High Levels May Indicate (Least Severe → Most Severe):

• Certain Medications – Stimulants, antidepressants, and asthma medications can raise adrenaline levels temporarily.
• Severe Stress, Intense Exercise or Anxiety – The body's "fight-or-flight" response may cause temporary increases in adrenaline.
• Hypertension – Chronic high blood pressure can be associated with elevated adrenaline production.
• Pheochromocytoma or Neuroblastoma – Tumors affecting the adrenal glands can lead to dangerously excessive adrenaline secretion.

Low Levels May Indicate:

• Chronic Fatigue or Depression – Some cases of prolonged stress or metabolic imbalances may lower adrenaline levels.
• Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction – Disorders affecting nerve signaling can impact adrenaline release.
• Adrenal Insufficiency – Conditions like Addison’s disease may severely reduce adrenaline production.

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Life-Phase Considerations:

• Children & Adolescents – Adrenaline levels fluctuate based on growth, stress, and metabolic activity.
• Adults – Levels vary depending on lifestyle, health conditions, and medication use.
• Elderly – Age-related changes in adrenal function may alter adrenaline metabolism.

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Catecholamines (Sympathetic Mediators)

Dopamine, noradrenaline (measured both in blood and urine), and adrenaline (measured in urine) all belong to the catecholamine family.

They are synthesized sequentially from tyrosine, with dopamine serving as the precursor to both noradrenaline and adrenaline.

Blood levels of noradrenaline reflect immediate sympathetic nervous system activity, while urinary measurements of noradrenaline and adrenaline offer a cumulative view of catecholamine production and clearance over time.

Together, these markers provide a comprehensive picture of sympathetic activity and stress response.

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