Adrenaline is a hormone produced by the body when faced with dangerous situations or when under stress. In a balanced amount, this hormone has an important role to maintain the function of various organs of the body. However,Deficiency or excess of the hormone adrenaline can actually endanger health.
Adrenaline hormone, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and the brain. The body releases this hormone when you feel stressed, stressed, afraid, happy, or in a stressful or dangerous situation.
Benefits of Adrenaline Hormones for the Body
When it enters the bloodstream, the hormone adrenaline will have an effect on various organs of the body, such as:
- The heart beats faster and works harder, thereby increasing alertness.
- Blood vessels dilate, so that blood flow to the muscles and brain increases.
- Increased sweat production.
- The senses of sight and hearing become more alert.
- Blood sugar levels increase, which the body will use as energy.
- The breath becomes faster.
- Pain is reduced.
This adrenaline hormone will be produced by the body naturally when you are in a dangerous situation, or when experiencing severe stress. This reaction is a form of body defense to deal with the situation.
Besides being produced naturally by the body, adrenaline can also be produced as a drug. This artificial or synthetic adrenaline hormone is commonly used to:
- Treating severe allergies or anaphylaxis, severe asthma attacks, and cardiac arrest.
- Coping with shock, for example from bleeding, severe dehydration, or severe infection (sepsis).
- Extends the duration of action of the anesthetic during surgery.
- Assist in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Dangers of Lack or Excess of Adrenaline Hormones
Sometimes, our bodies can release the hormone adrenaline even though they are not feeling threatened or in a dangerous situation. Stress, obesity, tumors of the adrenal glands, and Addison's disease are a number of conditions that can cause adrenaline to spike in the body.
Adrenaline hormone levels that are too high in the body can have a negative impact on health, including:
- High blood pressure
- Headache or dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Restless and irritable
- Sleep disturbances or insomnia
- Excessive sweating
- Heart beat
Adrenaline hormone is not only dangerous when there is too much, but also dangerous when there is too little. Lack of adrenaline will make the body unable to react properly in stressful situations.
Low levels of the hormone adrenaline in the body will also result in:
- Depression
- Sleep disturbance
- Fibromyalgia
- Tired easily
- Migraine
- Restless leg syndrome
- Low blood sugar
To keep adrenaline hormone levels in the blood balanced, there are several steps you can take, namely implementing a healthy diet, exercising regularly, relaxing with meditation or yoga, and limiting alcohol and caffeine intake.
If you often experience stress or suffer from certain medical conditions that can affect the production of the adrenal hormone, such as an adrenal gland tumor, it is advisable to consult a doctor.