hormones · Cortisol AM
Cortisol (Morning)
The body's main stress hormone, made by the adrenal glands. It follows a daily rhythm — highest in the morning and lowest at night — so timing of the draw matters a lot for interpretation.
This page is general wellness education, not medical advice. Your own lab’s reference range and your clinician’s interpretation always take precedence.
Typical reference range
| Group | General range |
|---|---|
| Adults | Morning (7–9 AM) ~5–25 ug/dL; falls through the day |
Units: ug/dL. Ranges vary by lab and assay — read yours against the range printed on your own report.
What high Cortisol (Morning) can mean
- Acute stress/illness
- Cushing's syndrome
- Steroid medications
- Estrogen / pregnancy (raises binding protein)
What low Cortisol (Morning) can mean
- Adrenal insufficiency (Addison's)
- Pituitary problems
- Long-term steroid use (suppression)