The main stress hormones involved in the physiological mechanisms of “fight or flight” (fight or flight) are represented by:
Adrenaline (epinephrine) Cortisol Norepinephrine.
In conditions of physical and mental stress, the renal glands accelerate the synthesis of these hormones that cause an increase in blood pressure, serum glucose and heart rate, to help the body cope with stressful situations.
The main causes that determine the increase in the release of stress hormones are represented by:
Surgical interventions Life-threatening circumstances Acute or chronic personal pathologies Sports competitions Professional psychological overload (tasks that must be completed before certain deadlines, working overtime, change of workplace), school (exams, school competitions, change of institution education) or family (divorce, deaths in the family, sudden illnesses of family members).
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What role does adrenaline play in the body?
Catecholamines are a group of hormones synthesized in the adrenal glands that involve adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol.
Among these hormones, adrenaline or epinephrine represents the hormone with the greatest involvement in generating the physiological response of the type fight or flight. The mechanisms of action of epinephrine that generate the necessary energy to overcome a stressful situation involve:
Increasing heart rate by stimulating beta adrenergic receptors, blood pressure values, diverting blood circulation from the digestive tract, kidneys and skin to intensify the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the striated muscles. Bronchodilation through the action on the smooth muscles of the respiratory tract, increasing the respiratory rate, reducing the intestinal peristalsis and the contraction of the smooth muscles that make up the urinary bladder and the skin (adrenaline favors the appearance of “goosebumps”). The mobilization of energy reserves (provides an energy boost) through the rapid metabolism of fats (lipolysis), the inhibition of insulin synthesis and the release of glucose into the circulation to supplement the supply of nutrients to the skeletal muscles.
In the short term, the action of this hormone is beneficial and helps the body to successfully overcome certain stressful situations. In the long term, adrenaline hyperproduction can generate anxiety, irritability and sleep disorders.
Stress hormones
Norepinephrine sau noradrenaline it is released in smaller quantities compared to adrenaline, in conditions of acute stress, the main effects of this hormone being the increase in the level of attention by sharpening the auditory and visual sense and the ability to focus. As in the case of epinephrine, prolonged overproduction of norepinephrine generates anxiety, irritability and insomnia.
cortisol is a steroid hormone synthesized in the adrenal glands under conditions of prolonged stress. Similar to epinephrine, cortisol stimulates the increase of serum glucose concentrations with obtaining a temporary energy boost. Maintaining elevated cortisol for long periods of time is harmful to the body because it favors the accumulation of excess pounds, anxiety and depression.
dopamine it represents a neurotransmitter responsible for modulating emotional states, motivation and the feeling of pleasure associated with different types of activities. Additionally, dopamine is involved in the emergence of physiological coping mechanisms through which the body adapts to stressful situations, tolerating them more easily.
vasopressin also known as antidiuretic hormone, it is synthesized at the level of the hypothalamus and has the role of regulating blood pressure values by modulating the metabolism (absorption and excretion) of water in the body. In stressful conditions, vasopressin is released into the bloodstream where it binds to specific receptors on the vascular endothelium, generating vasoconstriction. Additionally, vasopressin modulates the filtration activity of the kidneys and generates an increase in water reabsorption at this level, in order to prevent the onset of dehydration associated with physical stress (physical exercises, sports competitions).
Conditions associated with excess stress hormones
Prolonged exposure to the action of stress hormones can cause the appearance of specific pathologies frequently represented by:
High blood pressure and heart rhythm disorders Strokes Depression and anxiety Cognitive decline, brain fog and memory difficulties Chronic fatigue syndrome Decreased ability to function of the immune system Diseases of the digestive tract Obesity Sleep disorders.
The causes that determine the synthesis of adrenaline in excess
Catecholamine-secreting tumors are called pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas and are the main causes of the excess synthesis of adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine
Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting tumor composed of chromaffin cells, located in most cases at the level of the adrenal medulla, while paraganglioma is found extraadrenal, being associated with the sympathetic or parasympathetic system.
Tumors secreting catecholamines are rarely encountered in current medical practice, registering an incidence in the general population of 3-8 cases/1 million inhabitants per year. Most catecholamine-secreting tumors appear sporadically, but there are also situations in which they show genetic determinism, their appearance being favored by mutations of certain susceptibility genes.
Symptoms due to overproduction of adrenaline
The fast pace in which the daily life of today’s society takes place favors the ever-increasing exposure of the population to physical or mental stressors and generates an overproduction of adrenaline in the case of these people. The main unpleasant manifestations due to overproduction of adrenaline in the long term are represented by:
Palpitations Hypertension Headache Excessive sweating Insomnia Weight gain favoring the appearance of the metabolic syndrome.
The state of constant alertness or hypervigilance determined by the overproduction of adrenaline it is frequently found in people suffering from post-traumatic stress or PSTD. The fear associated with the trauma experienced by these people generates the increased synthesis of adrenaline which manifests itself through:
Alteration of sleep quality (frequent awakenings, difficulty falling asleep) Irritability Sudden outbursts of anger Permanent state of tension similar to the answer flight or flight.
Addiction to adrenaline constitutes a behavior with hereditary determinism in more than half of the cases and is manifested by the permanent search for strong sensations, which associate significant risks from a physical, social, legal or financial point of view.
When is injectable adrenaline recommended in medical treatments?
The main therapeutic indications of adrenaline are represented by:
Asthma crisis, anaphylactic shock due to bronchodilator effect – learn more about when we administer adrenaline aerosols to children?
Cardiogenic shock, sinus bradycardia, sinus block, cardiac arrest due to the effect of stimulating cardiac function Nasal congestion (stuffy nose) due to the local vasoconstriction effect Hypotension due to the generalized vasoconstriction effect Addition to local anesthesia due to the vasoconstriction effect that reduces the risk of bleeding.
Injectable adrenaline is frequently used in the case of patients who present specific manifestations of severe allergic reactions, anaphylactic shock, septic shock and severe arterial hypotension. Depending on the pathology addressed and the severity of the patient’s symptoms, injectable adrenaline can be administered intramuscularly (including at the cardiac level), subcutaneously or intravenously.
What happens when the adrenaline level is low?
The main manifestations associated with epinephrine deficiency are represented by:
Anxiety Depression Heart rhythm disorders Variations in blood pressure values (orthostatic hypotension)
Chronic stress, nutritional deficiency and certain drug therapies can favor the reduction of adrenaline synthesis at the level of the adrenal medulla.
Adrenaline is a central and peripheral neurotransmitter, with an excitatory role, involved in triggering fight or flight mechanisms, which at the same time has a positive effect on memory consolidation. The stimulating effect of epinephrine on alpha and beta adrenergic receptors has allowed its use as a first-line, life-saving therapy in the case of certain pathologies that associate the potential for adverse evolution such as anaphylactic shock and cardiac arrest.
References:
Adrenaline: a physiological metabolic regulatory hormone in humans?, Cryer PE, Europe PMC
Stress and adrenal functionS. Harvey, J. G. Phillips, A. Rees, T. R. Hall
Stress hormone epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) effects on the anaerobic bacteriaLyudmila Boyanova
Stress-induced changes in blood leukocyte distribution. Role of adrenal steroid hormonesF S Dhabhar, A H Miller, B S McEwen, R L Spencer
The First Hormone: AdrenalineYi Rao
2023-08-30 22:05:42
#Adrenaline #stress #hormones