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Diabetes - Adult Type II (Expert Forum)
ACTH and Cortisol Levels
Answered by
Anita Ramsetty, MD - GeneralEndocrinology, Diabetes Type 1, Diabetes Type 2, Thyroid Disorders, AdrenalInsufficiency, CF-Related Diabetes
Endocrine Care Group
Questions in the Adult Type II Diabetes forum are answered by Dr. Anita Ramsetty. Topics covered include Type 2 Diabetes, blood glucose monitoring, diabetes and heart disease, diabetes and pneumonia, diabetes and pregnancy,
diabetes and vision problems, diabetes and wound healing, diabetic complications, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and insulin.
ACTH and Cortisol Levels
by tkelyvt, Dec 22, 2007 09:51AM
I know this question is not related to diabetes but did not know where else to post it. I recently had some test done as I was worried something hormonal might be causing my extreme fatigue all the time. My doctor ran numerous blood work and the only thing that came back out of normal was a cortisol level of 22.3 and a ACTH of 73. I'm just trying to make sense of all this as I've been dealing with a severe anxiety/panic disorder for a few months and I'm wondering if it is somehow related. I've read all these things and I'm not convinced something serious is wrong with me, maybe a tumor of some sort. I read how cortisol regulates the cardiovascular system so I'm now worried that since my levels are off I'm in cardiac danger. Any insight you can provide to calm my nervous would be wonderful.
Doctor's Answer
by Anita Ramsetty, MD, Dec 24, 2007 08:59PM
, Dec 24, 2007 08:59PM
Hi,
It is difficult for me to interpret those results without knowing your lab's normal range and what time of day the blood was drawn. A morning cortisol level of 22.3 is not necessarily too high, but again I would need to know your lab's normal range(same for the ACTH). If either or both of your levels are high, your doctor will need to refer you to an Endocrinologist to have further testing done.
You are not in eminent cardiac danger based only on those lab tests. If you have an underlying adrenal condition that is serious, you may have some consequences later down the line. The first thing is to determine if you have any adrenal problem in the first place, so be sure to follow up with your doctor soon. Try not to worry too much, and get some rest.
Take care.
It is difficult for me to interpret those results without knowing your lab's normal range and what time of day the blood was drawn. A morning cortisol level of 22.3 is not necessarily too high, but again I would need to know your lab's normal range(same for the ACTH). If either or both of your levels are high, your doctor will need to refer you to an Endocrinologist to have further testing done.
You are not in eminent cardiac danger based only on those lab tests. If you have an underlying adrenal condition that is serious, you may have some consequences later down the line. The first thing is to determine if you have any adrenal problem in the first place, so be sure to follow up with your doctor soon. Try not to worry too much, and get some rest.
Take care.
Member Comments (3)
by Tsar_Bomba, Dec 22, 2007 07:59PM
To: tkelyvt
Sorry to hear about your condition. I think you might get a better answer to your question if you post on the Anxiety forum, as this seems to be you primary complaint.
by kitcurious, Dec 23, 2007 10:47AM
There is also a Thyroid Expert forum where questions are answered and adrenal issues are covered there.
