These little molecules, known as catecholamines, are hormones that act as neurotransmitters in your body, and they play a huge role in how your body reacts to stressful situations. When you encounter a stressor, such as a mental, physical, or environmental hazard, your body initiates its NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response, a range of actions your body goes through to manage stress. This includes changes in hormone production. Certain of these hormones, referred to as catecholamines, initiate many of the responses the body goes through during these times of stress.
What Are Catecholamines?
Produced in the adrenal glands, brain, and brainstem, catecholamines play a vital role in your body’s fight-or-flight response when your brain perceives a threat. They act like neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, that induce your NEM stress response. This means an increased production of stress hormones, particularly in the adrenal glands.
The main catecholamines include:
- dopamine
- adrenaline
- noradrenaline
These hormones each have a unique function during times of stress.
What Do Catecholamines Do?
While each catecholamine performs a unique function, together, essentially, they try to save your life in difficult situations. This may have proven of the utmost importance to our ancestors who had to fight wild animals to ensure their survival. In today’s world, on the other hand, typical stress comes from other sources. These sources may cause a prolonged NEM stress response that could harm your health in the long run.
Catecholamines may activate an emotional response in the amygdala. Situated in the temporal lobe next to the hippocampus in the brain, the amygdala plays a role in your emotional reactions. These include feelings of anger, fear, anxiety, and pleasure. It also plays a role in your ability to learn, form new memories, and make decisions.
But the amygdala, together with the limbic system, is keyed to detecting danger. In this regard, it plays a role in the activation of your NEM stress response.
Interestingly, people with mental health issues resulting from stress may have issues regarding amygdala function.
Catecholamines and Your Stress Response In Action
The NEM stress response activates your sympathetic nervous system. This results in an increase in stress hormone production in the adrenal glands and activates the sympathetic-adrenomedullary axis, promoting the release of catecholamines. These circulate through your bloodstream and brain, acting on various neuroreceptor sites to induce changes in your body. These changes prepare your body for immediate action.
Please note that while cortisol, the most common stress hormone, is also produced during the NEM stress response, it is a steroid hormone primarily produced by the adrenal glands. Catecholamines, on the other hand, are stress hormones that act as neurotransmitters and thus have a different function.
When you experience stress, catecholamines collectively:
- Increase your blood pressure, heart rate, and rate of breathing
- Reduce blood flow to the skin
- Increase blood flow to your heart, brain, and kidneys
- Increase your mental alertness and muscle strength
- Slow down gastrointestinal function
- Increase blood sugar levels
Although catecholamine levels may prove higher during stressful periods, they tend to normalize once things calm down.
The Function of Individual Catecholamines
The three main catecholamines that play major roles during the activation of your NEM stress response each have unique functions.
Dopamine
Dopamine works with the nervous system and helps to regulate your brain’s reward mechanism, emotions, memory, and movement.5 It also plays a role in your ability to sleep and your libido.
Adrenaline, or Epinephrine
Adrenaline is also known as epinephrine. This neurotransmitter plays a key role in your body’s fight-or-flight response when you encounter a stressful situation. This catecholamine may induce the following reactions when your body responds to stress:
Increased blood flow to your muscles and brain- A rise in blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Increased energy levels due to a rise in blood sugar levels
- More efficient breathing
- Enlarged pupils
- Increased sweating
Noradrenaline
Also referred to as norepinephrine, noradrenaline is a hormone that acts like a neurotransmitter in the brain.1 Produced in the brain stem and adrenal glands, this catecholamine is involved in the following functions:
- Blood pressure regulation
- Circadian rhythm and other metabolic cycles
- Mood and memory
- Plays a role in triggering smooth muscle function
Prolonged Exposure to Catecholamines
Under normal circumstances, when a stressor passes, the levels of the different catecholamines should reduce to normal. However, constant exposure to a stressful situation may result in constantly elevated catecholamine levels. This could result in several symptoms that relate to Adrenal Fatigue. This makes sense seeing that your adrenal glands may have to work overtime to keep up with the production of stress hormones during prolonged stressful situations.
Prolonged stressful situations call for an ever-increasing production of stress hormones. Your adrenal glands may rise valiantly to the occasion, but at some point, they become exhausted. When this happens, their stress hormone production may decrease. Both an increased and decreased production of stress hormones can result in the development of health issues connected to Adrenal Fatigue. This is a condition where the body is unable to keep up with long-term stress, resulting in various nonspecific symptoms.
Symptoms associated with prolonged catecholamine exposure include mood disorders like anxiety and depression, chronic inflammation, sleep issues, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular issues, and many more.
Interestingly, low norepinephrine and epinephrine levels are used as indicators of Adrenal Fatigue.
Symptoms Associated With An Imbalance In Catecholamines
High or low catecholamines in your body can present as various symptoms commonly seen as individual health issues.
