Pushing Up your Energy Levels with Adrenaline Rush

Bungee Jumping is not for the Light-Hearted!

Before announcing the winner’s name in an event, right before examinations or after getting caught with the police for breaking road rules your hands start sweating, your heartbeat is almost heard outside and there is a rush of energy within you-that’s adrenaline rush. This is one way by which our body defends itself against stressful situations-releasing the hormone adrenaline (also called as epinephrine) into the bloodstream.
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A Gush of Adrenaline Rush
The adrenaline hormone activates the body’s fight or flight mechanism. This mechanism dilates air passages thereby providing muscles with the oxygen needed for fighting or fleeing, the hormone triggers blood vessels to contract and release blood to muscles (including those of the heart and lungs) and the sense of pain experienced by the body also decreases. That’s why some people often comment that they perform better under stress or a do-or-die situation as their body releases adrenaline thereby giving them more energy than under normal circumstances. We’ve heard people running at unimaginable speeds and escaping from a predatory animal in some cases, they continue to run from danger situations even when injured or also perform beyond their excellence when under stress. This might seem advantageous, but the situation might not always remain controlled and the individual might experience other body changes that might prove to be quite harmful. That’s also because of the fact that there is a release of the hormone into the body during situations where there is no real threat expected and the body shows the same effects in the presence or absence of these threats. The hormone’s effect stays for almost an hour before subsiding. During initiation of the rush:

• The heart rate increases and you feel that your heart is taking part in a Formula 1 race
• The blood that is redirected to the muscles might cause your limbs to quiver
• Breathing becomes shallow as the airways are relaxed
• Pupils widen to allow more light to enter the eyes
  
  

The person might sweat and feel dizzy during this period which takes some time to return to normalcy.

Choose to Induce
Experiencing an adrenaline rush during stressful situations such as an exam, job interview or speaking before a crowd is common. One might also experience the same during a rollercoaster ride or other sports activities. Some people love experiencing an adrenaline rush and choose to involve themselves in extreme sports or activities such as bungee jumping to add kick to their life. Hence, apart from stress and anxiety it is also feelings of excitement that overpower you with the adrenaline hormone.

Also, certain health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can cause an adrenaline rush in the affected person when rewinding the stressful situation or trauma. Any tumor sitting on the adrenaline gland can also induce adrenaline rush. When there is a release of too much adrenaline due to a feeling of stress which has no authentic dangers lurking behind its existence, the person might be subjected to heart damage, insomnia or nervousness.

Overcoming the Adrenaline Rush
The rush of the adrenaline hormone is advantageous sometimes but can also make you uncomfortable few other times. It’s better to get to know tactical ways to control the body’s reaction when you feel uncomfortable:

• Try to slow your breathing to reduce dizziness and feel much calmer.
• Involve yourself in stress-relieving actions such as yoga or meditation to keep your mind calm, relieve stress and distract you from the pressurizing situation. Many other practical ways to combat stress are given in the website www.firsteatright.com which can help you relax.
• Take a walk to get some fresh air and experience the beauties of nature to control the adrenaline rush.
• Have a secret word to repeat in times of stress that is calming, picture a relaxing image or simply close your eyes and repeat the word to reduce stress.
  
  

A little bit of adrenaline rush is not bad. When it starts causing harmful effects on the body there is the need for some medical intervention to reduce it. The physician might recommend a lifestyle change, medication or therapy to control adrenaline rush.