Final answer:
The stress hormones include epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol, which are central to the body's fight-or-flight response and help manage short-term and long-term stress reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Stress Hormones in Our Body
When we experience stress, there are key hormones that are released in our body to manage our response. The primary stress hormones are epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline), and cortisol. These hormones are involved in the fight-or-flight response, which is the body's initial reaction to stress. In the short term, epinephrine and norepinephrine prepare the body for quick action by increasing heart rate, blood glucose levels, and oxygen availability. For long-term stress responses, cortisol is released by the adrenal cortex through the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, affecting glucose metabolism and having anti-inflammatory properties.
The sympathetic nervous system and the HPA axis are the two primary systems involved in the stress response. The sympathetic nervous system acts quickly to increase arousal and activate the fight-or-flight response, while the HPA axis responds more slowly, regulating the release of cortisol and other hormones that help the body adapt to stress over a longer period.