Understanding Norepinephrine Hormone and Its Role in Good Health

Hormones released by the adrenal glands located atop the kidneys help regulate the immune system, control blood pressure levels, rev up metabolism, and stimulate the body’s stress response. Among those secreted by the adrenal glands, norepinephrine hormone is especially important to trigger the body’s ‘fight-or-flight’ response. Let’s read through to know more about norepinephrine, also called the noradrenaline hormone and its functions.

Role of Hormone Norepinephrine

The adrenal medulla, the inner part of the adrenal glands, is responsible for the production of norepinephrine hormone. This hormone has a dual responsibility for the body’s wellbeing.  

It is both a neurotransmitter and a hormone whose main function is to mobilise the brain and body into action. The release of norepinephrine is the lowest during sleep and increases during wakefulness. But it reaches its maximum when the body encounters a stressful situation or senses danger.

As a neurotransmitter, it is made from dopamine. The nerve cells in the brainstem area and area near the spinal cord help make norepinephrine.  It acts as a chemical messenger that is responsible for transmitting signals across nerve endings to other cells of the nerves, muscles, and glands. On the other hand, released by the adrenal glands, the hormone Norepinephrine is important for the body’s sympathetic nervous system and the body’s reaction for the acute stress response.

Function of Noradrenaline Hormone During Challenging Times

At normal levels, norepinephrine hormone regulates the sleep-wake cycle, mood, and memory. It increases the mind’s alertness, attention, and arousal. 

But as the body encounters a stressful situation, the hormone norepinephrine is responsible for revving up the mind and body to handle the situation. Known as the body’s acute stress response, during stressful times the nerves in the hypothalamus, a small area of the brain activate the brainstem called the locus ceruleus. It then sends a signal to the spinal cord and other body parts. The neurotransmitter norepinephrine carrying the brain’s alert call reaches different organs and tissues to react immediately under stress situations. Neurotransmitter also reaches to your adrenal gland, located atop the kidneys, and it begins to release the hormone norepinephrine.

The hormone quickly enters the bloodstream and travels to all body organs, so that they continue to react till one is out of danger. The rapid effect on organs include:

1. Eyes: The pupils dilate. This allows more light which increases the vision area, making you more aware of your surroundings.
2. Skin: The skin turns pale because the blood flow to the surface of the skin is reduced. Instead, the oxygenated blood is diverted to the muscles in the arms and legs, providing instant energy to either run or fight the situation.
3. Heart: The heart rate increases. More oxygenated blood is now delivered to vital organs of the body and the muscles. 
4. Blood vessels: The arteries and arterioles constrict with the increase in levels of norepinephrine hormone in the body. This increases the blood pressure which triggers the pushing of blood to vital organs and muscles.
5. Muscles: As the muscles receive an overdose of oxygenated blood, they become tense, twitchy, and primed up for action.
6. Liver: The glycogen levels which are stored in the liver are immediately converted into glucose to provide more energy.
7. Breathing Airways: As breathing is deeper and faster, the bronchi are dilated. This increases airflow into and out of the lungs. The breathing rate increases to take in more oxygen.

The adrenal glands continue to produce the hormone norepinephrine till the time neurotransmitter norepinephrine delivers the brain’s signal that the body is now out of danger.

How Low Levels of Hormone Norepinephrine Affect Body

As stated above, the hormone norepinephrine is important for the smooth functioning of the body. Low levels of this hormone can increase many health complications. These include:

1. Anxiety attacks
2. Feeling low and depressed
3. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
4. Perpetual Headaches
5. Memory issues
6. Sleeping related disorders
7. Hypotension or low blood pressure 
8. Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels
9. Blood pressure changes
10. Heart rate changes
11. Dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency which withholds the body from converting dopamine into norepinephrine

How High Levels of Hormone Norepinephrine Affect Body

Just like low levels of hormone norepinephrine are bad for the body, high levels also pose serious complications. These include:

1. Hypertension or high blood pressure 
2. Arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat
3. Tachycardia or rapid heartbeat
4. Excessive sweating
5. Skin that feels cold on touching
6. Pale skin
7. Severe and continuous headaches
8. Nervous and jittery feeling
9. Pheochromocytoma or tumour in the adrenal gland 
10. High risk of heart disease
11. High risk of damage to blood vessels
12. High risk of kidney damage

How to Increase Norepinephrine Levels Naturally?

