The hormone cortisol

Long-term stress and strain on the body, due to factors such as excessive worrying, lack of sleep, and overworking for extended periods of time, can impair your immune system. The body experiences prolonged cortisol release to cope with the stress, which can be detrimental in the long run. Cortisol is a stress hormone produced in the adrenal glands that, together with the stress hormone adrenaline, helps cope with acute stress situations. It acutely enhances both mental and physical performance. However, when cortisol is produced in elevated levels for extended periods, it becomes destructive to the body.

Cortisol is necessary and vital as it regulates the body’s water, salt, fat, carbohydrate, and protein balance. It affects blood glucose levels and maintains blood pressure. Its levels vary in a circadian rhythm, with the highest levels in the morning to help us wake up and the lowest around 4 am. Cortisol also plays a vital, natural role in regulating the immune system, helping to dampen inflammatory processes, fight infections, and promote healing.

During periods of stress, the body produces extra cortisol to help cope with the situation. Cortisol breaks down proteins, fats, and sugars, breaking down tissues to raise blood sugar levels and increase the supply to the brain and muscles. If this process continues for a long time, it can have negative consequences and cause damage to our bodies. We may experience:

  • Sleep problems
  • High blood pressure
  • Muscle wasting
  • Hair loss
  • Fragile skin and mucous membranes
  • Impaired wound healing
  • Increased abdominal fat
  • Impaired thyroid function
  • Impaired cognitive ability
  • Most importantly, a weakened immune system which can lead to high blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.

Cortisone is a synthetic drug that is similar to cortisol and has the same effects. High and prolonged doses of cortisone treatment have negative effects on the body, just like cortisol. Depending on where the treatment is applied, it often affects the tissue locally. Cortisone is usually used to suppress inflammation.

What causes back pain?

New research shows that low back pain is caused by inflammation in the Fascia. But why are we getting low back pain and what happens in our body when we get back pain?

Fascia helps us understand the body as a whole

Look at a ballet dancer, a gymnast or a drummer and study their movement, feeling, timing, it is easy to be fascinated by how fast it is. Fascia helps us understand how the body is able to function in such an incredible way.

Stress and sugar harms fascia functions

What we do know for sure is that the abundance of sugar has a negative effect on the fascia and makes it less elastic. Stress also affects the fascia in a disadvantageous way

Fascia Lines are the intersections of the body

The concept of Fascia Lines is a great way to understand how the body functions and how treatment can be optimized to increase mobility and functionality. The main principle is that muscles, no matter what they do individually, also affect tissues throughout the entire body.

Are my problems related to Fascia?

Most of the questions we receive are about various issues and discomforts related to Fascia. How can Fascia represent a new way to treat and prevent problems?

The influence of mechanical forces on Fascia?

Connective tissue / fascia is an incredibly adaptable and plastic tissue. It is transformed, remodeled and strengthened or weakened according to the mechanical stimulation (load) to which it is exposed. If we don’t move, the tissue will diminish.

Is cancer fascia related? New insights presented in Boston 2015

New research leads to insights and by looking at the body in a completely new way we get new perspectives and explanations to symptoms and diseases. At the 2015 Joint Conference on Acupuncture, Oncology and Fascia in Boston, research was presented regarding Fascia and Cancer

Training for strengthened Fascia

Exercise increases collagen production in tendons, ligaments and all Fascia. To stimulate collagen formation in tendons and ligaments, it doesn’t matter if the exercise is eccentric (muscle contraction during extension) or concentric (muscle contraction during shortening).

Problems linked to Fascia

Fascia is a system of flexible connective tissue encapsulating everything in the body. If the system is running smoothly, all is fine, but when some parts become stiff, tense or inflamed, there will be consequences.

Fascia Research Database

Fascia research has sparked an ongoing global revolution in the anatomical research field. In The Fascia Guide Research Database we have gathered hundreds of research articles about fascia.

Can you heal osteoarthritis?

The function of the articular cartilage is to reduce friction between the two articular cartilage surfaces and facilitate sliding when the joint moves, and to absorb the load when the joint is exposed to pressure, compression

Why Fascia is still relatively unknown

Here are three major reasons why the Fascia’s central importance to the body’s functionality is not nousehold knowledge. It might be helpful to bare these in mind when relating to current and previous research.

Fascia loads and unloads pressure

What do we know about the Fascias function and what affects the Fascias ability to rebuild – and how can we use that knowledge in our everyday lives?

Growing interest in Fascia treatment: “Fascia problems are often under diagnosed”

David Lesondak is a structural integrator and a myofascial specialist who has been working for many years trying to explain what fascia is, as well as the benefits you get from treating different problems with fascia treatment. In an interview at the Fascia Research Congress in Berlin 2018, he describes the basics of what fascia is and what challenges it is facing in the strive for recognition in the medical field.

7 things you should now about Vitamin C

Vitamin C is good for the immune system, but did you know that it also supports tissue regeneration or that we use up 7 times more Vitamin C during stress?

How do we learn to understand Fascia?

Fascia is a new perspective, a completely new way of looking at the body, a new way of conducting research and a new way of understanding the world. So how do you learn to understand Fascia?

Fascia and The Living Body

“Fascia and the Living Body” is a document about the scientific understanding of the body as a living whole.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fascia

On the Fascia Guide FAQ we have gathered the most common questions and answers about Fascia. Is there anything you would like to know? Visit the page and submit your question.

Disease is excess oxidation

Diseases are an excess of oxidation – Redox physiology is an excess of oxidation greater than reduction.

The Fascia Guide Method

During the last couple of years we have developed a simple but powerful method of communication, used by hundreds of health professionals, to inspire their customers & improve relations.