It’s a familiar refrain.
A lady suddenly bursts into tears. People say it’s the hormones.
An expectant mother hogs the chocolate ice cream as if her life depended on it … “Hormones!”
A guy explodes in anger … “Hormones!”
Whenever somebody behaves strangely… “Hormones!”
Hormones are blamed for pretty much any untoward behavior, and every time we hear that one-word explanation, it seems as if some witchcraft is at work and there’s little we can do about it. “Hormones,” it seems, is a sufficient defense for anything.
Their potent nature is known to science, and they are skeptically accepted by parents of teenagers.
But what exactly are hormones and are human beings helpless participants on the face of them?
We’ll find out here.
What Are Hormones?
Chemically speaking, hormones are either proteins or lipids. Proteins are a chain of amino acids that are soluble in water. Lipids, for their part, are composed of fatty acids not soluble in water.
Hormones are the workhorse of the Endocrine System and play key roles in almost every bodily function. There are around 50 different hormones that have been identified, ranging from insulin, which controls blood sugar, to testosterone, which has a role in sexual development.
Other biological processes affected by hormones include:
mood
sleep cycle
weight regulation
temperature control
growth
metabolism
hunger and digestion
energy level
learning and memory
A variety of glands produce these hormones, and they are distributed all over the body. Some of the major hormone-producing glands include the:
Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland
Pineal gland
Thyroid
Parathyroid gland
Thymus
Adrenal gland
Pancreas
Ovaries
Testes
Think of the Endocrine System as a complex communications network. It is a messaging system that tells the parts of the body what to do. Hormones are released into the bloodstream and reach the utmost regions of the body.
Once a specific hormone reaches the “target” cell, tissue, gland, or organ, it gives instructions like:
“Stop producing X.” OR “Start producing X.”
“Act/behave this way.” OR “Stop behaving like that.”
Hormones help keep the body in top condition by regulating the functions and directing the balance of different chemicals—keeping the body in homeostasis.
The human body has very narrow specifications and limits. For example, the normal range for (fasting) blood sugar would be around 70 to 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L). Normal blood pressure would be just below 120/80. (Age, gender, ethnicity, and even time of day would factor into what is considered “normal,” but that’s the generally accepted region of health.)
These numbers are continually being monitored, and when the body goes over or under these set-points, a series of chemical reactions take place to bring the numbers back to the “normal” range.
How Do Hormones Affect Behavior?
Nobody bats an eye when things are going well. It’s when things go awry and there’s a hormonal imbalance that we recognize how important the regulatory nature of hormones is.
The behaviors that we see (eg. anger, crying, sluggishness) are symptoms of a chemical imbalance. They are manifestations of a biological issue that need to be addressed. For example, when a person is tired or sluggish, it could indicate low blood sugar. The body responds by conserving energy and increasing its sugar supply by tapping on the hunger mechanism to encourage the person to eat.
The individual will notice that after a meal, his energy level is back up, which can indicate that blood sugar levels have risen.
As chemical messengers, hormones mediate the fluctuating needs of the body. And they effect significant changes by influencing the behavior of individual cells themselves. This is why hormones are so powerful.
Their effects are precise because they work on a “lock and key” mechanism where only target cells, tissues, and organs are affected.
But as underlying mechanisms of behavior, the Endocrine System doesn’t work alone. It works side by side with the nervous system. And together, they both monitor and regulate behavior.
The two systems, however, have two different speeds. The Nervous System is lightning fast and direct. If the brain instructs the muscles of your hand to move, you get immediate results.
The Endocrine System is much slower and more indirect. When hormones are released into the bloodstream, their target organs are usually in some other far region of the body. They might follow a more convoluted pathway or chemical cascade where a hormone stimulates the production of another hormone which then ultimately produces the desired behavior.
Although slow, the Endocrine System’s effects are more long-lasting. The changes can last hours, days, or even weeks after it was initiated.
We learned here that the “Hormones!” excuse does have a biological basis. They are potent and hard to ignore. But they are not omnipotent. Human beings still have complete accountability for their actions. Hormones may nudge us toward specific behaviors, but we are not helpless slaves bound to their will. We are independent, thinking actors who, should we choose to, can act in a sober manner in spite of the flood of hormones.
That said, here are some of the most known hormones and how they effect changes in the body.
5 Hormones You Should Know About
1) Insulin
After a meal, food is turned into sugar in the form of glucose. This sugar is then dumped into the bloodstream. At this point, we can say that the blood sugar levels are high, often higher than “normal.”
The pancreas responds to this situation by producing a hormone called insulin that helps metabolize sugar in the blood by allowing glucose to enter individual cells and be used as energy. (The extra glucose is stored in the liver.)
Diabetics usually have a problem with “insulin resistance,” wherein the hormone fails to lower blood sugar because the cells refuse to take in glucose. This keeps blood sugar levels chronically high and at risk for complications.
2) Cortisol
It is famously known as the “stress hormone.” Cortisol, produced by the adrenal gland, is like the body’s alarm system, placing the body on high alert. Because different organs have receptors for the hormone, it can affect the body as a whole. For example, it can stimulate the liver to release stored glucose and provide extra energy. It can also hype up your immune system.
Ordinarily, cortisol levels in the blood are supposed to go down after the threat has ceased. Unfortunately, for people who are constantly under stress (eg. job, family situation, etc.), cortisol levels are always high—as if your body is always on high alert. This comes in the form of anxiety and worry, and can lead to a host of problems like high blood pressure, insomnia, and diabetes.
3) Estrogen
The hormone is often referred to as the “female sex hormone.” But it’s a misnomer because both males and females produce estrogen, although females have it at higher levels.
Estrogen plays a big role in sexual and reproductive development. Low estrogen levels in women could lead to low libido, hot flashes, low moods, depression, and weight gain—which are signs that are present during menopause.
The hormone also has functions that relate to bone and blood health, as well as the maintenance of healthy skin and nails.
4) Testosterone
This is a hormone closely associated with men, but again, both men and women produce testosterone. In women, it’s produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands, although at lower levels than in men.
Testosterone is vital to the development of characteristics often associated with “manliness”: high muscle mass, bone density, and hair growth. Excess testosterone in women can lead to androgynous physical traits like excessive body hair, deeper voice, and masculine distribution of muscles. In addition, menstrual irregularity (or the absence of it) may be experienced.
5) Melatonin
This hormone plays a vital role in our body’s sleep/wake cycle and is produced by the pineal gland. It keeps the different organ systems in operational rhythm. Biological synchronicity is vital for health. When things are not working properly, like when the body’s circadian rhythm is chronically disrupted, that can lead to problems down the road.
Melatonin is produced by the body at night to help us sleep. Having insufficient amounts of the hormone results in difficulty sleeping.
According to a study, blue light, such as those emitted by smartphones, suppresses the release of melatonin in the body. So instead of helping you sleep, bringing your phone to bed might not be a good idea.
There are plenty of synthetically-produced melatonin supplements on the market today. Be sure to consult your doctor before giving them a try.
If you or your family member have any health issues (eg. high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.), hormonal imbalance might be at the heart of the condition. Visit your family doctor so you can head off any future complications.
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