When you are stressed, what do your adrenal glands secrete?

When someone experiences stress, the adrenal glands play a critical role in the body's response by secreting specific hormones. The most notable of these hormones is adrenaline, also known as epinephrine. This hormone is responsible for initiating the "fight or flight" response, which prepares the body to react swiftly to perceived threats. It increases heart rate, boosts energy supplies, and enhances the body's ability to respond in high-stress situations.

While cortisol, another hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, is also related to stress response, it is released more gradually and is involved in long-term stress regulation rather than the immediate fight-or-flight response. Therefore, while adrenaline is the hormone primarily associated with acute stress reactions, cortisol is critically important for managing prolonged stress.

Serotonin and insulin are not secreted by the adrenal glands; they are involved in different physiological processes, with serotonin being a neurotransmitter and insulin being a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels. Understanding the distinct roles of these hormones helps clarify the physiological mechanisms at play during stressful situations.