Cortisol senken: what are common causes?

Common causes of elevated cortisol include chronic stress (work, personal life), which keeps the adrenal glands constantly active. Poor or irregular sleep disrupts the natural cortisol decline. Overtraining in athletes – as noted in the MyBody-X article on cortisol symptoms – can also lead to chronically high levels because intense exercise without adequate recovery overstimulates the stress axis. Other triggers: high caffeine intake, chronic inflammation (e.g., from gut dysbiosis), psychological strain, and certain medications. Genetic variants (e.g., in the CRY1 gene) may slightly shift cortisol rhythm but have a minor effect. Importantly, cortisol rises naturally with acute stress; only persistent elevation is harmful. Evidence is based on clinical practice and observational studies; no RCTs comprehensively confirm all causes.