Can You Live Without Adrenaline?

We don't generally think about adrenaline and all that it does. In fact the only times we really talk about adrenaline is in the context of "oh he's such an adrenaline junkie" or "wow what a rush of adrenaline". Personally, I think it's time we start acknowledging our survival hormone more, because no, we cannot live without it. Here's why:

This catecholamine (both a neurotransmitter and a hormone) is responsible for crucial reactive functions in our body that would cause detrimental effects is missing - not to mention that the fight or flight response would be ineffective, putting you in high risk of danger/injury.

Without epinephrine, the body cannot effectively manage blood flow.

As a result, the heart rate increases and removes neurological limits that are imposed on muscle strength.

Since adrenaline is secreted by stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, it is involved in directing blood flow during exercise to skeletal muscles. Without is, there would not be enough blood reaching the muscles, causing them to rely on anaerobic glycolysis and will experience fatigue much faster.

Adrenaline also is helpful in simulating the heart's SA node. Adrenaline binds with the alpha adrenoceptors in high concentration, causing contraction of the heart. Without adrenaline, the heart may not be able to contract efficiently and results in am insufficient amount of oxygen during physical activity.

Although glucocorticoid (released by the adrenal cortex) is also a physiological response to stress, major organs that use glucorticod to perform operations such as increase in blood sugar, cannot function normally without adrenaline once the stress response is initiated (Polyglandular Addison's disease).