Adrenaline hormone effect on Body and Side Effects of Overdose

Adrenaline is a hormone and neurotransmitter which is produced in adrenal glands and some neurons of the central nervous system. Effect of adrenaline depends on the type of cell it is acting upon. Usually it prepares body for "fight or flight" mechanism and released only when the body is under acute stress. Sudden release (or initial rush) of adrenaline makes you feel empowered, just like you can conquer the world. Similarly when the level of adrenaline goes down (adrenaline crash), the person may feel anxious or even negative.

How does Adrenaline prepares our body for extremities ?
As soon as adrenaline is released, our physical ability increases temporarily. It does so by making following changes in body.

• It increases heart rate and blood pressure.
• Expands air passages of lungs to deliver more oxygen to body at a faster rate.
• Maximizes blood glucose and primarily provide it to brain for quicker function.
• Deliver blood to muscles to make them ready for any physical event.
• Pupil of the eye is enlarged.

How much time does our body take to release adrenaline ?
It takes 2 to 3 minutes of stress for our body to release adrenaline. As soon as condition becomes normal, the adrenaline release is stopped by body.

Why does overproduction of adrenaline occur in some people ?

• Stress is the primary reason for adrenaline production, but if some body faces physical stress in daily daily life then it is possible to get affected by over production of adrenaline.
• Obesity and untreated obstructive sleep apnea can make a person prone to over release of adrenaline as the person struggles to breath every night and body takes it as a stress.
• Sometimes an adrenal tumor located outside adrenal gland along the nerves that run through chest and abdomen can release excess adrenaline.

Adrenaline usage as medication

• It is used to treat severe allergic reactions. People with history of severe allergic reactions keep adrenaline injection handy for any sudden use.
• Adrenalin is also used to treat severe low blood pressure, wheezing, severe skin itching.
• It is used as a intramuscular injection, which is given on skin or muscle of your outer thigh.
• Effect of adrenaline injection occurs within 2 to 3 minutes and then fades away within 20 minutes. So further treatment is always necessary, even if you have taken it in case of some emergency.

Adrenaline Overdose Side Effects
You must know that adrenaline injection is only for emergency and should never be taken on regular basis (unless told by your doctor). Over dosage of adrenaline can cause severe side effects which are listed below.

• Trouble in breathing
• Dangerously high blood pressure
• Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body
• Problem in maintaining balance of body
• Slurred speech
• Vision Problems

Precaution: Never inject adrenaline into a vein. Accidentally injecting it in hand or feet can cause numbness in that area and blood flow get restricted there.

Note: Continuous stress in life can make you prone to over production of adrenaline.