Hormonal failure - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment. The release of hormones in women symptoms Can there be a hormonal failure after the abolition of OK and Excapel

Adrenaline is one of the hormones produced in the human body. It is secreted by the adrenal glands in situations that people call stressful. In other words, this hormone helps to mobilize and get additional physical and psychological opportunities to overcome the situation that has arisen. Without adrenaline, a person will never experience that surge of strength that helps to cope with all sorts of difficulties in this life. But at the same time, it is impossible to allow the level of adrenaline in the blood to be constantly elevated, this has a very negative effect on health.

How to get out of such a situation when stresses are inevitable and they need to be overcome, but at the same time you want not to lose your health? How to reduce adrenaline levels without losing the ability to actively act in emergency situations?

Hormone without which it is impossible to survive

When a person gets into a situation called stressful, he needs to find a way out as soon as possible, and use his abilities as efficiently as possible. In this case, the adrenal glands release adrenaline into the blood - a powerful stimulant of brain activity, which allows you to mobilize all the forces of the body in the shortest possible time to solve the problem that has arisen. This hormone allows you to become a “superman” for a while and cope with such a load, psychological or physiological, that you can hardly cope with in a normal state.

The purpose of adrenaline is to mobilize a person, "spur" his hidden strengths and capabilities in order to overcome an extreme situation and help him survive in it. This substance-mediator is released during dangers, injuries, during some boundary natural disasters, during sports competitions, and the like. In order for such a reaction to occur, nature provided for adrenaline receptors, which are supplied to all cells of the human body. An increase in the level of adrenaline in the blood gives the cells the opportunity to respond to something in a new way. This is the ability of man to survive.

But the action of adrenaline is limited in time, since its purpose is to "turn on" the body, to give it superpowers. Therefore, adrenaline as a drug is used in anti-shock medicine when it is necessary to start the fading or stopped functions of the body.

Causes

The release of adrenaline is a reaction to stressful situations:

• danger,
• state of shock
• serious injury
• sudden psychological shock
• extreme environment,
• strong pain,
• a significant increase or decrease in human body temperature,
• doing some sports.

On some diets, periodic adrenaline rushes can also be observed - for example, on a low-carbohydrate diet. The reason is that insufficient intake of nutrients for the body is also a stressful situation. And it forces the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline in the hope that in this way additional resources will be found that will help increase blood glucose.

Symptoms

When adrenaline is released in the body, certain physiological mechanisms are triggered:

• the frequency and strength of heart contractions increase, which allows more actively and in large volumes to “supply” blood to the tissues;
• there is a change in the musculature of the vessels;
• relaxes the muscles of the intestine;
• pupils dilate.

If adrenaline is released into the blood for a long time, there may be an increase in the myocardium, as well as skeletal muscles. Against the background of intensive protein metabolism, depletion of the body may begin.

According to subjective sensations, a person can also determine an adrenaline surge. The symptomatology is the following:

• tachycardia,
• sudden release of large amounts of sweat,
• respiratory failure (shortness of breath, shortness of breath),
• blurred vision due to spasm of accommodation (the lens of the eye loses the ability to "sharpen"),
• headache and heartache.

With frequent and violent release of adrenaline, a person begins to experience chronic fatigue, it is already difficult for him to do routine work, he develops insomnia. Along with this, there is an increase in the pain threshold: the body becomes less sensitive to pain.

All this has an extremely negative effect on health, and if a person observes these symptoms in himself, then it's time to think about how to lower adrenaline in the blood. If it is constantly allocated, then:

• hypertension develops;
• the processes of inhibition are intensified, since, in contrast to adrenaline, the production of norepinephrine begins to bring the body into a state of hormonal balance;
• the risk of a stroke or heart attack in a perfectly healthy person increases due to a sharply increasing load on the heart and blood vessels;
• and worst of all, a condition called adrenal insufficiency can occur, which can lead to cardiac arrest.

In addition, excess adrenaline has the same effect on the body as large doses of alcohol. With all the ensuing consequences.

It is possible to accurately determine whether increased adrenaline is taking place using blood and urine tests. The accuracy of the analysis is ensured if certain requirements are met for three days before taking the tests:

• not to drink,
• no smoking,
• do not use alcohol and medicines containing alcohol,
• avoid stress and heavy physical exertion,
• do not take caffeine, nitroglycerin and some other drugs (the doctor should give a complete list),
• and also do not eat bananas and chocolate.

