SYMPATHETIC
A division of the autonomic or involuntary nervous system that
works in general opposition to the parasympathetic division (q.v.). Many of the
sympathetic functions are local, specific, and involve secretion of acetylcholine, like any
other of your normal nerves...stimulating or suppressing a specific muscle, gland, or
whatever. A certain number of these nerves, however, unlike any others in the body,
secrete epinephrine (adrenalin) and norepinephrine (noradrenalin). These are called
adrenergic.
Since the adrenal medulla also secretes the same substances into the bloodstream
as hormones, all the muscles or glands that are affected by the adrenergic sympathetic
nerves also react in toto to the epinephrine secreted into the blood. This forms the basis
for a potentially lifesaving emergency fight or flight response and is meant for short,
drastic activities.
A chronic excess of the adrenergic response, however, is a major cause of stressand
a major contributor to many types of chronic disease. The more you use a particular
nerve pathway or induce a particular group of functions, the more blood, fuel storage,
and mitochondria are produced to strengthen that group of actions.
Using adrenergic energy excessively gives literal dominance to those things that
are stimulated or suppressed, and the effects of adrenalin stress linger in the body after
the adrenalin is long gone. Since one of the first subjective symptoms of subclinical
malnutrition, metabolic imbalances, and environmental pollution is irritability of the
central nervous system, hypersympathetic function acts as an intermediate between poor
diet, pollution, and disease.