What Is Adrenal Fatigue?
2. What Hormones Do the Adrenal Glands Produce?
The middle portion of the adrenals produces epinephrine and norepiniphrine, also known as adrenaline and noradrenaline. Epinephrine creates what we know as an “adrenaline rush” by causing the heart to beat faster and stronger, increasing the diameter of airways in the lungs, and increasing blood sugar levels. Norephinephrine causes similar effects, with the additional action of narrowing blood vessels and raising blood pressure.
The adrenal cortex secretes natural pain killers called enkephalins and three hormones: cortisol, aldosterone, and DHEA. Cortisol provides energy during times of stress, controls metabolism of nutrients from food and increases blood sugar, regulates blood pressure and inflammatory response, and controls circadian sleep rhythm. Aldosterone regulates blood pressure, pH, and electrolyte levels of blood, and DHEA coverts to female hormones (estrogens) in the ovaries or male hormones (androgens) in the testes.
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