Adrenaline

Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a chemical, a neurotransmitter as well as a hormone generated by the adrenal glands present in numerous animals. In addition to several minor stimulations, the secretion of adrenaline in our body excites the heart beat and enlarges the blood vessels as well as the air channels. Normally, adrenaline is produced in intense anxiety or exciting conditions. In fact, the expression ‘fight or flight’ is frequently used to describe the conditions in which adrenaline is discharge into the body. In other words, adrenaline is the primary substance that enables the body’s ‘fight or flight’ effect. In fact, adrenaline permits the body to encounter hazardous and unanticipated situations in a more effective manner. The enlarged blood vessels and air passages help the body to circulate more blood to the muscles and obtain more oxygen into the lungs and thereby enhance the physical performance temporarily.

In the human body, adrenal glands are present right on top of the kidneys and are approximately three inches or 7.62 cm long and about 1.5 inches in height. When the adrenal glands are at work they also secrete norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline. The adrenal glands release around 80 per cent adrenaline and 20 per cent norepinephrine in any hale and hearty human. Adrenaline results in constricting some of the smaller blood vessels, while widening the blood vessels in the liver and the skeletal muscles. In the process, adrenaline aids in a better blood flow towards the skeletal muscles and liver. This enables the muscles and liver to operate in their utmost ability to enhance the supply of oxygen to the vital organs in the body. Adrenaline is also responsible for disintegrating glycogen to glucose. This chemical transformation takes place in the liver and increases the sugar level in the blood. Like adrenaline, the noradrenaline also constricts blood vessels. The difference between the two is that the noradrenaline constricts almost all the blood vessels, while the adrenaline only constricts the less important ones. These two hormones also team up to enhance the quantity of free flowing fatty acids enabling the body to use them anytime it requires them.

It may be noted here that adrenaline is the preferred cure for anaphylactic shock (a severe, rapid and at times fatal hypersensitivity reaction to a substance) and ought to be given instantaneously when an individual shows symptoms of severe allergic results. Natural as well as synthetic adrenaline shots are also administered to cure bronchial asthma, a severe allergy, and other conditions. The dosage of adrenaline should always be fixed by an authorized medical practitioner in advance and instructions ought to be offered regarding the place and time of administering the injection. The possibility of serious aftereffects such as gangrene cannot be ruled out in the event of the shot is administered in the incorrect place.

Although the word adrenaline is well accepted in the United States, the medical community prefers to refer it as epinephrine. The reason behind this preference is the move by a pharmaceutical firm to trade mark an analogous word ‘adrenalin’. Nevertheless, most people in the United States use the words ‘adrenaline’ and ‘epinephrine’ in their speech at the same time and if anyone asked for an adrenaline injection, the medical practitioner will surely comprehend what is precisely being requested. It may be mentioned here that adrenaline or epinephrine is utilized as a medication to cure cardiac arrest. Owing to the suppressive upshot of adrenaline on the immune system, it is the preferred drug for treating anaphylaxis. It is also effective in treating sepsis (an acute ailment caused by devastating infection of the blood stream). Allergy patients undergoing immunotherapy can get an epinephrine wash before the allergen extract is administered, thereby reducing the immune reaction to the administered allergen.

It is interesting to note that the first hormone to be recognized by the scientists is adrenaline and was successfully manufactured artificially way back in 1904. Adrenaline belongs to the family of biogenic amines that, among other things, comprises serotonin and histamine. The precise amalgam grouping is known as the catecholamine group that includes dopamine and norepinephrine. Constant high intensity of catecholamines in the blood is an excellent sign of incessant or unceasing strain.

The high levels of catecholamines in the blood is perhaps essential especially following a traumatic condition to ‘sweat off’ the adrenaline or epinephrine that has been discharged into an individual’s system. In fact, our predecessors took care of this physically by way of fighting or additional hard work. However, in our contemporary times, severe stressful conditions take place frequently and these engage insufficient bodily movements. And when this happens, they may leave behind great quantities of adrenaline in our body. In most cases, the side effects of this are stressed out nerves and insomnia or sleep disturbances.

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