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Cortisol and Thyroid

Meaning

Cortisol and Thyroid refers to the essential, reciprocal neuroendocrine relationship between the glucocorticoid hormone cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands, and the metabolic hormones T3 and T4, produced by the thyroid gland. This dynamic interplay is fundamental to regulating the body’s metabolism, energy balance, and systemic response to stress. Clinical practice recognizes that chronic stress leading to sustained hypercortisolemia can directly impair thyroid function, often manifesting as reduced conversion of T4 to the active T3, a state sometimes termed functional hypothyroidism. Optimal hormonal health requires a harmonious balance between these two major regulatory axes, the HPA and the HPT.