Stress hormones are hormones and related chemical messengers that help the body respond to perceived or actual physical or psychological challenges.
The best-known stress hormones include cortisol and adrenaline (epinephrine). They help coordinate changes such as increased alertness, altered heart rate, redistribution of blood flow, and increased availability of energy during a stress response.
These hormones are useful when their effects are appropriate and temporary. Problems can arise when stress responses are repeatedly or persistently activated.
QUICK FACT
Cortisol and adrenaline do not simply “cause stress.” They are part of the body’s normal system for responding to stressors.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- Neurotransmitters: Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers used by nerve cells to communicate, usually over short distances and rapidly.
- Stress response: the broader physiological response involving many systems, not just hormones.
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