Question

after a doctor performs a routine blood analysis and finds unusually high levels of cortisol, what might she ask her patient? select one: a. have you been eating foods high in cholesterol? b. have you been facing a lot of stress lately? c. have you been feeling depressed? d. have you been abusing any drugs?

Answer 1

A doctor might inquire about stress after finding high cortisol levels as chronic stress is known to cause elevated cortisol production, which can lead to harmful health effects such as Cushing's syndrome.

Step-by-step explanation:

After a doctor finds abnormally high levels of cortisol in a routine blood analysis, she might ask her patient, "Have you been facing a lot of stress lately?" This question is pertinent since chronic stress is known to cause prolonged release of cortisol, which can have many harmful effects including weakening the immune system and contributing to depression. High cortisol levels are often associated with Cushing's syndrome, which could be the result of a pituitary tumor causing excessive production of ACTH and subsequently elevated cortisol. This condition presents with a multitude of symptoms including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, and depression. It is also linked to specific alterations in appearance such as a moon face and the development of stretch marks on the skin.