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What Is ‘Cortisol Face’? What You Need to Know About This TikTok Trend

The AHA! Team — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 05:29:38 +0000

Joe Boland via Dr. Axe – “Cortisol face” is a term that’s gaining traction in the wellness world, particularly taking off on the social media platform TikTok, especially as more people recognize the visible impacts of stress on physical appearance. It describes facial puffiness or bloating potentially linked to elevated levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. In today’s fast-paced world, where stress can be nearly unavoidable, understanding cortisol face can help identify if lifestyle changes are needed to maintain both mental and physical well-being. This article dives in to what cortisol face is, its causes, how it differs from moon face and tips to manage it. What is cortisol face? Cortisol face refers to facial swelling or puffiness that can occur when cortisol levels are elevated for extended periods. It’s not an official diagnosis, and what many people may think is cortisol face may actually be a different medical issue, such as Cushing’s syndrome. However, stress and skin health are most definitely linked, as research has shown over and over again. Cortisol plays an essential role in managing stress Cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands, plays an essential role in managing stress, metabolism, inflammation and immune response. However, when stress becomes chronic, excess cortisol can cause a range of symptoms, including water retention and inflammation that can contribute to facial puffiness. People with cortisol face often notice swelling around the cheeks and jawline, and in severe cases, it can extend to the entire face. How common is it? Cortisol face isn’t necessarily common, but it may be more prevalent among individuals dealing with chronic stress, poor sleep or high workloads, all of which can elevate cortisol levels. High cortisol is also observed in individuals with specific medical conditions, such as Cushing’s syndrome, where the body overproduces cortisol. While not everyone with high cortisol will experience facial puffiness, those who are more prone to fluid retention or inflammation might be more likely to develop this symptom. Puffy skin and stress When stress becomes chronic, it triggers prolonged cortisol production. Elevated cortisol levels can affect the body in various ways, including: Fluid retention: Cortisol causes the body to retain sodium and excrete potassium, leading to water retention. Inflammation: Chronic cortisol production can exacerbate inflammation, affecting skin and blood vessels. Reduced collagen production: Cortisol can inhibit collagen synthesis, which may lead to less elastic skin and more noticeable swelling. As a result, chronic stress doesn’t just impact internal health — it can lead to visible signs of fatigue and stress on the skin. This link between stress and skin issues has been extensively studied, and puffy skin is one of the many external indicators that stress levels might be affecting physical health. Cortisol face vs. moon face While cortisol face and moon face may sound similar — and do share similar symptoms — they differ in underlying causes and characteristics. Cortisol face refers specifically to puffiness in the face due to elevated cortisol, typically related to stress. It can also be influenced by poor diet, lack of sleep or lifestyle factors. Moon face is condition where the face appears round and swollen, typically due to prolonged use of corticosteroids or conditions like Cushing’s syndrome. Moon face is a hallmark symptom of Cushing’s syndrome, where excessive cortisol leads to more dramatic facial swelling and roundness. While cortisol face can often be managed with lifestyle changes, moon face may require medical intervention if linked to hormonal disorders or medication side effects. Other causes Apart from elevated cortisol, other factors can contribute to facial puffiness, including: High-sodium diet: Excess sodium leads to water retention, especially around the face. Alcohol: Alcohol dehydrates the body, causing it to retain water and resulting in facial puffiness. Allergies: Allergic reactions, especially those affecting the sinuses, can lead to temporary facial swelling. Sleep deprivation: Poor sleep can exacerbate inflammation and fluid retention, leading to puffy skin. Menstrual cycle: Hormonal fluctuations can sometimes lead to fluid retention and facial swelling. Understanding the cause of puffiness is essential to managing and preventing it, especially if cortisol face seems to be part of a broader set of symptoms. How to get rid of cortisol face Reducing cortisol levels and adopting lifestyle habits to manage stress can help alleviate cortisol face. Here are some effective strategies: 1. Reduce stress Engage in mindfulness, meditation or yoga to reduce daily stress. Even small, daily stress management practices can help lower cortisol levels. 2. Optimize sleep Aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night. Poor sleep is linked to higher cortisol levels, which can worsen facial puffiness. 3. Limit high-sodium foods Reducing salt in the diet can minimize water retention. 4. Stay hydrated Drinking water throughout the day can help the body release retained fluid, reducing puffiness. 5. Exercise regularly Physical activity can help lower cortisol levels, reduce inflammation and improve circulation. 6. Anti-inflammatory diet Foods high in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins can help reduce inflammation and cortisol levels. Some people may also find relief through topical treatments, like cold compresses, facial rollers or certain anti-inflammatory skin care products, although these do not address the root cause of cortisol face. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption can also help. Conclusion Cortisol face serves as a visible reminder of the connection between stress and physical health. While it can be distressing, understanding the signs and causes empowers you to manage stress and improve your overall well-being. Reducing cortisol levels through lifestyle adjustments, proper hydration, a balanced diet and regular sleep can go a long way in reducing puffiness and promoting healthier skin. Addressing cortisol face may also help prevent more serious health issues linked to chronic stress, making it beneficial to focus on these changes for both appearance and health. To read the original article click here.

