Red Bull may not really give you wings, but epinephrine will most definitely save your life.
Adrenaline, one of the most legendary—and primitive—hormones in the entire vertebrate lineage. It has the power to turn the strongest athlete into a whimpering coward, the sweetest and most gentle person into a career tribute from The Hunger Games.
How does this ancient, little molecule radically change our personalities from logical human beings to Darwinian survivalists?
Also known as epinephrine, adrenaline is a hormone released by our adrenal glands when we feel under threat. Our heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, and perspiration is induced. These are all signs of what is classically known as the “fight or flight” response.
The most basic vertebrates to which we, reptiles, birds, fish, amphibians, and other mammals are related to are sensitive to the power of adrenaline. Invertebrates have a completely different nervous and circulatory systems than humans do. They do not use adrenaline but octopamine, which is not only a similar molecule with similar synthesis, but does almost exactly the same thing in invertebrates as it does in us.
The fight or flight response is an old and very protective adaptation. It is possessed by nearly all animals—whether they are spidery crabs lurking the abyssal depths of the ocean, or majestic birds skirting the stratosphere. Without fight or flight, it is highly unlikely any of us would be here today.
In a developed world like the one we are experiencing in this day and age, we don’t have to worry too often about being mauled to death by a lion or bear. But, that doesn’t mean those same ancient neural mechanisms aren’t very much in play today. While often adrenaline makes us more anxious or ready to jump out of a plane than anything, as the Bloodhound Gang said, we ain’t nothin’ but mammals, and when our vitality is threatened, we have one last safety net.
Enter Anaphylaxis. Anaphylactic shock is a serious allergic reaction that can result in death. One of the side effects of epinephrine consumption is high blood pressure, while a symptom of anaphylaxis is low blood pressure.
This is no coincidence. In fact, one of the greatest benefits of medical use of epinephrine is the increased blood flow to the heart and lungs by the constriction of the blood vessels and decreasing flow to extremities. There are no contradictions to the use of epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis. Thus, for the past 30 years, adrenaline has been recognized internationally as the go-to potion for anaphylaxis by consensus.
So, ditch the Jager bombs when you need to rally. When your body is under threat, adrenaline is basically the resurrection stone from Harry Potter—your ancestors had you covered from jump.
Photo by Paloma Callo