How to reduce

It is possible to avoid constant adrenaline releases and the harmful effects of adrenaline on the body both without the help of medications and by medication.

If you try to do without drugs, then, first of all, you need to protect yourself from unnecessary stressful situations, from unnecessary increased stress, both physiological and psychological. Here, folk wisdom is very appropriate, which says: do not ask for trouble. You can not force the body to always work at the limit, you need to provide him with proper rest, sleep and nutrition.

Be sure to switch to a healthy lifestyle with an established sleep and nutrition regimen. And even such seemingly trifles as the usual physical exercises every morning and a walk in the fresh air before going to bed have an extremely beneficial effect on the body. If you wish, you can do yoga, auto-training. This will help to cope with stress, which, of course, is unlikely to be completely avoided.

If you need a medical solution to the problem, then only a doctor should prescribe medications. Self-medication can cause irreparable harm to health, and, in addition, drugs can reduce the effect of adrenaline, but do not block its production by the adrenal glands. Therefore, it is much better to drink herbal teas with mint, motherwort, and also take baths with herbal infusions before going to bed.

Physiological processes in the human body are controlled by hormones. They are so important that as soon as one indicator deviates from the norm, there is a failure in the entire system. The normal functioning of the endocrine system is especially important for the fairer sex.

In the modern age, the problem of the appearance of stress is of particular relevance. This is due to an increase in psycho-emotional stress, leading, in turn, to disruptions in the life of the body. There are concepts of the so-called stress hormones, which got their name due to the fact that their production increases in psychologically difficult situations.

What hormones are released during stress?

Under the influence of stress, a whole chain of biochemical reactions is launched. All of them are aimed at protecting the body from an unfavorable environment and ensuring adaptation to a tense situation. Trying to answer the question, what is the name of the stress hormone, you can find a whole list of concepts.

Adrenalin

Stress hormones and their effect on the body varies, but they do have common features. Adrenaline is one of the main stress hormones. It is characterized by a complex effect on the body. On his shoulders lies the most important task of restoring the muscles and returning them to their usual mode of operation. Adrenaline regulates the rate of contraction of the heart muscle. It affects the functioning of the digestive tract and blood vessels.

Note! An increase in adrenaline in the blood is noted in extreme situations when a person experiences fear, pain, anger. Thus, the body prepares to withstand stress.

The person begins to act more actively. He responds promptly to any stimuli. His memory is mobilized, the load on the myocardium and the central nervous system is reduced.

beta endorphin

The intermediate pituitary gland produces this hormone. It is even responsible for allowing a person to experience stress. Their effect:

antishock;

• analgesic (pain reliever);
• tonic action.

thyroxine

Thyroxine is synthesized in the thyroid gland. Mental activity, activity and ease of people directly depend on it. At a time when a person is under severe stress, thyroxin increases blood pressure. It speeds up the metabolic process, speed of thinking, heart rate.

Norepinephrine

Accompanies stress, in parallel increases physical activity. A classic example would be a situation where a person, nervous, cannot sit still. The influence of norepinephrine is noted both on sensory perception and the degree of brain activity.

Experts note the analgesic effect of norepinephrine in extreme situations. It is a kind of analgesic that suppresses pain. That is why a person who is in a state of passion is able to forget about any injuries and poor health for a short time.

Cortisol

Responsible for the regulation of insulin and glucose, as well as their normal production. In a tense state, the level of the hormone increases markedly. While maintaining consistently high levels, hypertension, elevated sugar levels and malfunction of the thyroid gland occur.

Long-term exposure to cortisol leads to such negative consequences as reduced immunity, increased bone fragility and tissue destruction.

The adverse effects of cortisol can be expressed in an increase in appetite and the appearance of fat folds. A person who wants to lose weight and has a high level of this hormone is unlikely to be able to get rid of the hated kilograms. First of all, he needs to normalize the work of the hormonal system.

Prolactin

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland. Directly responsible for the function of the genitourinary system. Regulates all existing types of metabolism. In case of stress, it instantly rises. Pathological processes in the form of hypothyroidism, anorexia, polycystic ovaries, cirrhosis of the liver are a direct result of hyperprolactinemia caused by regular nervous tension.