Dopamine Symptoms
High dopamine levels may see a drastic increase in your sex drive and leave you feeling euphoric. It may also lead to difficulty in controlling your impulses, and promote aggressive behavior and sleep issues. It has also been linked to a proclivity to addiction. Health issues commonly associated with high dopamine levels include:
- Depression
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Schizophrenia
- Parkinson’s disease
Low dopamine production also has a list of related health issues. These include:
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Low libido
- Issues with memory
- Sleep issues
- Loss of motivation
- Restless leg syndrome
- Parkinson’s disease
- Depression
Adrenaline Symptoms
High and low adrenaline levels also have their associated symptoms. Those associated with an increase in adrenaline include:
- Nervousness, irritability, and anxiety
- Headaches
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- Changes in your heart rhythm
- Muscle weakness
- Insomnia
- Tremors
Also called adrenal insufficiency, low adrenaline symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
- Nausea or vomiting
- Lightheadedness
- Abdominal pains
- Menstrual cycle issues
- Salt cravings
- Muscle weakness
- Low blood pressure
- Hair loss
Noradrenaline Symptoms
The most common symptoms associated with prolonged noradrenaline levels include the following:
Issues with vision- Muscle cramps
- Sleep issues
- Irritability and anxiety
- High blood pressure
- Muscle cramps
- Concentration issues
- Severe headaches
- Dizziness
On the other hand, low noradrenaline levels may result in:
- Constant fatigue and lethargy
- Memory issues, brain fog, difficulty concentrating
- Anxiety and depression
- Low blood pressure
- ADHD
- Headaches
- Sleeping issues
Possible Causes of Elevated Catecholamine Levels
Stress is not the only cause of increased catecholamines. Certain health conditions may also cause their increased production. Examples include certain types of tumors.
Neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer in the neuroblasts. These specialized nerve cells are the precursors of neurons. Neurons transmit chemical messengers throughout the body to tell it what to do. Although considered one of the most common childhood cancers, it can happen to anyone at any time.
Although most of these tumors arise in the adrenal glands, they may also occur anywhere along the sympathetic nervous system.2 This type of cancer is known for increasing your catecholamine levels.
Symptoms associated with neuroblastoma include:
- Anemia
- Bloating in the abdominal area
- Diarrhea
- High blood pressure
- Pain in the bones
- A blue tint to the skin, especially around the eye area
- Upper eyelids that droop
- Fever
- Eyes that bulge
- You do not sweat
- A low blood cell count
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Although neuroendocrine tumors usually develop in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and pancreas, they may also occur in other organs. Examples include the prostate, thymus, breast, and skin.4 Because they primarily develop from cells in the neuroendocrine system, they can affect hormone production and thus influence various body functions.
Common symptoms associated with neuroendocrine tumors include:
- Abdominal, chest, or neck pain
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss for no reason
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Bowel or bladder movement changes
- Finding it difficult to move your arms and/or legs
- Breathing difficulties
- Finding it difficult to swallow
- Swelling of the face, neck, arms, legs, and upper torso area
Medications
Certain medications may affect catecholamines. They may either reduce or increase their levels. These include asthma medications, sedatives, antibiotics, blood pressure medications, diuretics, antidepressants, appetite suppressants, and heart medications.
In addition, alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine may also affect catecholamine levels.
Testing for Catecholamines
Elevated catecholamine levels can serve to indicate underlying health issues. Certain tests can measure the amount of catecholamines in your body. Elevated levels could, for example, point toward the possibility of certain tumors.
When testing for catecholamines, your healthcare provider may suggest a urine or blood test. A catecholamine urine test involves collecting urine over 24 hours. A blood test involves drawing blood. Analysis of either of these tests can determine your catecholamine levels.
However, these tests may not be sufficient to determine the possibility of a tumor. Many factors can influence the result, like the use of certain medications, for example. If you have high catecholamine levels, your healthcare provider may take your health status into account. They would look at things like your diet, physical condition, medications, and emotional state. They may also, if they suspect the presence of a tumor, suggest an MRI or CT scan. This will help confirm suspected issues. A biopsy of the tumor may be needed to indicate the presence of cancer.
Addressing High Catecholamines
Stress is the most common cause of high catecholamines in your body. The best way to address your levels is by making positive lifestyle choices. These include following a healthy diet that incorporates plenty of fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, getting enough of the right type of exercise, and getting enough quality sleep. You could also explore the relaxing effects of deep breathing exercises and meditation.
Certain supplements may also help you balance your catecholamine levels.
- Adrenal Quiet contains L-Theanine. L-theanine is an amino acid that has a calming effect on the brain. It also stimulates and regulates dopamine production. In so doing, it may help regulate your emotional state, mental focus, and quality of sleep.
- HTPro contains 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan). It is a precursor hormone to serotonin. Serotonin has a calming, soothing effect on the body. It is also a precursor to the sleep hormone melatonin. The supplement may thus also help improve your sleep.
- GABAX contains GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid). This neurotransmitter has a calming effect on your brain. It works by blocking certain signals to your central nervous system.
In Closing
Catecholamines have many beneficial effects on your body when they are in a state of balance. When your body goes into a state of stress, they play a key role in the different processes your body goes through and have a protective function. However, prolonged stress and constantly elevated catecholamine levels may lead to serious health issues. If you suspect you have dysregulated catecholamine levels, it is best to talk to your doctor to rule out other causes. If stress is the culprit, taking steps to reduce it along with improving your diet, engaging in gentle exercise, and getting better sleep may help.
If you want to know more about catecholamines and how to manage them, give us a call. You can contact us at +1 (626) 571-1234. A team member is standing by to help!
