Adrenaline Surges in M.E.

 

 

Assisting the M.E. Patient in Managing Relapses & Adrenaline Surges

What is an adrenaline surge and how does this affect M.E. patients?

"People with M.E. can sometimes operate significantly above their actual illness level for certain periods of time thanks to surges of adrenaline - albeit at the cost of severe and prolonged worsening of the illness afterward.

Adrenaline is often referred to as the 'fight or flight' hormone as it kicks into action in situations of potential danger. However, adrenaline also kicks in when the body is in physiological difficulty, which is very often what is happening to severe M.E. sufferers. Adrenaline surges make the heart pump faster and raise the blood pressure, forcing blood around the body with greater force to supply the muscles with more oxygen, so that they can make a greater effort. Surges of adrenaline increase the metabolism.

They also relax and dilate the airways so that more oxygen than usual can be taken in. Adrenaline surges can also decrease the amount of pain felt. As a result of all of these factors, adrenaline surges - while they last - have the ability to increase physical speed, strength and other physical abilities.

Unfortunately, when these bursts of adrenaline wear off - as they must - people with M.E. are left far more ill as a result for many days, weeks, months or even years of overexertion.

People with M.E. are harmed by adrenaline surges, both by the physiological stress to the body of the changes caused by adrenaline, and by the extra activity which adrenaline enables, which may be far beyond the body's normal limits so that such activity causes damage. For every short term 'gain' there is a far greater loss overall.

Surges of adrenaline can last hours, days, weeks or even months at a time.

These adrenaline surges are a bit like credit cards. They allow patients to do things that they could never otherwise do, or 'afford.' But the interest rate is extortionate, sky high, a killer."

~ The Hummingbirds' Foundation for ME

Jodi Bassett compiled the above information in her Hummingbirds' Foundation for ME website to:

• describe the characteristics and signs of adrenaline surges and relapses in ME, and
• explain how to manage adrenaline surges for the benefit of patients and carers, as well as for newly ill ME patients.

Managing Adrenaline Surges in ME

 

• Why do M.E. patients sometimes overexert themselves, considering the severe consequences?

• What signs may indicate a relapse or an adrenaline surge?

• What can you do to help?

Please see answers to the above questions and more about adrenaline surges here

Thanks to Jodi Bassett & the Hummingbirds' Foundation for M.E.

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