Classification

1. Anxiety reaction. The body stops resisting. This state is called conditionally a state of shock. Then there is the launch of protective mechanisms.
2. Building resilience. The body is trying to adapt to new, not the most favorable conditions for it.
3. stage of exhaustion. Defense mechanisms fail. Violated interaction and consistency in the regulation of vital functions.

The effect of stress on hormones is a proven fact. An acute reaction begins within minutes after interaction with a provoking factor. Symptoms include the following:

1. The person becomes disoriented, as if he is removed from what happened, but at the same time he is able to show attention to details. It is characterized by inexplicable actions, devoid of meaning. It often seems to those around him that he has gone mad.
2. The expression of crazy ideas is noted. A person begins to talk about events and people who cannot exist in reality. This phenomenon can last a few minutes, after which it ends abruptly.
3. When addressing a person, he may not respond in any way. It is common to ignore requests or to fulfill them incorrectly.
4. There is retardation, both speech and motor. It can manifest itself so strongly that a person gives answers to questions in the form of a short sound or is completely silent, frozen in one position. There is also the opposite situation, when a person constantly says something. There is an incoherent verbal stream, which is problematic to stop. This behavior is accompanied by restlessness. In severe cases, a person falls into severe panic, inflicts injuries on himself.
5. Vegetative manifestations also take place. They are expressed in dilated pupils, pallor or redness of the skin, nausea, problems with intestinal motility. Blood pressure may drop sharply. The person is terrified of death.

Often people in a state of stress show confusion, despair, sometimes aggressiveness. As you can see, the action of stress hormones is largely similar.

Attention! If these phenomena continue for more than 3 days, this is no longer a chronic reaction to stress. A referral to a specialist is required.

A stress hormone test is usually prescribed for. The doctor conducts a differential diagnosis, prescribes a standard set of clinical tests.

How to lower hormone levels?

How to control the stress hormone, how to reduce its synthesis? It is easy to answer these questions. The level of stress hormones depends on the psycho-emotional state of the person. Substances are released in an unfavorable situation, so it is necessary to minimize such exposure. What is required for this?

Firstly a healthy lifestyle is essential. This means that you need to work hard and also have a good rest, without critical shifts in one direction or another. Fresh air is a supplier of valuable oxygen for blood vessels, so walking should become a daily ritual.

Modern people rarely go in for sports. In the meantime, it is not necessary to devote most of your free time to any one of its species. It is enough to choose a set of exercises that a person finds easy to do and interesting for himself. After that it is necessary to assign a training schedule so that it is possible to devote up to 50 minutes to such activity daily.

The hardest part is avoiding stress. It is clear that it will not be possible to completely get rid of them. But you can train yourself to adequately respond to any negative load. In mastering this skill, yoga, meditation, and the use of various relaxation techniques help. Particularly impressionable people are not recommended to view negative news, shocking content on the Internet.

To supply the body with additional forces, you will need to revise your diet. It is also advisable to reduce your caffeine intake by focusing on plant foods. You need to drink more water.

It is important to force yourself to look positively at everything that happens and smile more often. A person suffering from stress needs to find any available reason for joy. It can be watching a positive movie, meeting good people, communication with which gives positive emotions. The best cure for stress is sincere laughter. All this in combination does not allow cortisol levels to reach critical levels.

Health, psychological state and even an attractive appearance are directly dependent on the hormonal background. If it greatly rises or falls, then this immediately affects the well-being of a person. Not quite the right processes taking place against this background, as a rule, immediately worsen the quality of life of men and women.

Usually, such a pathology greatly reduces stress resistance and the person becomes irritable and slightly unbalanced. You can get rid of all these problems only with the help of properly selected therapy.

What is a hormonal failure: what is dangerous, what can be the consequences?

Hormonal disorders

Hormonal disbalance- this is insufficient or excessive production of hormones that are responsible for the proper functioning of all human systems and organs. If their number deviates from the norm, pathological processes begin to occur in the body of men and women, which sooner or later lead to the development of quite serious diseases.

