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dt{font:500 clamp(24px,3vw,31px)\/1.25 Fraunces,Georgia,serif;color:var(--ink);letter-spacing:-.02em;overflow-wrap:anywhere}#cib-master .glossary-entry dd{margin:14px 0 0;color:var(--muted);font-size:15px;line-height:1.75}#cib-master .glossary-entry a{text-underline-offset:4px}<\/style><div id=\"cib-master\"><a class=\"skip\" href=\"#cib-main\">Skip to content<\/a><header class=\"top\"><div class=\"wrap bar\"><a class=\"brand\" href=\"\/cortisol\/\" aria-label=\"Cortisol in Balance home\"><svg class=\"mark\" viewBox=\"0 0 40 44\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20 40V20C20 10 29 4 36 3C36 15 30 23 20 24M20 33C7 32 3 24 3 15C13 16 20 22 20 33\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\"\/><circle cx=\"20\" cy=\"6\" r=\"3\" fill=\"#C19A5B\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"brand-name\">Cortisol <em>in Balance<\/em><span class=\"brand-sub\">The Cortisol in Balance System<\/span><\/span><\/a><nav class=\"nav\" id=\"cib-nav\" aria-label=\"Main navigation\"><a href=\"\/cortisol\/\">Home<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-claim-library\/\">Claim Library<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-daily-tools\/\">Daily Tools<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/our-method\/\">Our Method<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-the-system\/\">The System<\/a><\/nav><div class=\"header-actions\"><a class=\"btn\" href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-daily-tools\/\">Start Here<\/a><button class=\"menu-toggle\" type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"cib-nav\" aria-label=\"Open navigation\">\u2630<\/button><\/div><\/div><\/header>\n<main id=\"cib-main\"><section class=\"topic-hero\"><div class=\"wrap\"><p class=\"breadcrumbs\"><a href=\"\/cortisol\/\">Home<\/a> \/ Glossary<\/p><div class=\"topic-hero-grid\"><div><p class=\"eyebrow\">Understand. Support. Don't obsess.<\/p><h1>Cortisol glossary.<br><em>Plain words for the terms behind the claims.<\/em><\/h1><p class=\"lead\">These short definitions are educational. They are not medical advice and they do not diagnose anything.<\/p><\/div><aside class=\"context-card\"><p class=\"eyebrow\">Honest limits<\/p><h2>Plain words.<br>Keep the context.<\/h2><p>Definitions are simplified for education.<\/p><p>They are not medical advice and they do not diagnose anything.<\/p><\/aside><\/div><nav class=\"topic-jump\" aria-label=\"Glossary index\"><a href=\"#cib-acth\">A<\/a><a href=\"#cib-circadian-rhythm\">C<\/a><a href=\"#cib-dexamethasone\">D<\/a><a href=\"#cib-glucocorticoid\">G<\/a><a href=\"#cib-hpa-axis\">H<\/a><a href=\"#cib-moon-face\">M<\/a><a href=\"#cib-salivary-cortisol\">S<\/a><a href=\"#cib-viral-label\">V<\/a><\/nav><\/div><\/section><section id=\"cib-definitions\" class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap claim-reading\"><dl class=\"glossary-list\"><div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-acth\"><dt>ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone).<\/dt><dd>A hormone made by the pituitary gland that signals the adrenal glands to make cortisol.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-addisons\"><dt>Addison\u2019s disease.<\/dt><dd>A form of primary adrenal insufficiency, in which the adrenal glands do not make enough cortisol. It needs medical care.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-adrenal-fatigue\"><dt>Adrenal fatigue.<\/dt><dd>A term used online for tiredness and other symptoms blamed on \u201ctired\u201d adrenal glands. The Endocrine Society reports no scientific evidence establishing it as a medical condition. It is different from adrenal insufficiency.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-adrenal-glands\"><dt>Adrenal glands.<\/dt><dd>Two small glands above the kidneys that make cortisol and other hormones.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-adrenal-insufficiency\"><dt>Adrenal insufficiency.<\/dt><dd>A recognized condition in which the body does not make enough cortisol. Evaluation requires medical tests. A severe episode (adrenal crisis) is an emergency.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-circadian-rhythm\"><dt>Circadian rhythm.<\/dt><dd>The body\u2019s roughly 24-hour internal clock, which influences sleep, alertness and the daily pattern of hormones such as cortisol.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-cortisol\"><dt>Cortisol.<\/dt><dd>A steroid hormone made by the adrenal glands. It helps regulate energy use, blood sugar, blood pressure and the response to stress and illness. It is supposed to vary through the day.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-awakening-response\"><dt>Cortisol awakening response.<\/dt><dd>The rise in cortisol that typically happens in the first hour after waking.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-cushings\"><dt>Cushing\u2019s syndrome.<\/dt><dd>A condition caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol (or similar medicines). A common cause is long-term use of glucocorticoid medicines. It requires clinical evaluation.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-dexamethasone\"><dt>Dexamethasone suppression test.<\/dt><dd>A test in which a low dose of a steroid medicine is given, then cortisol is measured to see whether it falls as expected.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-glucocorticoid\"><dt>Glucocorticoid.<\/dt><dd>A class of steroid hormones and medicines that includes cortisol and drugs such as prednisone. Do not stop a prescribed glucocorticoid without talking to your prescriber.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-hpa-axis\"><dt>HPA axis.