Stress hormones: what they are and their characteristics

  • Jun 16, 2022
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Stress hormones: what they are and their characteristics

Stress is a feeling of physical and emotional tension that we live with on a daily basis. Humans have emotions, thoughts and behaviors that determine how we are and how to act at all times. We are mind and body, so we have the ability to reason and physiological processes determined by factors such as hormones, which have various functions that vary according to the needs of the organism, depending on the context to which we let's face

When we experience stressful situations or situations that make us feel nervous, one of the body's natural responses is the activation of stress hormones. These types of hormones regulate our body against external events that pose a threat to our well-being. Specifically, there are six types of stress hormones with different characteristics. If you found all this interesting, keep reading! In this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about the stress hormones: what they are and their characteristics.

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Index

  1. cortisol
  2. Adrenalin
  3. Testosterone and estrogens
  4. glucagon
  5. prolactin
  6. Progesterone

Cortisol.

Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which are responsible for maintaining a direct connection with blood glucose. When we are faced with a situation that generates stress, blood sugar levels increase, which produces the following effects:

  • Greater contraction of the muscles of the body.
  • Irritability.
  • Sudden mood swings.
  • Stomach ache.

If you want to know how to alleviate its effects, in this article, we will tell you how to lower cortisol.

Adrenalin.

Adrenaline is one of the stress hormones and is also produced by the adrenal glands. When adrenaline levels rise as a result of experiencing a stressful event, the body produces a large amount of lipids in the blood. This causes an increase in heart rate and prepares and activates the body to defend itself against harmful external factors.

Testosterone and estrogens.

Testosterone and estrogens, better known as sex hormones, are linked to the development of sexuality, both male and female. When a man or a woman goes through a stress situationTestosterone and estrogen levels generally drop. In these circumstances, the impact are the following:

  • Sexual difficulties such as impotence or premature ejaculation.
  • Loss of sexual desire. Discover how to solve the lack of desire in men.
  • Insomnia.
  • Fatigue.
  • Mood variations.
Stress hormones: what they are and their characteristics - Testosterone and estrogens

Glucagon.

Glucagon is another of the stress hormones associated with the metabolism of carbohydrates, which are responsible for producing the energy used by the body in situations that involve wear physical. Faced with the appearance of events that cause a greater load of stress, glucagon is deregulated and releases large amounts of carbohydrates. As a consequence, this can cause an increase in blood sugar levels if the stressful situation is not processed in a reasonable time.

Prolactin.

Prolactin is a stress hormone produced by pituitary glandlocated in the brain. However, this hormone is related to estrogen levels in women. In other words, the increase in prolactin levels can result in an inhibition of the release of female hormones.

For this reason, it is common for women who have gone through prolonged stressful periods to have sexual difficulties such as the following:

  • Lack of ovulation.
  • Changes in menstruation.
  • lack of sexual desire.

Progesterone.

Finally, another of the stress hormones that affect the body is progesterone. It has a direct relationship with testosterone and estrogens, since it also belongs to the group of sex hormones. progesterone it is present only in women, since it is found in the ovaries.

Mainly, progesterone is responsible for regulating menstrual cycles and, when a woman is under a lot of stress, its production drops considerably. In this article you will find information about the low progesterone: symptoms and treatment.

The most important consequences of this decrease in progesterone are:

  • Loss of sexual desire.
  • Fatigue.
  • Persistent headaches.
  • Sudden mood swings.
  • Weight gain.

In addition, it should be noted that stress is a factor that must be addressed from various angles, since it can have very varied implications. For that reason, it is recommended to consult health professionals that evaluate the characteristics of each person in order to develop personalized treatments.

Stress hormones: what they are and their characteristics - Progesterone

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Stress hormones: what they are and their characteristics, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical and health psychology.

Bibliography

  • Duval, F., González, F., Rabia, H. (2010). Neurobiology of stress. Chilean Journal of Neuropsychiatry, 48 (4), 307-318.
  • Romero, E., Young, J., Salado-Castillo, R. (2021). Physiology of stress and its integration into the nervous and endocrine systems. Recovered from: https://doi.org/10.37416/rmc.v32i1.535
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