Initially, problems with the endocrine system in the fair sex were called hormonal failure, but over time it became clear that men are also prone to developing this problem. Regardless of gender, people who are faced with this pathology necessarily have disturbances in the work of the central nervous system, weight can increase quite sharply, and sexual desire can also decrease.

If you do not start to put hormones in order at this stage, then this can lead to the development of benign and malignant neoplasms in the body.

Hormonal failure in women: symptoms, signs, causes

Symptoms of hormonal imbalance in women:

• Very severe mood swings
• Weight gain with a well-balanced diet
• restless sleep
• causeless fatigue
• Delay of menstruation
• Headaches that occur during sleep
• Almost completely lost sex drive
• Hair loss and acne

Causes of hormonal imbalance in women:

• Diseases of the reproductive system
• Colds, passing into the chronic stage
• hard physical labor
• Intensive sports
• Improper nutrition
• Alcohol, nicotine and drug use
• Regular stressful situations
• Pregnancy

Hormonal failure after childbirth, miscarriage, termination of pregnancy

Menstrual irregularities almost always occur after miscarriage and medical abortion.

As a rule, immediately after childbirth, miscarriage or abortion, almost all women experience pronounced symptoms of hormonal failure. Since from the very first days of pregnancy, the hormonal background in girls rises quite strongly, if a miscarriage occurs, the orgasm continues to produce the substances necessary for the proper development of the fetus for some time.

Usually, while he is rebuilding (he does it in a strong nervous shock), the woman reacts quite sharply to everything that happens around her.

The development of hormonal dysfunction after an abortion or miscarriage is indicated by:

• The appearance of stretch marks
• Headache
• Persistent depression
• Regular spikes in blood pressure

Delayed menstruation - hormonal failure in girls: symptoms and causes

Causes of delayed menstruation in girls:

• Defects in the hormonal system
• Improper functioning of the adrenal glands, thyroid gland and pancreas
• Incorrect use of oral contraceptives
• Diseases or defects of the ovaries
• Colposcopy, cauterization of erosion
• Abuse of ultraviolet light

Symptoms of delayed menstruation in girls:

• Increasing or decreasing cycle time
• Uterine bleeding unrelated to menstruation
• Pain in the area of ​​the ovaries
• Breast tenderness
• Dull pain in the lumbar region
• Excessive dryness of the vagina

Hormonal failure in adolescent girls during puberty: symptoms and causes

Thyroid problems can slow or speed up puberty

Causes of failure in teenagers:

• Heredity
• stressful situations
• Thyroid problems
• The use of certain drugs
• Genital Pathologists
• chronic diseases

Symptoms of failure in adolescents:

• Excessive sweating
• Irritability
• Problems with dermatological integuments
• Growth arrest
• Too much growth
• Underweight
• Incorrect and untimely development of the mammary glands

Positive pregnancy test with hormonal imbalance

As you already understood, hormonal failure is a very serious problem that requires immediate elimination. After all, if you don’t fight it, then quite interesting things can begin to happen to the body, for example, a pregnancy test will begin to show a positive result, despite the fact that you will know for sure that conception could not have happened.

If you are faced with such a problem, then urgently go to the doctor. Two lines on the test may indicate that your body produces hCG, and this is evidence of the development of a malignant tumor. Moreover, it will not necessarily be in the reproductive system. You may have problems with your kidneys, stomach, and intestines.

Pregnancy or hormonal failure: differences

Many women perceive the delay in menstruation solely as a reason for joy. But sometimes the absence of menstruation can indicate to us that a hormonal failure has occurred in the body.

The main differences between pregnancy and hormonal dysfunction:

• If you began to eat more, but at the same time the weight began to decrease, then you are in a position. But if you eat less than usual, and the weight only increases, then you definitely need to get tested for hormones.

• The second difference is sex drive. With the onset of pregnancy, it increases, and with hormonal dysfunction, it disappears altogether.

• Another pronounced difference is the increased body temperature. In case of failure, it can be high for weeks, and during pregnancy such a deviation is not observed.

How to induce menstruation with hormonal failure?

You can induce menstruation with hormonal failure with the help of certain medications and folk remedies. But since this problem is caused by an insufficient amount of hormones in your body, it will be better if you do not self-medicate and be sure to consult a gynecologist or therapist.

