0902 – Mic ‘Flight and Fight’

2023.06.21 – 0902 – Mic ‘Flight and Fight’

Mic fight and flight[1]

The ‘fight or flight’ response is well known: an automatic physiological reaction that’s perceived by the ‘caveman’ in us as stressful or frightening. The sympathetic nervous system is activated, triggering an acute stress response that prepares the body to confront it, or get away from it. A cascade of adrenaline, noradrenaline and acetylcholine make the heart pound, pupils dilate and breathing quicken. Muscles tense with the increased blood flow and beads of sweat appear. The stomach can feel nauseous or full of ‘butterflies’.

“Adrenaline plays an important role in the fight-or-flight response by increasing blood flow to muscles, output of the heart, pupil dilation response and blood sugar level.” (Source: Wikipedia)

“Noradrenaline production reaches its higher levels during situations of stress or danger, in the so-called fight-or-flight response. In the brain it increases arousal and alertness, promotes vigilance, enhances formation and retrieval of memory, and focuses attention; it also increases restlessness and anxiety. In the rest of the body, norepinephrine increases heart rate and blood pressure, triggers the release of glucose from energy stores, increases blood flow to skeletal muscle, reduces blood flow to the gastrointestinal system, and inhibits voiding of the bladder and gastrointestinal motility.” (Source: Wikipedia)

“Acetylcholine is the chemical that motor neurons of the nervous system release in order to activate muscles.” (Source: Wikipedia)

[1] A good write-up of the fight-or-flight response is here: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response

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