These changes happen so fast that you might not even fully process what’s happening. Stops insulin production: It binds to receptors in the pancreas to stop the production of insulin, a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood.Ī rush of adrenaline is what gives you the ability to dodge out of the way of an oncoming car before you’ve had a chance to even think about it.Makes you sweat: It contracts muscle cells below the surface of the skin to stimulate perspiration.Sends blood to your muscles: It triggers the blood vessels to contract and direct blood toward major muscle groups.Increases your heart rate: It stimulates cells of the heart to beat faster.Makes you breathe faster: It binds to receptors on muscle cells in the lungs.Gives your muscles a boost of energy: Adrenaline does this by binding to receptors on liver cells to break down larger sugar molecules into a smaller, more readily usable sugar called glucose.When the adrenal glands receive the signal, they release adrenaline into the bloodstream. The hypothalamus transmits a signal through autonomic nerves to the adrenal medulla (inner glands of adrenals). It communicates with the rest of the body through the sympathetic nervous system. The hypothalamus is the brain’s command center.

If the amygdala perceives danger, it signals another region of the brain called the hypothalamus. The amygdala plays a role in emotional processing. When you perceive a dangerous or stressful situation, that information is sent to a part of the brain called the amygdala. What happens in the body when you experience a rush of adrenaline?Īn adrenaline rush begins in the brain.

High adrenaline disorder