Pharmaceutical preparations that will help induce menstruation:

• Norkolut
• Utrozhestan
• Pulsatilla
• Progesterone

Folk remedies for calling menstruation:

• A decoction of elecampane roots
• Dry tansy tea
• Decoction of bay leaf
• Milk with honey

Is it possible to lose weight or gain weight with hormonal failure?

How to lose weight?

In principle, it is quite possible to correct the weight in one direction or another with hormonal dysfunction. But in addition to proper nutrition, it is also extremely important to bring hormones back to normal.

In view of this, if you want to lose weight or gain the missing mass, then be sure to first ask a specialist to prescribe you a therapy that will help normalize the balance of hormones in the body. And, of course, along with this, be sure to adhere to the principles of proper nutrition.

So:

• Avoid junk food
• Eat small meals 5-6 times a day
• Include phytoestrogens (fruits, berries and legumes) in your diet
• Eat as much fiber as possible

Hormonal failure: how to stop hair loss, how to remove acne on the face?

Our hair and skin are usually the first to react to not quite normal processes occurring inside the body. Usually, if a person has hormonal dysfunction, then he begins to develop acne and hair falls out very much.

There is only one way to leave all this, it is necessary to normalize the hormonal background. If you do not do this, then all cosmetic procedures will only give temporary results.

Which doctor should I contact, what tests are done in case of hormonal failure?

The endocrinologist will help you to establish the correct functioning of the body

If you have all the symptoms of a hormonal disorder, then immediately make an appointment with an endocrinologist. If possible, find a doctor who specializes in either female or male endocrinology.

If you live in a small town and you don’t have such specialists, then show yourself to a general practitioner, gynecologist and urologist. To get an idea of ​​what is happening to you, the doctor will suggest that you take a complete blood count and a hormone test.

A blood test will show at what level are:

1. sex hormones
2. pituitary hormones
3. Thyroid

Hormonal failure in women: treatment with drugs, Duphaston

Dufostan is a fairly effective drug that gently and with virtually no side effects normalizes hormones. The main active ingredient of this drug is dydrogesterone.

And since it is considered a synthetic substitute for progesterone, this medicine will not have an anabolic and thermogenic effect on the female body. But treatment will be effective only if you take the pills strictly according to the instructions.

Homeopathic remedies for hormonal failure: Remens

In case of hormonal failures, Remens normalizes the balance of female sex hormones

Although Remens is not a hormonal drug, it helps fight this dysfunction no worse than other drugs. But since it is considered a geomopathic agent, it must be taken for at least 2 months to achieve a stable and positive therapeutic effect.

In addition to restoring the hormonal background, this drug will help you get rid of the inflammatory processes that cause the development of female diseases.

Hormonal failure: treatment with folk remedies

If you want to get rid of this pathology by folk methods, then use the so-called phytohormones and hormone-stimulating herbs for this.

They have these qualities:

1. Sagebrush
2. Sage
3. Bloodroot
4. Hop
5. Mallow
6. Nettle

Hormonal failure: treatment with propolis

Propolis tincture

Another effective means of combating hormone dysfunction is propolis. It quickly enough normalizes the correct production of these substances and tones the whole body. This tool has a good tonic, anti-inflammatory properties, and also gently adjusts the menstrual cycle.

To treat this problem, 20% propolis tincture is most often used. It should be taken 3 times a day for 20-30 drops. To soften the effect of propolis on the gastrointestinal tract, it is best to take it with milk.

Vitamins for hormonal failure in women: folic acid, for beauty and hair, women's health

Folic acid is simply indispensable for the female body. This substance is involved in almost all metabolic processes and helps to maintain normal hormonal levels. In order for a woman to always be beautiful and healthy, it is enough for her to take one folic acid tablet a day.

But still, this drug does not have a sufficiently strong therapeutic effect, so it is most often prescribed in combination with other drugs.

Diet for hormonal imbalance

Berries contain a lot of phytoestrogens

If you want to forget about hormonal failure once and for all, then accustom yourself to the idea that you will have to be completely salty, spicy and smoked food. All these products greatly overload the gastrointestinal tract and this will immediately affect the work of all body systems. In view of this, try extremely healthy food and be sure to ensure that almost half of your daily diet consists of phytoestrogen products.

