What hormone is primarily associated with stress response?

Cortisol is primarily associated with the body's stress response. When a person faces a stressful situation, the hypothalamus in the brain triggers the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which stimulates the pituitary gland to produce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This hormone then prompts the adrenal glands to release cortisol. Cortisol is often referred to as the "stress hormone" because it plays a crucial role in how the body responds to stress.

Cortisol helps manage metabolism, reduce inflammation, and control the body's sleep-wake cycle, effectively enabling the body to handle stressful events. Elevated cortisol levels can contribute to various physical and mental health issues if stress is chronic, making its role in the stress response critical to understand.

The other hormones mentioned are not primarily linked to stress response: adrenaline, while also involved in stress situations, is more about the immediate fight-or-flight response; insulin regulates blood sugar levels; and serotonin is chiefly involved in mood regulation rather than stress management.