what is the normal cortisol level for men? By how much did it rise? Is there any statistical data supporting the results? So on and so forth are my unanswered questions.

Jacksparrow,  we are in the free world man !  You have your full right not to read this article if you don't want to. I am posting it for those who are interested in.  Thanks :)

Is Cortisol Good or Bad?

Many people have come to associate excess cortisol with a fat stomach, which happens to be true.  However, there are several sides to the cortisol coin worth understanding.  Several new studies highlight the vital need for cortisol in health and help to shed light on what goes wrong.

Cortisol plays a number of important roles in health.  It turns on the light switches in your body so you can get moving in the morning.  It elevates when you exercise so you can perform at a higher level without friction, assisting you to get a refreshing response to exercise.  It buffers the stress you are under, and like oil in a car engine it enables you to operate at a higher pace with proper lubrication so you don’t overheat.

A new study shows that cortisol is vital to nerve survival under stress.  This is quite interesting because excessive cortisol from long term stress damages nerves.  The new information shows that under stress cortisol “lubricates” nerves to assist in their flexibility and adaptability, so that stress can be tolerated and managed.  This data is consistent with the release of BDNF under stress, which also maintains plasticity while helping nerves form new connections.  A picture of synergy emerges as to how nerves tolerate stress and successfully overcome challenges, even adapting to new forms of ongoing stress.  This requires adequate cortisol and BDNF, working together.

If cortisol runs low then nerves overheat.  If BDNF runs low then nerves die and new changes cannot be made.

Another new study shows that under chronic stress, cortisol does not work right once too much inflammation sets into place.  The researchers found that when cortisol was no longer functional of friendly (meaning that it could now cause brain damage), it meant that the gene inflammatory signal known as NF-kappaB was excessively turned on.  This problem is consistent the feelings of wear and tear from stress over a longer period of time.  Of course, when stress continues too long then depression and burn out result, meaning cortisol and BDNF have crashed and are no longer able to cope, and inflammatory NF-kappaB feels like a major thunderstorm just went through your brain’s neighborhood.

Pantethine is an ideal nutrient for stress management, as it directly fuels your adrenals to make cortisol while also helping your brain make BDNF.  However, it is critical to prevent over-activation of NF-kappaB in your brain, which is done by having adequate antioxidants.  When your brain antioxidants run low is when you are really going to get into trouble with cortisol, in terms of it damaging your brain and/or helping to make you fat.  There are a lot of great brain antioxidants known to lower NF-kappaB.  These include the tocotrienol form of vitamin E, R-Alpha Lipoic Acid, grape seed extracts, N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC), Silymarin, and many others. 

The take home message for any person under long term stress is to maintain enough nutrient support to boost adrenals, boost BDNF production, and have adequate brain-related antioxidants to prevent stress from damaging your brain and health.

source-http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/is_cortisol_good_or_bad/

Normal Levels

Cortisol levels rise and fall throughout the day, so the time of day the test is taken is an important aspect when determining results. Cortisol tests are taken early in the morning to set a standard for the laboratory results. For instance, normal levels at 8 a.m. for a patient are 6 to 23 mcg/dL (micrograms per deciliter). High levels are experienced early in the morning, and cortisol levels begin to taper off as the day continues.

Certain physical and mental conditions affect cortisol levels. There has been a link between stress levels and the levels of cortisol in the blood because stress stimulates the pituitary to release ACTH. Additionally, certain medications affect levels of cortisol. Women who take estrogen or birth control pills are expected to have higher cortisol test results. Conversely, drugs such as androgens and phenytoin decrease cortisol levels.

High Levels

High levels of cortisol are an indication of several conditions in the body. They can be the direct result of certain medications, which can be changed to help reduce cortisol. High cortisol also indicates other conditions such as adrenal tumors, Cushing's syndrome, and ectopic ACTH-producing tumors.

Low Levels

Like high levels, low levels of cortisol can also indicate abnormalities. Addison's disease is one cause of low cortisol levels. Because cortisol is dependent on the release of ACTH from the pituitary gland, low test levels can also indicate an underactive pituitary. Hypopituitarism can also lead to other conditions since the pituitary is responsible for several hormonal levels.

Symptoms

Symptoms are related to high or low levels of cortisol. Uncontrolled aggression is common in people with low levels of cortisol, particularly children. High levels are most commonly associated with Cushing's syndrome. Cushing's patients are normally obese with little to no change in their weight even with controlled diets and nutrition. They also bruise easily and experience severe fatigue and muscle weakness.

source-http://www.ehow.com/about_5059105_normal-cortisol-levels.html