Elevated adrenaline in ME/CFS

[SWAlexander]

Video:

Paper: Adrenergic dysfunction in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39319943/

 

[Violeta]

patients with ME/CFS had a greater increase in the expression of α2A adrenergic receptors

So, alpha-2 adrenergic agonists work by stimulating these receptors, therefore blocking the downstream sympathetic response, and ultimately decreasing blood pressure. Some common side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, and dry mouth.

Key points about increased α2A adrenergic receptor expression:


Physiological effects:
This increase can lead to a dampened response to norepinephrine, potentially causing effects like decreased heart rate, reduced blood pressure, and inhibition of lipolysis (fat breakdown) in adipose tissue.


Disease states: Conditions like osteoarthritis can show increased α2A receptor expression in affected cartilage.

Stress response: Chronic stress may lead to alterations in α2A receptor expression in certain brain regions
after exercise and an increased response of noradrenaline to an orthostatic test


After exercise, ME/CFS patients had an increased response of noradrenaline to an orthostatic test

Here are some effects of noradrenaline:

• Heart rate: Noradrenaline increases heart rate and the amount of blood pumped from the heart.
  
  
  
• Blood pressure: Noradrenaline constricts blood vessels to increase blood pressure.
  
  
  
• Energy: Noradrenaline breaks down fat and increases blood sugar levels to provide a burst of energy.
  
  
  
• Sleep-wake cycle: Noradrenaline helps maintain sleep-wake cycles, and helps you wake up in the morning.
  
  
  
• Focus: Noradrenaline helps you focus throughout the day.
  
  
  
• Visual perception: Noradrenaline modulates perceptual sensitivity and accuracy.
  
  

Too much or too little noradrenaline can cause symptoms that are common across many health conditions, including mood swings, anxiety, headaches, and fatigue

*Words in blue are from the study.

 

[SWAlexander]

additional: "Stimulation of central alpha-2 receptors causes decreased secretion of catecholamines through a negative feedback mechanism. Stimulation of peripheral alpha-1 receptors primarily increases blood pressure via induced vasoconstriction."

Alpha Receptor Agonist Toxicity​

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500023/

 

[Wishful]

It doesn't fit my ME. Maybe it's an issue for a subset, for whom ME's core dysfunction affects the adrenaline mechanism.

 

[Oliver3]

Definitely affects mine

 

[hapl808]

Definitely seems to affect me. I almost always have tachycardia, and relatively normal things will spike my heart rate. In addition, what makes me feel 'slightly better' and what lowers my heart rate are rarely correlated. So things like beta blockers have minimally impacted my HR but made me feel worse, yet maca raises my HR but makes me feel slightly better.

No idea how to really treat it.

 

[Blazer95]

atleast something seems to be wrong with my adrenaline aswell. mine seems to be rather on the lower side because of adrenal exhaustion or something?

while the first 2-3 years of disease i had crazy BP and HR surges often getting a BP of up to 170-180/100 and a resting hr of 100~ while laying down. now sometimes my HR drops to weird lows like 49 - 55. nothing too concerning but a bit odd is it defo.

on the other hand my blood sugar has always been through the roof since coming down with ME.
same with LDL cholestrol (both was normal pre-ME!)

the next interesting thing is that i had 0 common colds in the 2-3 years of illness indciating some weird immune dysruption going on (i am constantly exposed to viral infections because my GF works in elementary school). but now i got my first cold in like 3 years. do you guys know when people usually say: "i am so stressed all the time i didnt even get ill at all because i worked so much but as soon as i took a vacation i became a virus?" i think its something similar with me atm. my body decided to make a pause with its fight against ME for 1 day and BOOM -> virus.
why do I say that in this thread? because i thinked this stress response is linked to adrenaline/cortisol.

cheers

 

[Violeta]

This seems to be what's going on with me:
So, alpha-2 adrenergic agonists work by stimulating these receptors, therefore blocking the downstream sympathetic response, and ultimately decreasing blood pressure. Some common side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, and dry mouth.

I tend towards low blood pressure, can have constipation and dry mouth.


I definitely have this type of response:

Physiological effects:
This increase can lead to a dampened response to norepinephrine, potentially causing effects like decreased heart rate, reduced blood pressure, and inhibition of lipolysis (fat breakdown) in adipose tissue."


I do not have this response, and this is from the paper. This is what would raise blood pressure. This is what Jared is pointing to in this video. So I definitely have something wrong with adrenergic receptors or neurotransmitters, but not what Jared is talking about.



After exercise, ME/CFS patients had an increased response of noradrenaline to an orthostatic test