Your Sympathetic Nervous System is a part of the Autonomic Nervous System (your ANS operates automatically, without conscious control and prepares the body to respond to emergency situations). Your SNS controls involuntary bodily functions. It plays a crucial role in the body's "fight or flight" response to stress or danger. 

 

When activated, the Sympathetic Nervous System triggers a series of physiological changes to help you face or escape danger. These include:

 

1. Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure.

   - Heart beats faster to pump more blood and oxygen to muscles.

 

2. Dilation of Airways.

   - Breathing speeds up, opening airways so more oxygen can enter the lungs.

 

3. Pupil Dilation.

   - Pupils expand to improve vision and awareness of surroundings.

 

4. Redirection of Blood Flow.

   - Blood vessels constrict in non-essential areas (like the skin and gastrointestinal tract) and dilate in muscles, directing blood where it's needed most.

 

5. Release of Stress Hormones.

   - Promotes the release of adrenaline and cortisol, which amplify the response.

 

6. Increased Glucose Release.

   - The liver releases glucose into the bloodstream to provide quick energy.

 

7. Reduction in Digestive and Urinary Activities.

   - Non-essential functions like digestion, salivation, and urination are slowed down to conserve energy for immediate needs.

 

8. Sweating.

   - Sweat production increases to help regulate body temperature during physical exertion.

 

9. Relaxation of the Bladder.

   - This helps prevent urination during stressful situations, conserving body resources.

 

 

The primary purpose of the Sympathetic Nervous System is to prepare your body for quick action in stressful or threatening situations—a response often called "fight or flight." It enables rapid physical changes that increase strength, speed, awareness, and stamina temporarily, giving you the best chance to confront or escape danger.

In essence, the Sympathetic Nervous System:

 

- Activates the body's rapid response to stress.

 

- Alters various physiological functions to optimize physical performance.

 

- Works in coordination with the adrenal glands to release stress hormones like adrenaline and norepinephrine.

 

Once the stressful situation passes, the Parasympathetic Nervous System (the "rest and digest" system) takes over to calm the body down and restore normal functions.