Adrenaline Role in Acute Stress Response

Adrenaline, also called epinephrine in the US, is a hormone essential to our health and wellbeing. 

Like cortisol, adrenaline is produced by the adrenal glands that sit atop our kidneys. 

The same way as cortisol, adrenaline is secreted by the adrenal glands when we are faced with danger. These hormones are key components of the adaptive acute stress response.

The acute stress response is also known as the “fight or flight” response because it prepares us to either do combat with a predator or enemy or, alternatively, run away as fast as we can. Adrenaline causes our heart to beat more forcefully and faster and our blood sugar (glucose) to rise so more energy is pumped to our muscles for fighting or fleeing. 

Adrenaline is our ally when we are being chased by a bear.

Unfortunately, the acute stress response occurs not only when we face a physical threat but also simply by our thoughts, such as when we think of an upcoming meeting with our boss, the list of things we need to get done by day’s end, or an argument with a friend or spouse. In these cases, adrenaline secretion is maladaptive. This is OK as long as we bring the adrenaline level in our blood back down to normal quickly. If we lack such ability, or resilience, acute stress becomes chronic stress and our adrenaline levels remain elevated for long periods of time. 

Too much adrenaline may then lead to high blood pressure (hypertension) and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Adrenaline is a hormone that may be friend or foe. How we deal with stress ultimately determines which will prevail.

Note: Although I am a physician, the content in this article is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent illness or disease in the reader – it is for educational purposes only.

References

• Chronic stress puts your health at risk. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037#:~:text=Adrenaline%20makes%20the%20heart%20beat,the%20body%20that%20repair%20tissues.
• Understanding the stress response. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response
• Chu B, Marwaha K, Sanvictores T, et al. Physiology, Stress Reaction. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541120/