You’ve probably heard the word cortisol thrown around lately, maybe on TikTok or Instagram. It is usually coupled with things like adrenal fatigue, burnout, or someone casually diagnosing themselves with high cortisol after a stressful week.
And while it’s great that more people are talking about the impact of stress on their health, elevated cortisol is not just another wellness trend. It’s something we’ve been addressing at R3 Health since the very beginning. (Seriously, check out our blog from 2018!)
So… What Is Cortisol Anyway?
Cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone, released by the adrenal glands in response to things like a looming deadline, an intense workout, or not sleeping enough. It helps regulate your blood sugar, metabolism, inflammation, and even your ability to stay alert and focused.
In small doses, it’s helpful. But when cortisol stays elevated for too long, it starts to work against you.
Why Everyone’s Talking About Elevated Cortisol
Right now, we’re in a cultural moment where stress and burnout are everywhere. People are exhausted, wired, not sleeping well, constantly reaching for caffeine or sugar to get through the day—and they’re finally realizing that it’s not just in their head. Cortisol is often the missing piece.
At R3 Health, we’ve seen firsthand how chronically elevated cortisol levels can contribute to:
- Brain fog and forgetfulness.
- Stubborn fat that won’t seem to go away.
- Sleep Dysfunction, which can be either having a hard time falling asleep or waking up abruptly at 3:00AM.
- Low libido
- Mood swings, anxiety, and irritability
- Systemic inflammation
If your cortisol levels are consistently elevated, over time you have a much higher likelihood of developing hormonal imbalance, thyroid dysfunction, insulin resistance, and more.
This Isn’t A Fad at R3 Health
While cortisol might be having its social media moment, it’s been a pillar of functional medicine since day one. At R3 Health, we’ve been helping clients get to the root cause of stress-related symptoms long before it became a trending topic. We use advanced diagnostic testing (like salivary or DUTCH cortisol panels), clinical expertise, and personalized treatment plans to help support your body’s response to biological stress.
How We Help You Lower Cortisol at R3 Health
We take a comprehensive approach to healing the body from chronic stress. That includes:
- Lab Testing: To understand where your cortisol curve is spiking or crashing.
- IV Therapy: Specific IV formulations that support adrenal function and help your body respond effectively to stress.
- Supplements: L-Theanine is going to be your best friend as we work on calming the body down. We also have Adrenal Plus that helps modulate the adrenal gland, calming it down when it is in overdrive.
- Peptides + Bioidentical Hormones: Restore balance where chronic stress has depleted key hormones like DHEA or testosterone.
- Lifestyle Guidance: Nutritional support, movement recommendations, and breathwork or mindfulness strategies.
- Sleep Optimization: Including wearables, data tracking, and personalized support so you wake up feeling rested (finally). If you don’t have a wearable device, our patients get 25% off of Oura Rings! Sleep tracking is so useful as we work on regulating your cortisol levels.
Cortisol isn’t necessarily the enemy.
But if it’s running the show 24/7, it can keep your body stuck in survival mode—tired, anxious, and inflamed. The good news? You’re not stuck like this.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or just not like yourself lately, we can help you get back to balance. Managing cortisol isn’t a fad—it’s a foundation of long-term health.
Think you might be affected by elevated cortisol? Let’s work together to help you feel grounded, energized, and in control again.
