A person with low cortisol might first experience gradual, mild symptoms like low blood pressure, low blood sugar, and weight loss. It is also not uncommon for the individual to feel depressed, irritable, and very fatigued. Diarrhea, weakness, and pain in the joints are also common. The symptoms of low cortisol often go unnoticed at first because they tend to be very non-specific. The sufferer will likely believe that these problems are related to some other temporary condition and may not seek medical attention until more severe symptoms begin.
When levels of cortisol reach critically low levels, life-threatening symptoms might develop. These include dangerously low blood pressure levels, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. In most cases, these severe symptoms occur all at once with little warning. If medical attention is not received immediately, it is possible that the individual may die. When these severe symptoms of low cortisol occur, it is often referred to as an Addisonian crisis, which is the most dangerous stage of Addison's disease, the most common cause of low cortisol.
Addison's disease normally affects people between the ages of 30 to 50, and it occurs because the body's immune system begins to attack the adrenal cortex. Cortisol is made inside the adrenal gland, and when a person has this disease, he or she can not produce this hormone in adequate amounts. It is very important for a person's body to have enough cortisol because it keeps the blood pressure and blood sugar levels regulated. Cortisol also acts as an anti-inflammatory throughout the entire body.
It is a good idea for anyone experiencing symptoms of low cortisol to seek medical attention as soon as possible to decrease the chances of more severe symptoms occurring. Diagnosing a person with Addison's disease typically involves a variety of tests to measure the levels of cortisol in the blood. If a person is diagnosed with Addison's disease, he or she will typically begin treatment right away, often with hormone replacement. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Addison's disease, and a person who is diagnosed will have to take the hormones indefinitely to avoid life-threatening complications. As long as medications are taken regularly, however, the disease can typically be managed.