Adrenaline: what is it, what is the 'fear' hormone used for

Adrenaline: what is it, what is the 'fear' hormone used for

Adrenaline, we know the fear hormone best. Things? When do we produce it? What effects?

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ADRENALINE - What is it that pushes some sportsmen to throw themselves in a wingsuit or to climb the most inaccessible mountains or even to whiz at more than 300 km per hour on a car circuit? What causes some people to engage in extreme feats, at the limit of human capacity, putting their lives in jeopardy? Among the different factors, there is certainly adrenaline, a hormone capable of arousing unique emotions, while causing chills of experience and fear.





THEadrenaline or epinephrine it is a hormone produced by the medullary portion of the adrenal glands and by the central nervous system. It is synthesized starting from tyrosine, a non-essential amino acid, following solicitations from the sympathetic nervous system, which regulates the automatic and involuntary functions of our organism. It is released in all those situations that involve physical or emotional fear, risk, danger, threats and stress and for this reason it is also known as the “fear hormone”. But this neurotransmitter can also be produced as a result of arousal, exposure to very bright lights and loud noises, pain, hypoglycemia or hypotension.

In common parlance, the adrenaline adjective refers to a situation that frightens and at the same time gives energy and the so-called "adrenaline rush”Describes that particular sensation in which the reflexes are sharpened, the alertness threshold increased and the emotions amplified.

At an ancestral level, adrenaline is linked tosurvival instinct and represents an essential component of the so-called fight or flight reaction, which occurs in all animal species, including humans. Faced with a dangerous situation, in which the only possible options are to escape or fight for life, the production of adrenaline triggers the physiological response of our organism, preparing it for a more intense muscular effort. In adverse conditions, in fact, this hormone determines the increased circulation of the blood vessels, the intensification of respiration and the activation of energy supplies.

Adrenaline is a systemic hormone, in the sense that its production has repercussions on the whole organism. Once secreted by glands adrenals, through the bloodstream it reaches receptors located in the cells of the liver, skeletal muscles, heart and vascular system. Its action is overall aimed at ensuring a prompt and effective reaction to the danger by providing increased energy levels to the muscles and by channeling all resources towards main organs and activities, through selective vasoconstriction and vasodilation and the inhibition of non-essential functions.



Index

Effects of adrenaline

Schematically, the effects of adrenaline are as follows:

  • vasoconstrictive action of renal arterioles and skin
  • vasodilating action of the muscular and coronary arteries
  • increased blood pressure
  • dilation of the bronchi
  • increased heart rate
  • stimulation of metabolism
  • inhibition of non-essential functions (digestion and reproductive system)
  • increase in energy levels through the release of carbohydrates and fatty acids
  • improved visual function (dilation of the pupil to be able to see better in the dark)

Excess of adrenaline

Under normal conditions, adrenaline levels in the blood range from 20 to 190 picograms per milliliter. Beyond the physiological peaks that occur as a reaction to situations of tension or danger, there are cases in which a overdose of this hormone. High levels of adrenaline can also be associated with serious pathologies, including:

  • pheochromocytoma: it is a tumor that affects the medullary area of ​​the adrenal glands, responsible for the secretion of adrenaline. It causes hypertension and a number of complications in the blood circulation
  • infarct
  • hypertension
  • nefroangiosclerosi: it is a disease affecting the kidneys, which can severely interfere with the hormonal activity of the adrenal glands. In some cases this disorder leads to an increased production of adrenaline, resulting in arterial hypertension.

Deficit of adrenaline

On the other hand, when the levels of this hormone are insufficient, the deficit can be attributed to:

  • severe ongoing infections
  • Addinson's disease : it is a disease that affects the adrenal glands, both in the medullary component and in the cortex, which is mainly responsible for the production of steroid hormones (estrogen and testosterone). The adrenal glands are no longer able to perform the physiological function of hormonal secretion, with side effects such as absence of menstruation, dizziness, abdominal pain, mental problems. Symptoms of this disease also include low blood adrenaline.
  • Parkinson's disease: it is a degenerative disease affecting the nervous system, which among its symptoms presents the so-called "orthostatic hypotension", or the sudden drop in blood pressure when passing from lying to standing position. This symptom often results from insufficient adrenaline production by the adrenal glands.
  • Waterhouse syndrome: it is a very rare disease, but with a fulminant course, which involves hypotension, coagulation problems and a series of infections. Symptoms include fever and bleeding from both the skin and the adrenal glands.

Synthetic adrenaline

In addition to that naturally produced by the adrenal glands, adrenaline can be synthesized in the laboratory and given as a drug to treat:



  • Anaphylactic shock
  • Perforating duodenal ulcers with hemorrhages
  • High ophthalmic pressure
  • Bronchospasm
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Drug overdose

Adrenaline can be given for by intramuscular o intravenous. In the first case, the hormone immediately enters the circulation. Intramuscular injection is the most suitable method in the presence of anaphylactic shock and drug overdose. The intravenous route instead releases adrenaline more gradually, but can lead to heart complications.

Read also: 5 tips to intervene in case of anaphylactic shock

Sport and adrenaline

All extreme and dangerous sports cause a consistent release of this hormone, until a real adrenaline peak is reached. Their practitioners are known as "sensation seekers", that is, hunters of emotions, constantly looking for the thrill of risk.

Synthetic adrenaline, on the other hand, like amphetamine, is able to accelerate the body's metabolism. For this reason, it is considered substance doping and as such banned from athletics competitions and any sporting competition.

Angela Petrella

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