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Suggest Treatment For Sustained High Cortisol Levels
Question: How can you calm down an overactive immune system that produces way too much cortisol? I have been diagnosed with extreme mold sensitivity which causes stuffy nose, brain fog, lightheadedness, shaky, difficulty concentrating. Some days I feel much better than others, have noticed already got sick at customers house while working there. Use a saline nasal rinse 1-4 times a day which really helps, but problem continues to come back thruout day depending on what I do, etc. At church there is black mold and I feel sick, sleepy, etc. while there and it lasts through the next day or so.
Brief Answer:
Cortisol
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry to note your troubling symptoms.
There is an uncommon medical condition associated with excess cortisol production and it is called Cushing's disease. Here the excessive cortisol makes one prone to infections as the cortisol actually has a suppressive effect on the immune system. So it is contrary to what you are expecting.
In order to check if your body is making too much cortisol, there are several ways to proceed with a screening test. One of them is a Midnight Salivary cortisol, provided you have conventional work-sleep pattern ie you go to bed at night and wake up in the mornings as opposed to,for example, shift work.
When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:
CBC
Electrolytes
Calcium
HbA1c
Liver function tests
Kidney function tests
TSH
25 hydroxy Vitamin D
This is because many of your symptoms could potentially be caused by other conditions such as thyroid problem for instance.
Cortisol
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry to note your troubling symptoms.
There is an uncommon medical condition associated with excess cortisol production and it is called Cushing's disease. Here the excessive cortisol makes one prone to infections as the cortisol actually has a suppressive effect on the immune system. So it is contrary to what you are expecting.
In order to check if your body is making too much cortisol, there are several ways to proceed with a screening test. One of them is a Midnight Salivary cortisol, provided you have conventional work-sleep pattern ie you go to bed at night and wake up in the mornings as opposed to,for example, shift work.
When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:
CBC
Electrolytes
Calcium
HbA1c
Liver function tests
Kidney function tests
TSH
25 hydroxy Vitamin D
This is because many of your symptoms could potentially be caused by other conditions such as thyroid problem for instance.
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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