Cortisol is a steroid, specifically a corticosteroid. High blood cortisol levels can occur if the adrenal gland makes too much cortisol.

The symptoms you get with too much cortisol can also occur with long-term prednisone treatment, or treatment with another corticosteroid.

Steroid hormones such as cortisol affect your body's response to illness and your metabolism. An excess of cortisol can cause a wide range of symptoms. Common symptoms include:

• Obesity, especially with rounding of the face shape and the development of a "pad" of fat just below the back of the neck
• Muscle weakness
• Anxiety or depression
• A tendency to bruise easily
• Hair growth in undesired areas
• Skipped menstrual periods or absent periods
• Acne

Excess cortisol can also cause you to develop high blood sugars like you would see in diabetes, and high blood pressure.