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10 Ways to Destroy Heart Health

AHA Publisher — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 08:00:51 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Who needs a healthy heart, right? While this is a ridiculous question, millions of Americans engage in everyday habits that destroy heart health. Or, they ignore those that support it. Are you destroying yours? How can you reverse it? Here are 10 ways to destroy heart health, and how to reverse your risk. 10 Ways to Destroy Heart Health 1. EAT A DIET HIGH IN INFLAMMATORY ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS Our foods are literally killing us. Many foods in plastic packages and boxes can destroy heart health, increase blood sugar issues, and even increase the overall risk of death (1) according to a recent study of 100,000 participants. How? Ultra-processed foods are those commercial, processed foods that contain a lot of processed fats and sugars. Most of these fats are hydrogenated oils or soybean oil. Believe it or not, soybean oil is considered one the most-consumed modern toxins, and works against heart health by hurting: Metabolic Health. Lab studies show that soybean oil is one of the most detrimental foods to metabolic health (2). Cardiovascular Health: Soybean oil has been shown to cause harmful abnormalities to cholesterol and triglycerides (3). Overall health and inflammation: Many studies have concluded that concentrated sources of omega-6 fats increase inflammation in the body (4). Don’t let ultra-processed foods destroy heart health. Reverse Your Risk: You can take steps to reduce your consumption of ultra-processed foods by following the Beyond Keto Book. This is an amazingly heart healthy plan that also supports whole-body and gut health. This is the best start! In addition, look for soybean oil in all foods you buy and rid your diet of it with these tips. 2. AVOID SPICES, FRUITS & VEGETABLES Along with eating ultra-processed foods, avoiding all vibrantly colored spices, fruits and vegetables can destroy heart health. Vibrant plant foods are full of antioxidants. Antioxidants support cellular health, arterial health, and whole body health by reducing the effects of free radicals and oxidative stress. Specifically in the cardiovascular system, antioxidants work to reduce cholesterol plaque formations and elevated blood pressure (5). Additionally, foods high in antioxidants support brain cells (6), and may reduce harmful cell overgrowth. (Many studies also back up the health benefits of berries (7). Reverse Your Risk:You can reverse your risk of poor heart health by eating foods high in antioxidants! The best place to start is Divine Health® Fermented Green Supremefood®. Also, here is a great list of our top 10 antioxidant foods! 3. NEVER GET YOUR HEART RATE UP We all know sedentary lifestyles are bad for heart health and exercise is beneficial. But, how and why? Exercise forces our hearts to pump a great volume of blood through our arteries. This forces our arteries to stay flexible and elastic, which is a healthier state than stiff or inflexible arteries. Any exercise that increases heart rate can be beneficial to heart health. For example, both endurance training at lower intensity and higher intensity workouts benefit blood pressure and heart health (8/). Resistance training exercises (weight lifting) also supports heart health including heart variability. This remains true for both heavy weight lifting and high-rep, low weight exercises (9). Sedentary living, on the other hand, can destroy heart health. Reverse the risk: Start moving! Choose an exercise you like, and get your heart rate up. You can even use walking at a higher pace for better heart health. Here are 10 amazing benefits of walking! 4. ALLOW STRESS TO BUILD High levels of mental stress can be devastating to your heart, brain, immune system, and overall health. In fact, chronically elevated cortisol levels can affect all our body’s systems. How? Cortisol is a hormone that’s released by the adrenal glands when the body faces stress. In modern times, this stress is often more mental than physical and usually has no outlet. For many, it’s chronic. It builds. And, it does damage. High blood cortisol levels are correlated with weight gain and impaired loss, negative impacts on mood, sleep and energy, an increased incidence of blood sugar, potentially lower brain volume and impaired memory, and heart health issues including altered blood pressure (10). Don’t let stress bring you down. Reverse the Risk: You can learn to fight high cortisol each day. Try our 10 effective tools to combat daily stress! Make sure to add Nature’s Best Stress Relief: Dr. Colbert’s Nano-Science Hemp Oil. 5. STIFFEN UP EVERY YEAR YOU AGE In addition to ignoring cardiovascular exercise, ignoring flexibility can destroy heart health. Amazingly, the flexibility of your spinal cord and spine directly correlated with the flexibility of your arteries. Again, flexible arteries are crucial for healthy blood pressures and overall health. As crazy as it sounds, researchers have found that poor trunk flexibility is associated with stiff arteries. This means that keeping your body flexible enough to touch your toes means better artery health and blood pressure (11). Incredibly, one study of a stretching program found better blood pressure results from stretching than from walking (12)! In addition, a strong, flexible spinal cord allows you to maintain good posture, with your head and neck upright, rather than forward. It promotes better range of motion of your limbs, making it easier to lift, walk up and down stairs, stay active, and remain injury free. Reverse Your Risk: Stay flexible by working on trunk, spine, and limb flexibility every day. Do this in addition to other exercises. 