Under max stress, what is the approximate daily production of cortisol in adults?

Under max stress, what is the approximate daily production of cortisol in adults?

• A. 50 mg
• B. 150 mg
• C. 250 mg
• D. 350 mg

Answer: (B)

When the body is under maximum stress, cortisol production ramps up to meet the heightened metabolic and hemodynamic demands. The adrenal glands normally secrete about 10–20 mg of cortisol per day at rest, but during peak stress it increases to roughly 150 mg daily to support gluconeogenesis, maintain vascular responsiveness, and modulate the inflammatory response. This makes 150 mg the best estimate among the options to represent maximum-stress daily production. The lower value wouldn’t meet the escalated demands, while the higher values exceed typical maximal-stress production and reflect a more extreme or prolonged state than what’s being described.

When the body is under maximum stress, cortisol production ramps up to meet the heightened metabolic and hemodynamic demands. The adrenal glands normally secrete about 10–20 mg of cortisol per day at rest, but during peak stress it increases to roughly 150 mg daily to support gluconeogenesis, maintain vascular responsiveness, and modulate the inflammatory response. This makes 150 mg the best estimate among the options to represent maximum-stress daily production. The lower value wouldn’t meet the escalated demands, while the higher values exceed typical maximal-stress production and reflect a more extreme or prolonged state than what’s being described.