making soft tissues more susceptible to damage. 

Science - Key points about cortisol and soft tissue damage: 

• Collagen breakdown:

Cortisol suppresses the activity of fibroblasts, cells responsible for producing collagen, resulting in reduced collagen synthesis and weakened connective tissue. 

• Skin thinning:

Chronic stress-induced cortisol elevation can lead to a thinning of the skin, making it more prone to bruising and damage. 

• Impaired wound healing:

High cortisol levels can interfere with the normal inflammatory response necessary for wound healing, leading to slower recovery times. 

• Muscle breakdown:

While cortisol helps mobilize energy during stress, sustained high levels can contribute to muscle wasting. 

How cortisol affects nerves

• Sensitizes nerves: Cortisol can sensitize peripheral nerves, which can cause pain even when there's no nerve injury. 
• Binds nerve endings: Cortisol can bind to nerve endings, which can cause pain. 
• Causes brain cell death: High levels of cortisol can cause brain cells to die. 

How cortisol affects other parts of the body

• Causes inflammation: Cortisol can cause inflammation, which can lead to muscle tension and pain. 
• Causes bone loss: Cortisol can cause bone loss by negatively affecting bone remodeling. 
• Causes metabolic changes: Cortisol can cause metabolic changes like diabetes and osteoporosis. 
• Affects the immune system: Cortisol can affect the immune system by inducing apoptosis of proinflammatory T cells. 

Can Excessive Cortisol Affect White T Cells?

Excessive cortisol can significantly impair the function and reduce the number of white blood cells, including T cells, effectively "destroying" their ability to fight infection by suppressing the immune system when levels remain elevated for a prolonged period; this is why chronic stress, which leads to high cortisol, can make you more susceptible to illness. 

Key points about cortisol and white blood cells: 

• Immune suppression:

High cortisol levels can suppress the immune system by inhibiting the activity and proliferation of T cells, a key type of white blood cell responsible for adaptive immune responses. 

• Mechanism:

Cortisol interferes with the signaling pathways that regulate T cell activation and migration, preventing them from effectively responding to pathogens. 

• Chronic stress impact:

Prolonged stress leading to sustained high cortisol levels can have the most detrimental effect on immune function, making individuals more vulnerable to infections

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What Does the Bible Say About the Cause of Cortisol Drip?

As I said at the begging I will show the root cause of excessive cortisol drip from a biblical perspective.  There is a mind-body correlation involved.   Your body is a responder to who you are in thought.  It’s referred to as the min-body connection.  It’s not anything new to a believer.  God already told us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23:7. God knew what He was talking about. It’s a biological truth that the things we think about and dwell on actually become part of who we are physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  We will never get to the spiritual roots of disease if we don’t first understand the biology of how our minds affect our bodies.

Key word is Bitterness.  Every bitterness will have an offense, rejection, self-rejection, self-hatred, feeling unloved, anger and unforgiveness tied to it.   Bitterness can lead to intense antagonism or hostility toward others. Holding on to angry feelings, being offended, and breaking out in anger at any moment.  Bitterness is like acid (excessive cortisol drip) that destroys your physical body (soft tissue) leading to sickness and disease.  Bitterness destroys the immune system.  It causes inflammation and pain.

Note the four scripture components below – Bitterness, Dry Bones, Envy/Jealousy, and Forgiveness.

Bitterness

Proverbs 14:10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy.

Ezekiel 3:14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.

Ephesians 41:32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Hebrews 12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble (health issues), and by this many become defiled.

Romans 3:13-14 “Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues (slander, gossip), they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps (venomous snakes) is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing (bad mouthing) and bitterness.”

Dry Bones

Psalm 32:3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning (illness) all the day long.

Psalm 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin (anger/bitterness).

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones (bone marrow-white T cells that fight off immune disease).

Lamentations 3:4 He has aged my flesh and my skin, and broken my bones.

Envy and Jealousy

Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.

James 3:14-16 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Forgiveness

How do we counter bitterness

Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  The scripture is key to healing.