2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter synthesized in the brain and gastrointestinal tract. It plays a very important role in regulating the processes of sleep, heart rate and respiration.
Serotonin was first isolated in 1948. It is also known as the hormone of happiness. Despite the fact that it is excreted in the brain, where it performs its functions, in the body it is located in the digestive tract and platelets.
Serotonin functions
Serotonin performs its function of a transmitter of nerve impulses. It plays an important role in the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and in the processes of blood clotting. It has a very important effect on a person's mental stability, balancing emotions and moods. Serotonin also affects the way you eat, the normal functioning of muscles, the cardiovascular system and some parts of the endocrine system.
This biological agent affects many functions in the body: from the emotional sphere to motor habits. Serotonin affects practically of all aspects of human behavior. This application may seem surprising, as in fact less than 1 in every million cells produce this substance. In reality, however, serotonin neurons are in an ideal location, thus modulating a fairly wide range of neural connections in the human brain.
Seortonin affects a number of behavioral and neuropsychiatric effects: mood, perception, anger, aggression, appetite, memory, sexuality, attention. It would be quite difficult to name human behavior that is not influenced or regulated by the neurotransmitter.
The expression pattern of each serotonin receptor in the human central nervous system is also known. Just as each behavior is regulated by multiple serotonin receptors, so each serotonin receptor modulates multiple behavioral processes.
Serotonin is actively involved and in the processes of regulation of the circadian rhythm of the body, sexual behavior, body temperature. Affects the feeling of pain, nausea and vomiting.
Serotonin is indirectly involved in the regulation of sleep because it is a precursor to the hormone melatonin. The differences in the level of serotonin in men and women is insignificant, as its levels are slightly higher in the stronger sex. However, the differences in the way the two sexes respond to the decline in serotonin are significant. Therein lies the explanation for why women are more prone to depression.
What does serotonin affect?
Summarizing the functions of serotonin, we will add that it affects:
1. Defecation
You may not know it, but even bowel movements do controlled by serotonin. It is there that the amount of this neurotransmitter is at quite high levels, including in the stomach. For this reason, it can be concluded that the quality and functioning of the digestive tract is largely controlled by the amount of serotonin.
2. Nausea
Excessive production of serotonin is one of the causes of nausea. In this way, the brain actually receives a signal that the body needs to be cleansed of harmful toxic products that have entered the digestive system.
3. Sleep and waking
It is this chemical agent that is the main culprit for controlling these phases in the human body. Depending on which receptor is active at a given time, it is also determined whether a person sleeps soundly or wakes up.
4. Blood clotting
Seortonin, which is contained in platelets, is actively involved in these processes. The synthesis of this neurotransmitter is necessary for the body. Its increased production, on the other hand, leads to narrowing of the vessels, which is dangerous because it can cause clots to form.
5. The strength of the skeletal system
Increased serotonin synthesis may adversely affect the musculoskeletal system. In particular, this leads to problems with the bone system, making the bones fragile.
6. Sexual function
The increased level of sexual desire is due to the fact that the level of serotonin in the body is reduced. In addition, low libido is a signal that the level of the neurotransmitter is elevated. Confirmation of this is even the intake of antidepressants, which are actually selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Taking these medications automatically reduces sexual desire for the reasons described above.
7. The emotional background
A person's mood depends on the weather serotonin production and metabolism. Good mood is the result of normal neurotransmitter levels. On the other hand, depression is a signal that there is a deficiency of serotonin in the body. Manic behavior (euphoria and excessive psychomotor arousal) is a sure sign of increased synthesis of this substance.
At a normal level of this chemical mediator one feels:
- happy and satisfied;
- calm;
- concentrated and attentive.
These people are much less likely to feel anxious and not worry about the insignificant things in their lives. They have good sleep and fall asleep easily, but also sleep soundly and wake up fresh.
It is generally accepted that normal levels of serotonin in the blood range from 100 to 285 nanograms per milliliter. These values of serotonin may differ slightly, ie depending on the method of measurement, the material used and a number of important physiological parameters of the body.
Sources of serotonin
The foods you can be get serotonin, are bananas, chocolate, nuts, spinach and lettuce, hot peppers, pumpkin and pumpkin seeds. To increase the level of serotonin in the body, it is recommended to drink more water, drink less salt and spend more time walking outdoors and in the sun.
From the above lines it is clear that the favorite of many chocolate is one of the best sources of serotonin. However, in order to have full effect, it must be black. Natural chocolate with at least 70% cocoa is one of the best ways to get serotonin.
