A catecholamines test measures the levels of stress hormones—adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine)— circulating in your blood or urine. Produced primarily by the adrenal glands, these vital hormones help your body manage physical and emotional stress by regulating heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolism. Doctors typically order this diagnostic test to investigate persistent hypertension, headaches, sweating, or rapid heartbeats, and to screen for rare, hormone-secreting neuroendocrine tumors like pheochromocytomas. Accurate results help clinicians pinpoint underlying endocrine disorders, ensuring patients receive timely and appropriate medical interventions.