What are the primary stress hormones released?
Written by
Gina Mason
Reviewed by
Prof. William Dalton, Ph.D.Your adrenal glands emit several hormones as your body responds to stress. Epinephrine and norepinephrine facilitate instinctive, immediate fight-or-flight reactions. Cortisol encourages longer-term, gradual adaptation at the metabolic level. At the same time, Aldosterone regulates fluid balance, and DHEA provides counter-regulatory support.
Catecholamines
- Epinephrine: Increases heart rate and lung expansion
- Norepinephrine: Constricts blood vessels to raise pressure
- Both activate within 15 seconds of stress onset
Cortisol
- Manages glucose metabolism for sustained energy
- Modulates inflammatory responses throughout body
- Peaks 15-30 minutes after stress begins
Aldosterone
- Regulates sodium-potassium balance in kidneys
- Maintains blood pressure during stress
- Prevents dehydration under prolonged strain
DHEA
- Counters cortisol's catabolic effects
- Supports tissue repair and recovery
- Enhances neural resilience against stress
Catecholamine rush - your heart races to 40 to 60 beats per minute in seconds. Your blood vessels constrict to move blood away from your gut and move it to your vital organs. Your airways widen to take in more oxygen; all serious physical activity is designed to prime you for the immediate fight or flight response.
Cortisol. This is an important hormone is essential for your body in the long term. It regulates your blood pressure through sodium, prepares glucose for when you need to access your brain, and controls inflammation.
Learn how to quit taking hormones. Chronically elevated hormones wreak havoc on us. A perpetual flow of cortisol alarm bells dampens our immune defenses. A 24-hour emergency jet's revvy engines corrode our vascular tubes. A surfeit of mineralocorticoids causes blood pressure to skyrocket. Just knowing this, I'm better equipped to manage my hormones.
Read the full article: Understanding Stress Physiology: Body Responses
