Cortisol (Society for Endocrinology, You & Your Hormones)

Tier 1: Established: peer-reviewed research or government health authority
Publisher: Society for Endocrinology (You & Your Hormones) · Published: September 17, 2026 · Accessed: September 17, 2026

Visit the source ↗

Claims this source supports

• Cortisol is a steroid hormone made in the cortex of the adrenal glands and released into the blood; almost every cell has cortisol receptors, so its actions are broad.
• Blood cortisol normally varies through the day (higher on waking, falling later) - a diurnal rhythm - and extra cortisol is released in response to stress to help the body respond appropriately.
• Cortisol secretion is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis with negative feedback; prolonged high cortisol is a recognised clinical condition (Cushing's syndrome), not an everyday state.