- Stress hormones - how do they work? Adrenaline
- Stress hormones - how do they work? Cortisol
- Stress hormones can be harmful
- See how you can fight stress [TOWIDEO]
The hormones secreted by the body during stress mobilize people to cope with difficult, stressful situations. Such a short-term effect of hormones is not harmful to he alth, on the contrary - it is very beneficial. However, prolonged stress, and hence - the constant action of stress hormones, may lead to the development of, among others, cardiovascular disease and obesity. Check how the hormones secreted by the body during stress work.
Hormones secreted by the body under stresstoadrenaline and noradrenaline(catecholamines) andcortisol(glucocorticoid). Of all the stress hormones secreted into the blood by the adrenal glands, adrenaline plays a major role in a tense situation.
It is secreted first. Cortisol is released during periods of high stress, which lasts longer than 10-20 minutes.
The taskof stress hormonesis to ensure the body's readiness in stressful situations.
Stress hormones - how do they work? Adrenaline
Adrenaline (epinephrine) is a hormone produced in the medulla of the adrenal glands as well as in some neurons of the central nervous system.
The precursors of adrenaline are dopamine and norepinephrine, the latter having hormonal functions. Adrenaline increases blood glucose levels and mediates the transmission of impulses from the sympathetic nervous system to the tissues.
The hormones secreted by the body during stress help the body deal with a difficult situation - the so-called stressor.
What role does it play in times of stress? Adrenaline and norepinephrine act mainly on the circulatory system - they improve circulation and increase the heart rate - and improve muscle tone.
Adrenaline also increases the body's need for oxygen (increases the oxygen saturation of the brain and other tissues) and increases body temperature.
Stress hormones - how do they work? Cortisol
The action of adrenaline and noradrenaline during stress increases cortisol, which also raises blood glucose levels.
In addition, cortisol also has other functions - it affects the protein metabolism (intensifies catabolism, i.e. the breakdown of proteins), carbohydrate (increases gluconeogenesis and glycogenogenesis), fat (increases lipolysis, i.e.the breakdown of triglycerides) and water-electrolyte (retains s alt in the body and increases the excretion of potassium).
It is also anti-inflammatory (soothes inflammation and allergies) and immunosuppressive (weakens the immune system).
It also raises blood pressure, increases the secretion of gastric juice and causes the release of calcium from the bones.
Stress hormones can be harmful
Hormones secreted by the body during stress have a positive effect, but only when the stress is short-lived, and thus - when the hormones act only for a certain period of time and in small amounts.
If the stress continues, and thus - the body is under the influence of hormones released under the influence of stress for a long time, many diseases may develop.
The most dangerous of them are cardiovascular diseases, incl. arterial hypertension and arrhythmia, mainly caused byadrenaline . A small dose of this hormone increases the heart rate, which can lead to heart rate disturbances.
Too high a dose of adrenaline can cause tachycardia, where the heart beats more than 120 times per minute.
In addition, adrenaline can reduce renal blood flow, release fatty acids from tissue faster, increase blood glucose levels, lead to hypokalaemia or increase blood potassium levels.
Conversely, high levels ofcortisolcan reduce processes such as wound healing and immune system function, as it directs large amounts of glucose into the bloodstream to provide energy resources for emergency response the body's reaction (e.g. fight or flight).
Cortisol also contributes to the death of brain cells - primarily those of the hippocampus - a structure crucial to memory and learning processes.
In addition, together with neuropeptide Y (a hormone responsible for the accumulation of fat in cells), it contributes to the development of abdominal obesity.
The development of obesity in people who live under constant stress is also contributed bynoradrenaline- a hormone that causes an uncontrolled appetite for carbohydrates, especially sweets.