The Power of Adrenaline: How It Affects Your Body and Mind

Adrenaline, also called epinephrine, is a hormone secreted by your adrenal glands and certain neurons. The adrenal glands are located on the top of your kidneys. They are responsible for the production of several hormones, including aldosterone, cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline.

The adrenal glands are controlled by another gland called the pituitary gland. The adrenal glands are divided into two parts – the outer glands (adrenal cortex) and the inner glands (adrenal medulla). The inner glands produce adrenaline.

Adrenaline is also called the “fight-or-flight” hormone because when adrenaline is secreted the body enters a “fight-or-flight” response. Unfortunately, some people have triggers that cause adrenaline to be secreted even when there is no real reason for fear or excitement.

For example, people with anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder may experience a surge of adrenaline when they are reminded of something that happened in the past that triggers their sense of fear. When this happens multiple times per day or multiple times per week, it can have serious negative effects on our body and mind.

Adrenaline is produced in the adrenal glands in the medulla as well as from some central nervous system neurons. Within a few minutes during a stressful situation, adrenaline is immediately released into the blood, sending impulses to the organs to perform a specific response. One of the most interesting things about adrenaline is that it can be both a hormone and a neurotransmitter.

When adrenaline is suddenly released, it is often referred to as an “adrenaline rush.” An adrenaline rush is one of the body’s important defense mechanisms. Although adrenaline has an evolutionary purpose, some people participate in certain activities simply for the adrenaline rush.Activities that can cause an adrenaline rush include -

• Watching a horror movie
• Sky diving
• Cliff jumping
• Bungee jumping
• Cage diving with sharks
• Zip lining i.e. riding on a cable with a harness and
• White water rafting etc.

Adrenaline is a neurotransmitter of the adrenal gland that is secreted in moments of crisis. It stimulates the heart to beat faster and work harder, increases blood flow to the muscles, causes increased alertness of the mind, and produces other changes to prepare the body to face an emergency. It also acts as a chemical messenger in the brain.

Adrenaline triggers the body's "fight-or-flight" response. This response dilates the muscles' air passages to provide the oxygen they need to fight or flee danger. Adrenaline constricts blood vessels to reroute blood toward major muscle groups, including the heart and lungs.

The body's ability to feel pain is also reduced as a result of adrenaline, which is why you can continue to fight or flee danger even if you are injured. Adrenaline increases alertness during stressful times, along with a significant increase in performance and alertness. After the stress subsides, the effects of adrenaline can last up to an hour.

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Adrenaline is secreted in response to a stressful, exciting, dangerous or scary situation. Adrenaline helps your body react more quickly. Immediate physical effects of an increase in adrenaline -

• Eyes dilate.
• The heart beats faster.
• Sweating increases. 
• The bronchioles (air passages) dilate, so our body is able to get more oxygen.
• The blood vessels in our muscles dilate.
• The blood vessels in our digestive system constrict to slow digestion. The kidneys produce more renin (to raise blood pressure).
• Glucose production for energy increases.
• Each of these responses is designed to focus the body's resources for the purpose of survival.
• Adrenaline can also have some negative effects which are as follows-
• When adrenaline is secreted, the brain focuses and enters a survival mode, which can be frightening when no real danger is present.
• When there is danger, these symptoms can save lives, but when they occur repeatedly and have no practical cause, they can lead to a weakened immune system, stomach ulcers, cardiovascular disorders and even DNA damage. 
• Stress-induced DNA damage can cause premature aging, promote tumor growth, miscarriage in women and psychological conditions such as depression.

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Adrenaline is an important part of our body's ability to survive, but sometimes the body releases too much of this hormone when it is under stress but not facing a real threat. This can cause feelings of lightheadedness, vision changes, and dizziness.

In addition, adrenaline also causes the release of glucose, which is used in the fight-or-flight response. When no threat is present, this extra energy is of no use and can make a person feel restless and irritable.