The noradrenaline hormone plays a critical role in the well-being of the body. Therefore, its levels must be released in the required amounts. Fortunately, you can increase the levels of norepinephrine naturally. The ways to do so include:

1. Exercise

Regular exercise, 30 minutes a day for at least 5 days a week, helps improve norepinephrine function. Research shows that regular exercise increases the brain’s production of galanin. Galanin is a peptide neurotransmitter which is responsible for regulating the production of norepinephrine hormone.  

2. Meditation

Meditation helps relax the body and triggers the secretion of dopamine, the feel-good hormone. Optimum levels of dopamine are often associated with the feeling of well-being. The chemicals in dopamine help in the production of the hormone norepinephrine, thereby increasing the levels naturally.

3. Sleep

A disciplined sleep pattern and getting an adequate amount of sleep, between 7-9 hours every night, can help increase the levels of norepinephrine naturally. Hormone norepinephrine is responsible for the body’s sleep-wake cycle. Hence, it functions at its best when there is no sleep deprivation.

4. Diet

Foods that we consume can play an important role in increasing levels of norepinephrine. The production of norepinephrine is dependent upon the amino acid tyrosine available in protein-rich foods. Thus, eating foods rich in tyrosine like almonds, avocados, bananas, dairy products, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and lima beans can help increase norepinephrine levels. 

For optimum production and release of norepinephrine in the body, eating three balanced meals with adequate quantities of lean protein, whole grains, and vegetables are important. Some common foods that increase the norepinephrine hormone are bananas, beans, legumes, and cheese. The non-vegetarians can savour chicken, eggs, fish, seafood, and meat. Chocolates too do the trick.

5. Practising a Hobby

Doing something that you love brings joy. This increases the brain’s production of dopamine. The chemicals in dopamine in turn increase the production of the hormone norepinephrine in the body.

Exposure to Sunlight

Increased exposure to sunlight can enhance norepinephrine hormone levels naturally. When the skin absorbs sunlight, it produces vitamin D. This, in turn, triggers the production of dopamine and serotonin. As mentioned above, chemicals in dopamine aid the production of the hormone norepinephrine. Also, vitamin D is important to maintain the balance of neurotransmitter levels in the brain.

Use of Norepinephrine as a Medicine

The function of noradrenaline hormone in the body also makes it a potent drug. Norepinephrine, when used as a medicine, helps increase and regulate blood pressure levels due to its characteristic feature of constricting the blood vessels. It is ideal for managing acute hypotensive situations where low blood pressure is a serious health threat. The conditions include:

1. Cardiac arrest
2. Spinal anaesthesia
3. Septicaemia or blood poisoning caused due to bacterial infection
4. Blood transfusions
5. Adverse drug reaction or interaction

Norepinephrine is often used in conjunction with other medicines to treat conditions like septic shock, neurogenic shock, pericardial tamponade, and critical hypotension. However, there are certain side-effects related to the use of norepinephrine as a medication. These common side-effects of the use of norepinephrine as a medication that require medical supervision are:

1. Allergic reactions like skin rashes and face swelling
2. Difficulty breathing with episodes of wheezing
3. Arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat
4. Palpitations with or without chest pain
5. Pain and redness at the site of injection
6. Irritation or itchiness at the site of injection

Conclusion

Norepinephrine, part of the sympathetic nervous system in the body, is both a neurotransmitter and a hormone. The primary function of noradrenaline hormone is that of a neurotransmitter which carries the alert signal to the adrenal glands. The secretion of this hormone prepares the body for the fight-or-flight response. As a medication too, norepinephrine proves extremely helpful in increasing and maintaining blood pressure in acute hypotensive situations. Given the widespread role of the norepinephrine hormone in the body’s well-being, it is important to maintain its levels in the body.