Adrenal Glands

MAIN THING
Adrenal glands are small organs above your kidneys.

They make important chemicals for your body. These chemicals help control things like your blood pressure, how your body uses food, and your stress response. There are two parts: the outer part called the cortex, and the inner part called the medulla. Each part makes different chemicals. For example, the cortex makes cortisol, which helps your body deal with stress, and aldosterone, which controls blood pressure. The medulla makes adrenaline, which helps your body react to stress.

Example: When you're scared, your adrenal glands release adrenaline, making your heart beat faster.

TERMS

• Cortisol - a hormone made by the cortex that helps the body respond to stress. Example: Cortisol levels increase when you're facing a challenging situation.

• Aldosterone - a hormone produced by the cortex that helps regulate blood pressure. Example: Aldosterone balances the levels of sodium and potassium in your blood.

• Adrenaline - a hormone made by the medulla that prepares the body for a 'fight or flight' response. Example: Adrenaline causes your heart to beat faster when you are excited or frightened.

AN ANALOGY
Adrenal glands are like the management team of a company.

Just as a management team oversees various departments to ensure the company runs smoothly, adrenal glands regulate different functions in your body to maintain balance. They adjust hormone levels in response to your body's needs, similar to how a management team allocates resources during different business situations.

Example: In a stressful situation, your adrenal glands increase hormone production to give you the energy to cope, akin to how a management team might strategize to overcome a business challenge.

A MAIN MISCONCEPTION
Many people think that stress only affects the mind.

However, stress also causes physical changes in the body, largely due to the adrenal glands. These glands release hormones that prepare your body to face stress.

Example: When stressed, you might notice your heart racing or your palms sweating. This is your adrenal glands at work, not just your mind.

THE HISTORY

1. 1563: Bartolomeo Eustachi described the adrenal glands, but their function was unknown.

2. 1855: Thomas Addison discovered that damage to the adrenal glands causes Addison's disease.

3. 1894: George Oliver and Edward Schafer found that adrenal extract raises blood pressure.

4. 1901: Jokichi Takamine isolated adrenaline, the first hormone to be extracted.

5. 1930s: Edward Kendall and Tadeus Reichstein synthesized cortisol, leading to treatments for adrenal gland disorders.

Quote: "The adrenal glands are life-sustaining organs that are essential for both the health and adaptation to stress." - Hans Selye, famous for his research on the stress response.

THREE CASES HOW TO USE IT RIGHT NOW

1. Managing stress: When you feel overwhelmed, recognize that your adrenal glands are producing cortisol. Take deep breaths to help calm down, which can signal your body to lower cortisol production.

2. Monitoring blood pressure: If you have high blood pressure, understand that aldosterone affects this. Eating less salt can help manage aldosterone's effects on your blood pressure.

3. Preparing for a challenge: Before an athletic event or public speaking, your adrenal glands release adrenaline. Use this energy boost to enhance your performance.

INTERESTING FACTS

• The adrenal glands weigh less than a grape but have a huge impact on the body.

• Adrenaline can increase your strength and speed in short bursts, often referred to as an adrenaline rush.

• Cortisol has a natural daily cycle, peaking in the morning and lowest at night.

• The adrenal glands can become overworked from chronic stress, leading to fatigue.

• Adrenaline was one of the first hormones to be identified and isolated.