You may rely on your early morning cup of coffee to make you feel more awake and alert. When you ingest caffeine-containing foods, the caffeine affects a number of systems in your body by stimulating your nervous system and hormones. One example...
Epinephrine and norepinephrine are hormones classified as catecholamines. They are produced by the adrenal glands, which are found on top of the kidneys. If you're under physical or emotional stress, the adrenal glands release a surge of these...
Norepinephrine and epinephrine--also known as noradrenalin and adrenaline--are chemical hormones located in the adrenal glands. Norepinephrine and epinephrine are chemicals that dictate metabolic responses within the body, such as oxygen release...
Along with carbohydrates, epinephrine, or adrenaline, helps your body perform better during exercise or when in stressful situations. Carbohydrates provide the fuel source, while epinephrine ensures delivery to the cells. While the body can turn...
Brain cells communicate with each other by sending hormones and chemical signals known as neurotransmitters. Each chemical has a different effect on mood, cognition and behavior. Epinephrine -- or adrenaline, as it's commonly called -- plays a key...
Adrenaline is another word for the hormone epinephrine, part of the brain's response to exercise. Epinephrine has an effect on your body to increase the cardiorespiratory activity that facilitates exercise. It also has an affect on your metabolism...
Unfortunately, emergencies arise when least expected. People can suddenly suffer a heart attack or have an anaphylactic reaction (severe allergic reaction) after consuming certain foods. In some cases, emergency situations arise when poisonous...
Vasoconstrictor drugs cause contraction of muscle cells in the walls of blood vessels, narrowing their internal diameter and raising blood pressure. This effect makes these medications useful for the treatment of low blood pressure, typically in...
Adrenaline rushes occur when your body releases large amounts of a hormone known as epinephrine. Your adrenal glands produce and secrete this hormone. Its primary function is to increase blood circulation to your brain and muscles. When an...
The human endocrine system consists of a network of glands responsible for the production of hormones. Hormones, defined as chemicals produced in one part of the body that act on other parts of the body, regulate nearly all bodily functions. The...
Sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion, a runny nose and hives are just some signs of a typical allergic reaction. The Mayo Clinic says that allergies actually occur when the immune system responds to foreign invaders as pollen. Fortunately, doctors can...
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic in the penicillin class of antibiotics, which is routinely prescribed for a variety of bacterial infections. Drug allergies are commonly triggered by penicillin-type antibiotics, including amoxicillin, which are...
A food allergy is an immune reaction to a certain food you may have eaten or come in contact with. You may be allergic to one or more of the common food allergens, such as egg, milk, peanut, tree nuts, shellfish, fish and soy, or to pollen-related...
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction. It can cause breathing difficulties, low blood pressure, skin hives, rashes or swelling and gastrointestinal symptoms. Causes usually include allergies to insect bites and stings, drugs or foods. In...
Food allergies can cause swelling and itching of the face, lips, mouth, tongue and extremities, and may be accompanied by hives. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and represent a response by your body's immune system. If you have a severe food...
Children afflicted with asthma often have special needs due to their young age and smaller airways. Asthma occurs when the bronchial tubes constrict causing tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing. Children tend to...
Beta-blockers are a class of drugs used to treat hypertension and heart disease. They also may be used to treat hyperthyroidism, anxiety, glaucoma and migraines. Propanolol, metaprolol, labetalol, carvedilol, acebutolol, betaxolol, esmolol,...
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease in which sufferers experience significant constriction of the bronchioles, or small airways of the lungs. Mechanisms that instigate an asthma attack vary, including such triggers as cold air, exercise,...
Asthma is characterized by chronic inflammation of the bronchiole airways by recurrence of obstruction of airflow. When an asthma attack happens bronchial spasms occur as a result of restricted muscles in the bronchiole walls. Shortness of breath,...
Epinephrine (often called adrenaline) will stabilize your body when you go into anaphylactic shock--the severe reaction caused by most food allergies. Because shellfish allergies are usually serious, you should carry an epinephrine auto-injector...
Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol keeps your heart healthy, reports the Harvard School of Public Health. However, the benefits of drinking alcohol evaporate when a person's drinking crosses the line from moderate to excessive. This has...
Ventricular fibrillation refers to a heart rhythm disorder in which the heart beats at a fast and erratic pace. The Mayo Clinic says that signs of ventricular fibrillation include chest pain, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath and a fast...
The heart has to beat continuously in order to sustain life, but the rate at which it beats varies throughout life and under different circumstances. Many different situations require a faster--or slower--heartbeat, and as such, many different...
Blood glucose regulation is primarily controlled by two different hormones, insulin and glucagon. Secondary hormones such as epinephrine are also involved. Normally blood glucose is kept within a narrow range, approximately 70 to 100 mg per 100 ml...
The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys and composed of the inner adrenal medulla and the outer adrenal cortex. The adrenal medulla releases two hormones -- epinephrine and norepinephrine. The adrenal cortex releases many different...
Ephedra, also known as ma huang, is an herb that has gained attention in the fields of body building and weight loss. In 2005 ephedra and products containing it were banned in the United States due to the significant safety risks, including...
Various foods contain lecithin, a chemical compound naturally found in steak, eggs, soy beans, peanuts, oranges and cauliflower, according to Drugs.com. Lecithin is an edible surfactant and emulsifier that can help stabilize certain foods, such as...
Caffeine is a compound that stimulates your central nervous system, making you temporarily feel more alert and awake. To generate these sensations, caffeine has effects on your brain that trigger the release of two key hormones, epinephrine and...
Protein is essential to every cell in your body. It is composed of complex molecules called amino acids. Some amino acids are considered nonessential because your body can make them, while you obtain others from food. Tyrosine is a nonessential...
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