Adrenaline: The Fight and Flight Hormone Wednesday, September 14th, 2016
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt your heart pounding and the need to escape is strong? Don’t worry; that is your body’s natural response to danger or threat. If you have any questions about your body’s reaction, feel free to visit a hormone replacement therapy clinic in Florida or anywhere in the US.
In the meantime, you should learn more about the hormone that’s causing you the flight and fight response – adrenaline. It is produced by the adrenal glands, which are located on tops of your kidneys. Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is also used for medical purposes. Doctors use this hormone for treating cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis, and superficial bleeding.
What is the function of adrenaline?
Adrenaline is the hormone responsible for the body’s response in situations where survival is crucial. This reaction causes the air passages to become larger, providing the muscles with more oxygen to either fight or flee. It also triggers the blood vessels to contract so that blood can be transported to major organs in the body, like the heart and lungs. A person’s pain tolerance also increases thanks to adrenaline, a reason why an individual or even an animal can still run or fight even after sustaining injuries. Adrenaline also causes a noticeable increase in strength, speed, and performance, as well as enhanced awareness especially during stressful times.
What is the fight-or-flight response?
It is a physiological reaction that occurs in animals in response to a detected dangerous event, attack, or survival threat. This was first described by American physiologist Walter Bradford Cannon. In his theory, he stated that animals react to threats with a discharge coming from the sympathetic nervous system, preparing the animal for fleeing or fighting.
What are the problems a person can experience from adrenaline?
Adrenaline is essential for the body to survive. However, there are times when the body will release this hormone when it is under stress and not when facing danger. This can cause the person to feel dizzy, lightheaded, and experience blurry vision. The production of adrenaline can also induce the release of glucose, which the body uses as energy. If there is no real threat and the extra energy is there, it will leave the person irritable and restless.
Overproduction of adrenaline in the body is rare but it can happen. If a person has tumors on his adrenal glands, for example, his body may produce too much adrenaline. This can lead to anxiety, weight loss, rapid heartbeat, palpitations, and hypertension. Too little adrenaline in the body is also rare; in this case the body’s ability to respond properly in dangerous situations would be limited.
The adrenaline hormone rarely causes problems to an individual. However, ongoing stress can cause complications associated with adrenaline. These problems must be addressed immediately in order to prevent further health problems from arising. Ask your doctor if you are not sure on how to deal with excessive adrenaline production and how to reduce stress as well as its symptoms.