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What Happens If You Have Too Much Adrenaline Release?
Excessive production of adrenaline is very common. Most people face stressful situations at one occasion or another and therefore most of us are familiar with the typical symptoms of adrenaline release, such as - rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, anxiety, weight loss, excessive sweating and tremors in hands and feet.

However, this is a normal response of the body aimed at helping us respond to a stressful situation. Once the acute stress is over, the symptoms disappear immediately, as adrenaline hyper-secretion stops.

Some people with obesity and untreated “obstructive sleep apnea” may experience high levels of noradrenaline or adrenaline every night, causing them to feel breathless. This may also play a role in the development of high blood pressure in such people.

Rarely, excess production of adrenaline or noradrenaline can also be caused by an adrenal tumor called a pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma (if it is located outside the adrenals but along the nerves of the sympathetic nervous system that go through the chest and abdomen). Such tumors can also run in families.

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What Happens If You Have Too Little Adrenaline Secretion?
It is very unusual to suffer from low adrenaline secretion, even if you lose both adrenal glands due to an illness or surgery. Since 90% of the body's noradrenaline comes from the nervous system, a 10% decrease in what is secreted through the adrenal glands is not really significant.

This is why 'adrenaline deficiency' does not really appear as a disorder other than a very rare and unusual disorder called genetic catecholamine enzyme deficiency.

Adrenaline is secreted primarily by the activation of nerves connected to the adrenal glands, which trigger the secretion of adrenaline and thus increase the levels of adrenaline in the blood. This process happens relatively quickly, within 2 to 3 minutes after experiencing a stressful event. When the stressful situation is over, the nerve impulses to the adrenal glands subside, which means the adrenal glands stop producing adrenaline.

It's important to learn techniques to cope with your body's stress response. Experiencing some form of stress is normal and sometimes even beneficial to your health. But over time, a persistent surge of adrenaline can damage your blood vessels, increase your blood pressure and increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. It can also cause anxiety, weight gain, headaches and insomnia.

To help control adrenaline, you will need to activate your parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the "rest and digest" system. The "rest and digest" response is the exact opposite of the "fight or flight" response that occurs when adrenaline is released. It helps promote a balance of adrenaline in the body, and allows your body to rest and recover.

To reduce the negative effects of adrenaline and return to balance, it is important to develop healthy coping skills that can be used anywhere. Research has shown that relaxation techniques can counteract the negative effects of adrenaline, especially in individuals with anxiety disorders and anger problems.

The following are some steps that a person can take to control their body's response to the release of adrenaline -

• Slowing down your breathing or breathing into a paper bag can balance the oxygen supply in the body. This can help reduce feelings of dizziness. It can also help you feel calmer and more in control.
• Exercise can help distract from the excitement. Doing yoga or stretching exercises can also relieve stress and anxiety.
• Getting some fresh air and getting outdoors can also help you control the adrenaline rush. Walking or walking outside can help.
• Choosing a specific calming word and repeating it can also distract from the body's response to adrenaline. Thinking of a relaxing image is another method that can help reduce stress.
• These techniques can help calm the body and mind, and they can reduce the immediate effects of an adrenaline rush.
• Adrenaline surges can be scary and can have serious long-term effects if not properly managed. If you are struggling with frequent adrenaline surges, talk to your doctor to rule out any medical conditions. Then consult a psychiatrist to learn more about relaxation techniques and stress management.

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The adrenaline hormone, also known as the "fight-or-flight" hormone, is responsible for ensuring the body's quick response to stressful situations. It is secreted by the adrenal glands and provides alertness to the brain, rapid heartbeat, and energy to the muscles. It also ensures oxygen and glucose supply by increasing blood flow, increasing the ability to make decisions and react in difficult situations. Its benefits include increasing the body's stamina and efficiency in emergency situations. However, constantly releasing high levels of adrenaline can cause stress and health problems.