stresshormon

A stress hormone (German: Stresshormon) is any hormone released by the body in response to perceived threats or challenges that mobilizes physiological and behavioral adjustments. The best-known stress hormones are adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine), produced by the adrenal medulla and sympathetic nerves, and cortisol, produced by the adrenal cortex under control of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis.

These hormones orchestrate rapid and longer-term adaptations: adrenaline and noradrenaline trigger the "fight-or-flight" response by increasing heart rate, blood pressure and glucose availability; cortisol supports sustained energy supply, modulates inflammation and influences cognition and memory. Acute activation can be adaptive, improving performance and survival. Chronic elevation or dysregulation, however, is associated with cardiovascular disease, metabolic disturbances, impaired immune function, mood disorders and cognitive difficulties.

Stress hormones are measured in blood, saliva, urine and, for long-term exposure, hair. Clinical conditions involving abnormal stress-hormone activity include Cushing’s syndrome, Addison’s disease and stress-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Management of harmful stress-hormone effects focuses on addressing underlying causes and may include lifestyle changes (sleep, exercise, stress reduction), psychotherapy and, when indicated, pharmacological treatments.

Research continues into individual variability, long-term health consequences, biomarkers and the interaction between stress-hormone systems and other physiological pathways.