什么是肾上腺素？

肾上腺素，也称为肾上腺素，是肾上腺和一些神经元释放的激素。

肾上腺位于每个肾脏的顶部。他们负责产生许多激素，包括醛固酮，皮质醇，肾上腺素和去甲肾上腺素。肾上腺由另一个称为垂体的腺控制。

The adrenal glands are divided into two parts: outer glands (adrenal cortex) and inner glands (adrenal medulla). The inner glands produce adrenaline.

肾上腺素也被称为“战斗或飞行激素”。它是为了响应压力，令人兴奋，危险或威胁性的情况。肾上腺素可以帮助您的身体反应更快。它使心脏跳动更快，增加流向大脑和肌肉的血液，并刺激人体使糖用于燃料。

当肾上腺素突然释放时，通常被称为肾上腺素冲。

肾上腺素的刺激始于大脑。当您感知危险或压力的情况时，该信息会发送到大脑的一部分，称为杏仁核。大脑的这个区域在情感处理中起着作用。

如果杏仁核感知到危险，则将信号发送给大脑的另一个称为下丘脑的区域。下丘脑是大脑的指挥中心。它通过交感神经系统与身体的其余部分通信。

The hypothalamus transmits a signal through autonomic nerves to the adrenal medulla. When the adrenal glands receive the signal, they respond by releasing adrenaline into the bloodstream.

Once in the bloodstream, adrenaline:

  • binds to receptors on liver cells to break down larger sugar molecules, called glycogen, into a smaller, more readily usable sugar called glucose; this gives your muscles a boost of energy
  • binds to receptors on muscle cells in the lungs, causing you to breath faster
  • 刺激心脏的细胞更快地跳动
  • 触发血管收缩并将血液引向主要肌肉群
  • contracts muscle cells below the surface of the skin to stimulate perspiration
  • binds to receptors on the pancreas to inhibit the production of insulin

The bodily changes that occur as adrenaline circulates throughout the blood is commonly called an adrenaline rush because these changes happen rapidly. In fact, they happen so fast that you might not even fully process what is happening.

The rush of adrenaline is what gives you the ability to dodge out of the way of an oncoming car before you’ve had a chance to even think about it.

引起肾上腺素激增的活动

Although adrenaline has an evolutionary purpose, some people take part in certain activities just for the adrenaline rush. Activities that can cause an adrenaline rush include:

  • 看恐怖电影
  • 跳伞
  • cliff jumping
  • bungee jumping
  • cage diving with sharks
  • 拉链衬里
  • 激浪漂流

An adrenaline rush is sometimes described as a boost of energy. Other symptoms include:

  • 快速心率
  • sweating
  • 感官增强
  • rapid breathing
  • 减轻痛苦的能力
  • increased strength and performance
  • 瞳孔散大
  • 感到不安或紧张

After the stress or danger is gone, the effect of adrenaline can last up to an hour.

虽然战斗或飞行的反应在避免发生车祸或逃离狂热的狗方面非常有用，但当响应日常压力时，这可能是一个问题。

A mind full of thoughts, anxiety, and worry also stimulates your body to release adrenaline and other stress-related hormones, like cortisol (known as the stress hormone).

晚上您躺在床上时尤其如此。在一个安静而黑暗的房间里，有些人不能停止关注那天发生的冲突，或者担心明天会发生什么。

While your brain perceives this as stress, real danger isn’t actually present. So this extra boost of energy you get from the adrenaline rush has no use. This can leave you feeling restless and irritable and make it impossible to fall asleep.

Adrenaline may also be released as a response to loud noises, bright lights, and high temperatures. Watching television, using your cellphone or computer, or listening to loud music before bedtime can also contribute to a surge of adrenaline at night.

重要的是要学习应对身体压力反应的技术。承受一些压力是正常的，有时甚至beneficial为了健康。

但是随着时间的流逝，肾上腺素的持续潮流可以损害血管，增加血压，并提高心脏病发作或中风的风险。它也可以导致anxiety，体重增加，头痛和insomnia。

To help control adrenaline, you’ll need to activate your parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the “rest-and-digest system.” The rest-and-digest response is the opposite of the fight-or-flight response. It helps promote equilibrium in the body, and allows your body to rest and repair itself.

试试以下:

  • deep breathing exercises
  • 冥想
  • 瑜伽or tai chi exercises, which combine movements with deep breathing
  • 和朋友或家人谈谈stressful situations so you’re less likely to dwell on them at night; similarly, you can keep a diary of your feelings or thoughts
  • eat a balanced, healthy diet
  • 经常锻炼
  • 限制咖啡因和饮酒
  • 避免手机，明亮的灯光，计算机，响亮的音乐和电视在睡前

If you have chronic stress or anxiety and it’s preventing you from getting rest at night, speak with your doctor or psychologist aboutanti-anxiety medications， 如选择性5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂（SSRIS）。

Medical conditions that cause an overproduction of adrenaline are very rare, but possible. A tumor of the adrenal glands, for example, can overstimulate the production of adrenaline and cause adrenaline rushes.

Additionally, for people withpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)，创伤事件发生后，创伤的记忆可能会提高肾上腺素水平。