Soldiers may also elect not to wear a combat patch. Controversies have arisen in recent years over brigade commanders' decisions to ban combat patches in certain situations. This has been done in an effort to make new recruits, who didn't have the patches, feel less excluded.
Cortisol and Stress: How Cortisol Levels Affect the Body. Cortisol and stress are connected and, although stress isn't the only reason for the release of cortisol into the blood stream, it is still known as a stress hormone. Every time that you are confronted with a stressful situation your body undergoes a fight or flight response and cortisol levels increase.
The pituitary gland, through the release of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) regulates the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands into the bloodstream. When the body encounters stress (physical or mental) in response to a trauma, cortisol is released, which in turn regulates the body's inflammatory response. Other effects of cortisol release include: 1) Stimulation of the liver to produce carbohydrates; the short-term fuel for the musculature. 2) Temporary elevation of blood glucose levels.