Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It WorksSymptomsComplicationsDisordersTreatmentMedical UsesCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Works
Symptoms
Complications
Disorders
Treatment
Medical Uses
Coping
Adrenaline, also known asepinephrine, is a type of hormone that is released whenever a person experiences fear, anxiety, or stress. It is the hormone that triggers the fight-or-flight response.
This article looks at how adrenaline works in the body, including the symptoms of an “adrenaline rush,” as well as the causes and consequences of adrenaline overproduction and adrenaline deficiency.
Geber86/ Getty Images
How Adrenaline Works
When adrenaline is released, it affects the body in six key ways:
Adrenaline is not only released when there is actual danger but also during moments of emotional stress. This may include taking a test, watching a scary movie, speaking in public, going out on a date, or doing an extreme sport like skydiving.
Epinephrine vs. Norepinephrine: What’s the Difference?
Symptoms of an Adrenaline Rush
The typical “adrenaline rush” starts immediately and can last for up to an hour after the stress subsides.
Common symptoms of an adrenaline rush include:
What Are Catecholamines, and What Do They Do?
There are times when the body will release adrenaline when it is under emotional stress but not facing any real danger.
When this occurs, the release of glucose into the bloodstream can accumulate rather than being burned off. This can cause symptoms like restlessness and irritability. There may also be dizziness, lightheadedness, vision changes, sweating, and a pounding heart.
According to a 2017 study in the medical journalLancet,emotional stress was associated with a 59% increase in the risk of a cardiovascular event in people with heart disease.
Producing too little adrenaline also has health consequences. While this is rare, conditions that either damage or destroy the adrenal glands (or require the removal of the adrenal glands) can lead to symptoms such as:
Types of Adrenal Gland Disorders
Medical conditions that cause the overproduction (hypersecretion) or underproduction (insufficiency) of adrenaline are uncommon but can occur. These conditions either directly or indirectly affect the adrenal glands.
Adrenal Hypersecretion
There are several conditions that can cause the adrenal glands to release too much adrenaline, referred to as adrenal hypersecretion. Chief among these are:
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH): Unraveling the Genetic Basis and Treatment Options
Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenal insufficiency, the underproduction of adrenaline, is uncommon and rarely occurs on its own. It is the result of the adrenal glands producing too little (or no) hormones.
There are two types of adrenal insufficiency, referred to asAddison’s diseaseand secondary adrenal insufficiency.
Addison’s disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency, occurs when there is a problem with the adrenal glands themselves. Possible causes include:
The symptoms of Addison’s disease and secondary adrenal insufficiency are similar. But, with Addison’s disease, a person is more likely to experience hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin), low blood pressure, and severe dehydration. These are uncommon with secondary adrenal insufficiency.
Adrenal insufficiency can sometimes become severe and lead to a potentially life-threatening condition known as anadrenal crisis. Symptoms include rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, abdominal or flank pain, dizziness, weakness, profuse sweating, high fever, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and unconsciousness.
An adrenal crisis is a medical emergency that can lead to coma and death if not treated immediately.
Treating Adrenal Gland Disorders
Cushing Syndrome
The treatment of Cushing syndrome may involve graduallytapering down the dose of steroidsin people treated with drugs like prednisone.
If the cause is a pituitary tumor, your healthcare provider will likely recommendsurgical removal of the pituitary gland. Treatment with the gold standard procedure, called transsphenoidal surgery, leads to remission in about 80% of cases.
Adrenal Gland Tumors
It is recommended that most tumors, regardless of size, be surgically removed. Some healthcare providers will take a watch-and-wait approach and only consider surgery when the tumor approaches 5 centimeters (2 inches) in size.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The first-line treatment commonly includes a device calledcontinuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which blows air into the airways to keep them open at night.
Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea includes weight loss. According to Harvard Medical School, even losing 10% of body weight can have a big effect on sleep apnea.
Addison’s Disease
Addison’s disease is typically treated with hormone replacement therapy. Options include Cortef (hydrocortisone), prednisone, or methylprednisolone tablets to replace cortisol or Florinef (fludrocortisone acetate) to replace aldosterone.
An increased intake of salt (sodium) may also be required, particularly during exercise or when you have gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea.
What Is Adrenal Fatigue?
Medical Uses for Adrenaline
Epinephrine is often used to treat life-threatening medical conditions. Some of these conditions include:
Controlling Adrenaline
Chronic stress and anxiety can cause excess adrenaline and wreak havoc on a person’s health and well-being. Stress reduction exercises and strategies can help you better control your adrenaline and potentially lower your risk of heart disease.
This includes routine exercise, which not only improves your cardiovascular health but can improve your moods due to the release of “feel-good” hormones calledendorphins.
Popular stress-reduction strategies include:
How to Reduce Stress So You Don’t Get Sick
Summary
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