6. DON’T PAY ATTENTION TO BLOOD SUGARS OR WEIGHT Exercise and healthy eating promote healthy body weight and blood sugars. On the other hand, not engaging in these activities can destroy heart health. Being in a state of overweight or obesity directly impacts heart health. In fact, excess adipose fat is correlated with impaired blood sugars and poor cardiovascular outcomes. Elevated blood sugars contribute to stiffened arteries (13). What’s more, while your starting total cholesterol is highly influenced by familial history, age, sex, and ethnicity (13), changes in total cholesterol are primarily achieved by weight loss (if overweight), diet, and exercise (14). You can make changes rather than destroy heart health! Reverse the Risk: The best place to start in achieving a healthy weight and blood sugars is Beyond Keto Book. Also, read these tips on healthy weight and tips for breaking a plateau. 7. SKIMP ON SLEEP Sleep is an elixir for many ailments. Lack of sleep, on the other hand, can destroy heart health. In fact, a new study of 1,654 participants aged 20-74 years looked at sleep and its effects on those with chronic health conditions. It followed these participants for 20 years. The researchers found that participants with existing high blood pressure or Type 2 diabetes, who slept less than 6 hours per night, were 1.8 times likely to die of heart disease or stroke. Unfortunately, 45% of Americans have these conditions, and the majority do not get enough quality sleep (15). The study was published earlier this month in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Improve your heart health with better sleep. Reverse the Risk: Not sure how to get better sleep? Look no further than these tips for a better night’s sleep. 8. ISOLATE YOURSELF Loneliness can strike anyone, even those surrounded by people. Unfortunately, loneliness can contribute to worsened heart health. It’s never been more important to seek out others and prioritize relationships. Why? Your heart depends on it. In 2010, a loneliness study shocked researchers. A research team from Brigham Young University looked at 148 studies, representing more than 308,000 participants for mortality risk factors. The researchers found a 50% increase in survival for those who were NOT lonely and had strong social relationships compared to those who didn’t. This finding was consistent with other strong risk factors of premature death, including known cardiovascular risk factors (16). Next, the same lead researcher performed a subsequent meta-analysis in 2015, representing more than 3.4 million people and found similar results. These included a 29%, 26%, and 32% increased risk of premature death for social isolation, loneliness, and living alone, respectively (17). Yet another study from Denmark found that heart health patients who were also lonely were about twice as likely to die from heart attacks and/or heart disease than those who were not lonely. Tragically, this is indeed very similar to the mortality rate of smoking cigarettes. Reverse the Risk: Do whatever necessary to reach out to others and prioritize relationships. Look at church groups, healthy social groups, and friends, whether in person or online. 9. FORGET GRATITUDE It can be easy to forget gratitude. Some days, months, or even years roll by that feel more dismal than others. However, gratitude, even when forced, can change everything including heart health. There is emerging scientific evidence to support the idea that a simple daily practice of gratitude can dramatically affect our susceptibility to cardiovascular issues. How? Gratitude affects both cortisol and our motivation for a healthy lifestyle. By first lowering stress, it supports heart health directly. By improving our outlook and mood toward healthy lifestyle habits, it improves heart health indirectly (18, 19, 20). Reverse the Risk: You can work on gratitude starting right now! Try just listing 2-3 things you are grateful for each day, and continue to build the list. Small things, big things, anything. To learn more about gratitude, try our 15 tips for making gratitude stick. 10. IGNORE TRIGLYCERIDES AND SUBTYPES OF CHOLESTEROL When most people think of heart health indicators or lab tests, they think of total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL. Interestingly, more and more practitioners are looking elsewhere. The ratio of triglycerides (TG) to HDL is emerging as one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors. In fact, when you calculate this ratio, you can infer your health risk of cardiovascular issues, blood sugar issues, inflammation and more. In addition, there are very important subtypes of cholesterol, called subset A and subset B. These numbers are extremely important (21, 22). Looking only at total cholesterol and ignoring triglycerides can destroy heart health. Reverse the Risk: Learn everything you need to know about cholesterol, subsets, and triglycerides! Take our quiz now! Bottom Line: Don’t destroy heart health this year! Instead, reverse your risk. Our simple tips can help you bolster your heart health, starting today. To read the original article click here.

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