All about the most powerful hormone - adrenaline

Adrenaline is one of the most powerful hormones. It is produced in the adrenal gland and is part of the body's response system to acute stressful situations, which can be conditionally called "fight or run."It is this system that causes the vessels to narrow, more often the heart beats and the airways expand. All these actions are aimed at increasing the flow of blood to the muscles and oxygen into the lungs. Also, adrenaline is used as a medicine in some potentially life-threatening situations, for example, with anaphylactic shock.

Adrenal glands

Adrenals in an adult have a size of about 7-8 cm located directly above the kidneys. Adrenaline is one of several hormones that produce these glands.

These substances interact with various tissues of the body, preparing the body for reaction to the situation of physical stress.

Fight or run

The expression "fight or run" is often used to describe the body's response to situations of severe stress. This evolutionary device allows you to react to the danger almost instantly. For example, the expansion of the airways allows the body to get more oxygen into the lungs and quickly increase its capacity for a short period of time. The narrowing of the blood vessels in most of the body allows you to redirect the blood to the heart, lungs and the main muscle groups.

When a person encounters a potentially dangerous situation, the hypothalamus located in the brain gives the adrenal signal to release adrenaline and several other hormones directly into the bloodstream. The body reacts to these hormones for a few seconds, giving the person an almost instantaneous physical impulse - strength and speed increase, and the ability to feel pain decreases. This hormonal surge is often called "adrenaline."

Adverse effects of

Adrenaline causes not only a noticeable increase in strength and performance, but also increases respiration, and also helps to sharpen attention. A person can even feel a strong dizziness and distortion of perception. Depending on the situation, these effects can last up to an hour.

If epinephrine is secreted, but there is no real danger, a person can remain restless and irritable. The reason for this phenomenon is that adrenaline causes the body to produce glucose, blood sugar rises, and the body receives energy that has no way out. In the distant past, this effect was not so pronounced, as people allowed stressful situations in the fight or other physical exertion. In the modern world, the number of severe stresses has increased many times, but they practically do not require physical activity, so many people who are exposed to stress try to reduce the level of adrenaline by doing physical exercises.

Although adrenaline plays a key role in the survival of the body, over time it can also cause negative consequences. A prolonged increase in the level of this hormone has a depressing effect on the heart muscle, and in some cases can lead to heart failure. Also, an increased level of adrenaline can cause insomnia and nervous breakdowns, which are often indicators of chronic stress.

Adrenaline is used to treat anaphylactic shock. In addition, it is one of the main drugs used in the weakening of cardiac activity and cardiac arrest.