Ryan's Science Fair Project

"Adrenaline"

Factors That Cause Adrenaline Release

1. Dehydration

2. Heart Failure

3. Trauma or shock

4. Exercise

5. Low blood sugar

6. Hypothermia

7. Hypoxia

These situations are potentially dangerous for your body and the adrenaline release provides an added boost to help your body cope and deal with the situation more effectively.

Anaphylaxis

This occurs when mast cells in an allergic person are cross-linked by an antigen. This causes the mast cells to release histamine. Results of this are an allergic reaction.

Effects:

-shortness of breath, wheezing, tight chest

-hives (itchy swelling in the skin)

-Swelling of lips and throat

-low blood pressure, dizzyness, fainting

-death

Antihistamines such as Benadryl are given to block these histamine effects. Adrenaline is also given (Epipen) to reverse some of the effects caused by histamine release. Steroids are also given to prevent swelling after an allergic reaction. The effect of adrenaline will last for about 20 minutes after it is given and will gain some time in an emergency to get the person to a hospital.

Adrenaline

The proper medical name for adrenaline is epinephrine. It is produced in the adrenal glands which sit on top of the kidney’s. It circulates in the bloodstream and is therefore considered a hormone as it has an effect on parts of the body remote from where it is produced.

Adrenaline is responsible for the “fight or flight” response. When you are faced with a dangerous or frightening situation adrenaline rushes through your body and prepares you to either run from the danger or stay and fight to protect yourself.

Effects of Adrenaline

Cardiovascular

-constricts blood vessels in the skin and stomach

-increases heart rate

Metabolism

-increases metabolism and generates body heat

-makes you body burn fat

Organs

-relaxes the stomach, bowel and bladder

-relaxes bronchiole tubes

Insulin

-stops theI release of insulin so your blood sugar level rises

All of these effects prepare your body for a stressful situation and enable it to work at higher performance levels than normal.

I'M PUMPED

People refer to "being pumped" when they feel energized. This feeling often comes when you are exercising or frightened. There is a feeling of amazing amounts of strength and stamina. You can see this in athletes who run marathons and their bodies are exhausted but are able to continue. Often injuries occur and go unnoticed because the adrenaline masks the pain until the person slows down and the adrenaline in their bodies decreases. Similar affects occur when someone becomes frightened. It's been reported that very small people are able to rescue someone trapped under a car by lifting the car. This feat could notbe done under normal circumstances but with the affects of adrenaline in the body the person suddenly seems far more able to perform tasks that they would otherwise not be able to do.

STRESSED

Like "being pumped" a person who finds themselves in a very stressful situation can often mask a physical condition such as a flu by being so "stressed" that there is an increase in adrenline which causes the body to withstand the stress as well as any other ailments. However, once the situation becomes stress free, the body resumes to the normal adrenaline state and the symptoms of illness present themselves.

LUNGS HEART

The lungs do not have their The heart's job is to

own muscles to make you pump blood to the

breathe in and out. The lungs and then all

muscles between your around the body.

ribs and the diaphragm

do the job instead.

DIAPHRAGM KIDNEYS

As your ribs move up and Filter the blood to remove

out, the diaphragm contracts wastes and extra water

and moves down. This pulls and salts.

air into the lungs to fill the

space. When the diaphragm

and the muscles between the

ribs relax, they squeeze air

out of the lungs.

WHY DOES YOUR HAIR STAND UP ON END WHEN YOU GET COLD OR SCARED?

When you get really scared, your nervous system sends adrenaline through your body to give you more energy. Adrenaline also makes your heart beat faster, your muscles contract and your hair stand up on end. Bristly hair is especially important for an animal that's trying to scare off a predator. It makes the animal look much bigger and more ferocious. Bristly hair doesn't really help you when you're scared but it does when it's cold. The upright hair traps a thicker later of air next to your skin and this insulate you better.

BENADRYL VERSUS EPI-PEN

If you are in the company of someone who is having an allergic reaction you should first use Benadryl. Benadryl is an antihistamine and will therefore block the histamine release.

However, Benadryl will only stop the reaction from progressing. Therefore, any release that has occurred will continue to affect the body. This is why it is crucial to administer Benadryl at the earliest sign of an allergic reaction.

If Benadryl is administered but the person is not getting any relief and seems to be having trouble breathing, you should administer an Epi-pen. An Epi-pen contains adrenaline which relaxes the bronchial tubes and helps the body to breathe. This relaxation will only last for 20-30 minutes. Once the epi-pen is given the person should be brought to a hospital where they can receive steroids to decrease the swelling.

PROJECT SUMMARY-ADRENALINE

1. How did I come up with my project idea?

I was explaining how to use my Epipen and thought it would be a good idea.

2. What did I learn from my experiment?

I learned what adrenaline does in our body and how it is used to treat allergy reactions.

3. How close were my hypothesis and conclusion?

My project was a research topic rather than an experimental project.

4. Did I learn anything new from my project?

Yes, I learned that adrenaline is an important life-saving drug.

5. What was the most interesting part of my project?

Learning about anaphylaxis.

Ryan

Grade 5

St. Bonaventure's College

St. John's N.L.

Allergic Reactions