<\/dt><dd>The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: the chain of signals from the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary) to the adrenal glands that controls cortisol release.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-hypercortisolism\"><dt>Hypercortisolism.<\/dt><dd>A medical term for too much cortisol exposure. Cushing\u2019s syndrome is one form.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-moon-face\"><dt>Moon face.<\/dt><dd>A rounded, fuller face that can occur with prolonged high cortisol exposure. It usually appears with other signs. It is different from everyday puffiness.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-salivary-cortisol\"><dt>Salivary cortisol.<\/dt><dd>Cortisol measured in saliva. Late-night salivary cortisol is one test clinicians use when Cushing\u2019s syndrome is suspected.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-stress-response\"><dt>Stress response.<\/dt><dd>The body\u2019s short-term reaction to a challenge, which includes the release of cortisol and other hormones.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-viral-label\"><dt>Viral label.<\/dt><dd>A term popularized on social media (such as \u201c<a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-belly\/\">cortisol belly<\/a>\u201d or \u201c<a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-face\/\">cortisol face<\/a>\u201d) that sounds medical but is not a diagnosis.<\/dd><\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary-entry\" id=\"cib-visceral-fat\"><dt>Visceral fat.<\/dt><dd>Fat stored deeper in the abdomen, around internal organs. It cannot be judged from appearance alone.<\/dd><\/div><\/dl><\/div><\/section><section id=\"cib-next\" class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap claim-reading\"><aside class=\"claim-deeper\"><h2>A more organized path, if you want one.<\/h2><p>Prefer one place for the terms, the explanations and the references? The Core Guide includes a glossary and references alongside 13 chapters of education.<\/p><a class=\"btn\" href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-the-system\/?utm_source=site&amp;utm_medium=cta&amp;utm_campaign=glossary\">See how the pieces fit together<\/a><\/aside><p class=\"small muted cta-optional\">Optional. Educational material, not medical advice. The free tools stay free.<\/p><\/div><\/section><section id=\"cib-sources\" class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap claim-reading topic-copy\"><h2>Sources<\/h2><p class=\"small\">Definitions are simplified for education. See our <a href=\"\/cortisol\/our-method\/\">Method page<\/a> for how we choose and review sources.<\/p><\/div><\/section><\/main><footer class=\"footer\"><div class=\"wrap\"><div class=\"footer-top\"><a class=\"brand\" href=\"\/cortisol\/\"><svg class=\"mark\" viewBox=\"0 0 40 44\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20 40V20C20 10 29 4 36 3C36 15 30 23 20 24M20 33C7 32 3 24 3 15C13 16 20 22 20 33\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\"\/><circle cx=\"20\" cy=\"6\" r=\"3\" fill=\"#C19A5B\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"brand-name\">Cortisol <em>in Balance<\/em><span class=\"brand-sub\">The Cortisol in Balance System<\/span><\/span><\/a><div class=\"footer-links\"><a href=\"\/cortisol\/\">Home<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-claim-library\/\">Claim Library<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-daily-tools\/\">Daily Tools<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/our-method\/\">Method &amp; Sources<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-the-system\/\">The System<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/glossary\/\">Glossary<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-tests\/\">Cortisol Tests<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-and-sleep\/\">Cortisol and Sleep<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-contact\/\">Contact<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-privacy-policy\/\">Privacy Policy<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-terms-of-use\/\">Terms of Use<\/a><\/div><\/div><p>General education, not individualized medical advice. This site and its tools do not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. No cortisol level is measured or inferred. Fonts may be requested from Google Fonts. External source links open third-party sites.<\/p><p class=\"copyright\">\u00a9 2026 Zaron Mitchell \u00b7 The Cortisol in Balance System.<\/p><\/div><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<script>(()=>{'use strict';const root=document.getElementById('cib-master');if(!root||root.dataset.methodInitialized)return;root.dataset.methodInitialized='true';const menu=root.querySelector('.menu-toggle'),nav=root.querySelector('#cib-nav');if(!menu||!nav)return;const close=()=>{nav.classList.remove('open');menu.setAttribute('aria-expanded','false');menu.setAttribute('aria-label','Open navigation');};menu.addEventListener('click',()=>{const open=menu.getAttribute('aria-expanded')!=='true';menu.setAttribute('aria-expanded',String(open));menu.setAttribute('aria-label',open?'Close navigation':'Open navigation');nav.classList.toggle('open',open);});nav.querySelectorAll('a').forEach(a=>a.addEventListener('click',close));root.addEventListener('keydown',e=>{if(e.key==='Escape')close();});})();<\/script>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Skip to content Cortisol in BalanceThe Cortisol in Balance System Claim LibraryDaily ToolsOur MethodThe System Start Here\u2630 Home \/ Glossary Understand. Support. Don&#8217;t obsess. Cortisol glossary.Plain words for the terms behind the claims. These short definitions are educational. They are not medical advice and they do not diagnose anything. Honest limits Plain words.Keep the context. 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