Another thing to note is that serotonin synthesis begins with tryptophan. It is a natural precursor of serotonin and a valuable amino acid found in food proteins. The best sources of tryptophan are fish, cheese, various meats, milk and pumpkin seeds.
Serotonin and sports
Regular physical activity has been shown to improve your figure and mood. Sport increases the levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. Exercise in general is an amazing cure for overcoming depression. Exercise banishes negative thoughts and improves mood.
Low serotonin levels
Too much low serotonin levels in the body are harmful to health because they predispose to aggressive behavior and depression, fibromyalgia, irritable stomach and nervous disorders. Deficiency of this neurotransmitter can cause demotivation and sleep disorders.
Research shows that men who are depressed produce low levels of serotonin or have few cells that use the hormone as a mediator to transmit impulses. In addition, alcohol offenders, rapists and murderers also have low hormone levels.
According to another study, relatively low levels of serotonin and the enzyme responsible for its synthesis were found in young children who died for no apparent reason. It is believed that the syndrome of infant death in newborns is caused by this deficiency.
Undoubtedly, serotonin is exceptional an important neurotransmitter. Its wide distribution shows its influence on a number of body functions. About 40 million brain cells are directly dependent on mood, appetite, potency, heat transfer, knowledge and partly sleep.
Serotonin deficiency
Serotonin deficiency is also related to the phenomena:
- problems with storing and reproducing the received information;
- the need for sweet or pasta products;
- difficulty falling asleep;
- low assessment of one's own abilities and achievements;
- excessive anxiety and nervousness;
- causeless aggression towards oneself or towards others.
Serotonin deficiency can also result from the intake of synthetic substances and drug addiction, for example to ecstasy. They affect the neurotransmitter systems, increasing the sense of positive experiences and reducing the feeling of negative moments. The intake of ecstasy by drug addicts causes the so-called feeling of euphoria, feeling a huge surge of energy.
This effect is due to the increased level of synthesized serotonin in the body of the recipient of synthetic substances. Over time, the synthesis of the neurotransmitter decreases. This is also the reason why addicts experience the feeling of depressed feeling. No less important is the fact that taking this drug, and not only, leads to a deterioration of human cognitive abilities. Memory problems, insomnia, irritability and aggressive behavior for no apparent reason occur.
Serotonin syndrome
Serotonin syndrome is a condition in which serotonin levels in the brain and blood are too high. The condition is also called serotonin intoxication. The syndrome is most often the result of self-medication or mistakes in prescribed treatment, in which the doses of the drug do not meet the needs of the patient. It can also be found as a side effect of some of the older types of antidepressants.
Most often, however, this condition can occur when taking drugs. The symptoms of this syndrome occur 6 hours after the active components of ecstasy have entered the body of the addict.
Another possible cause of excess serotonin is carcinoid tumors. These benign or malignant neoplasms are often localized in the digestive system. Carcinoid tumors are able to activate serotonin synthesis.
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome
- excessive excitability;
- motor hyperactivity;
- excitement and anxiety;
- confusion of consciousness;
- increased heart rate;
- increase in blood pressure;
- dilated pupil;
- stool disorders (diarrhea);
- tremor of the limbs;
- profuse sweating;
- headache;
- increased muscle tone.
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include fear, tremor, confusion, coordination problems, fever, rapid heartbeat. In very rare cases, death can occur.
How to reduce serotonin levels?
In most cases, it is sufficient to stop taking drugs that are selective inhibitors of serotonin reabsorption. In more severe cases, however, hospitalization may be necessary to actively treat the patient. It involves taking medications that normalize heart function, reduce muscle spasms and lower blood pressure. At the same time, these drugs block the production of serotonin.
If the cause of serotonin syndrome is drug use, then it is mandatory to do detoxification therapy in the intensive care unit. After the normalization of serotonin levels and the transfer of the patient to the therapeutic ward of the medical institution, measures are taken to eliminate the physiological dependence on synthetic substances. To overcome the psychological dependence, it is also necessary to perform psychotherapeutic treatment.
It is important to know that serotonin syndrome is a life-threatening condition and requires immediate medical attention to stabilize the normal production of this neurotransmitter. Serotonin affects a number of functions in the human body, both physiological and mental. Deficiency of this neurotransmitter is one of the main and most common causes of depressive disorders. Its excess on the other hand leads to the development of a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome.
