Stress is a common issue in today’s fast-paced lifestyle. When stress is triggered by feelings of fear, anxiety, or tension, it activates the body’s natural fight-or-flight response. This reaction is driven by chemical messengers (hormones) produced by the brain and the adrenal glands.
We will learn how the body adapts to stress, the role of key hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, and serotonin in this process, and why maintaining a healthy hormonal balance is essential for overall well-being.
General Information About the Body’s Reaction to Stress and the Adrenaline Hormone
When the body is under stress, it develops a heightened state of alertness. Adrenaline is the primary hormone driving this response.
What is adrenaline?
Adrenaline is the primary hormone produced by the adrenal medulla, and it prepares the body to respond to urgent or emergency situations.
The main functions of the adrenaline hormone include:
- Increased heart rate: As the heart pumps more blood to the muscles and other vital organs, the heart rate rises.
- Elevated blood pressure: Blood circulation speeds up.
- Increased breathing: The lungs take in more oxygen.
- Sharpened vision: The pupils dilate to enhance visual perception.
Basically, adrenaline gives you a quick superpower and you're ready to do something serious.
Adrenaline and Noradrenaline: Causes of Stress and the Role of Hormones
Adrenaline and noradrenaline are closely related hormones that often act together. They belong to a category known as catecholamines.
What is noradrenaline?
- The adrenal glands and the nervous system are also known to produce noradrenaline. While adrenaline prepares the body for immediate action, noradrenaline primarily focuses on enhancing attention and concentration.
- Differences: Adrenaline triggers a systemic response affecting breathing and metabolism. Noradrenaline, on the other hand, increases blood pressure more effectively by constricting blood vessels and regulating the brain’s state of alertness.
- Role in stress: In situations of imminent danger, both adrenaline and noradrenaline levels increase significantly. This elevation increases the body's ability to cope with stress. However, chronic (prolonged) stress can lead to persistently elevated stress hormone levels, which may contribute to heart disease.
Serotonin Levels and Key Symptoms During Stress
Hormones are very important not only in active stress, but also in the process of controlling our mood and mental state. Serotonin is released during this stage.
What is serotonin?
Serotonin is one of the key chemicals that regulates mood, sleep, and digestion, and transmits signals between nerve cells in the brain. It is commonly called the happiness hormone (serotonin hormone), but it is a much more complex process. In fact, more than 90% of serotonin is synthesized in the gut.
Stress and Serotonin Balance
Symptoms of low serotonin deficiency: Symptoms of chronic stress can include serotonin loss. Low serotonin is primarily associated with the following symptoms:
- Persistent depression or anxiety
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia)
- Changes in appetite (eating more or losing appetite)
- Poor functional memory and concentration
Irritability or aggression
When stress levels are often accompanied by fear and anxiety, the body is in a constant state of struggle, which can lead to a decrease in serotonin levels and the emergence of depressive states. Therefore, it is not surprising that methods have been found to reduce stress by increasing serotonin levels.
Analysis and Testing Methods to Check Stress and Hormone Balance
Your doctor may order lab tests to check for hormonal imbalances.
Hormone Tests
The levels of these hormones can be measured through various tests and analyses:
- Adrenaline Test and Noradrenaline Test: The adrenaline test, or combined adrenaline and noradrenaline test, is usually performed using a blood or urine sample. These tests are primarily conducted to evaluate the function of the adrenal glands.
- Serotonin Test: A blood serotonin test is primarily ordered when doctors suspect rare tumors that produce serotonin. In cases of depression, clinical symptoms are usually used for diagnosis, as there is no standard measurement for serotonin levels.
How to relieve stress?
- Physical Activity: Exercising, especially aerobics, naturally increases serotonin levels and helps reduce the tension caused by adrenaline.
- Healthy Diet: Consuming foods rich in tryptophan (the raw material needed for serotonin production) supports the body’s ability to produce serotonin. These foods include nuts, cheese, and turkey.
- Sleep Schedule: Quality sleep, especially in regulating stress hormones, plays a key role in managing the entire hormonal system.
- Breathing techniques: Deep breathing will reduce the adrenaline level in a short time.
It is important to remember that constant stress is harmful to the entire body. To maintain health, biogenic amine tests - adrenaline, noradrenaline and serotonin analyses - are important to assess hormonal balance in the body.