These products include absolutely all berries, peas, lentils, beans and mushrooms. Also make sure that the body receives a sufficient amount of fluid. But don't overdo it. If you drink a lot of water, your kidneys may not be able to cope and you will develop swelling.

How to get pregnant with hormonal failure?

If a woman is healthy, then in the first half of the menstrual cycle her body produces estrogen, and in the second hormone progesterone (it is also called the pregnancy hormone). If the body fails, then these substances are produced in insufficient quantities, which leads to malfunctions in the menstrual cycle.

Therefore, if you want to get pregnant as quickly as possible, then contact your gynecologist and ask him to prescribe you a course of certain drugs. It is also necessary to treat sexual infections (if any) and block all inflammatory processes occurring in the reproductive system.

What are the discharge with hormonal failure?

Allocations with hormonal failure

As it is right, even a minimal violation of the hormonal background leads to the fact that a woman's periods disappear and against this background she has intermenstrual bleeding of varying intensity.

Most often, it is not very abundant beige or brown discharge without color and odor. But if a woman has not started herself very strongly, then the discharge can be quite intense and have the color of menstrual blood.

Can I feel sick with hormonal failure?

Even during hormonal failure, our body tries to work normally. Therefore, he continues to produce serotonin, which is necessary for the timely onset of menstruation. An excess of this substance most often causes nausea, which torments women until their hormone production normalizes.

Another cause of nausea can be an excess of fluid in the body. Therefore, if you notice that your feet and hands are swollen, then take a diuretic.

Can there be uterine bleeding due to hormonal failure?

Uterine bleeding

Uterine bleeding with hormonal disruptions is a fairly common phenomenon. Moreover, both young girls and ladies of the age are subject to such a problem. Most often this occurs due to improper functioning of the pituitary gland and ovaries. In the body of a woman, estrogen begins to be produced, which stimulates the premature release of the egg from the follicle.

Against this background, the woman begins a fairly strong uterine bleeding with fairly large clots. Girls with such a problem are usually prescribed additional examinations and once again review the hormone therapy regimen.

Can there be a hormonal failure after the abolition of OK and Excapel?

As a rule, a complete refusal to take OK and Excapel greatly increases the work of the ovaries. Against this background, the woman's hormones jump sharply and all the characteristic symptoms of dysfunction begin to appear.

This is due to the fact that the refusal of therapy disinhibits ovulation and the body begins to intensively produce follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones. Until the girl's body restores the ability of the endometrium to implant, she will live with these unpleasant sensations.

Is yoga good for hormonal imbalance in women?

Yoga benefits the body

Everyone knows that excessive estrogen production has a rather negative effect on the menstrual cycle. It interferes with the normal flow of menstruation and makes them painful.

Yoga greatly affects the work of the liver, which is involved in the synthesis of this hormone, so with great confidence we can say that it is simply necessary for women who have experienced a hormonal failure.

Yoga classes help:

• Correct sexual dysfunctions
• Stimulate the proper functioning of the endocrine system
• Eliminate blood stasis in the pelvis

Does the hormonal background change with the use of Iodomarin?

Iodomarin is usually prescribed for women who have thyroid problems. The substances that are in this drug stimulate the synthesis of hormones and are involved in the metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Taking Iodomarin in most cases has an extremely positive effect on the hormonal background and the general condition of the body.

Side effects and hormone surges can only be observed if the drug regimen was not chosen correctly.

Can there be temperature due to hormonal failure?

Temperature with hormonal dysfunction

In many women, against the background of a failure, temperature indicators rise. And most often this happens when ladies begin to move intensively or play sports. Thus, the body responds to increased thyroid function.

Therefore, if you have temperature fluctuations for quite a long time, then in no case do self-medication, but go to an endocrinologist and take a blood test for TSH. After all, until you establish the correct functioning of the thyroid gland, the temperature will still periodically rise.

Can there be a hormonal imbalance due to stress?

Stress can be the root cause of hormonal imbalance. Our body reacts to an unpleasant situation with an immediate release of adrenaline and cortisol. The main task of these substances is to prepare a person for bad information or actions of strangers.

If a person lives in constant stress, then the level of these hormones is almost never normal, and this provokes hormonal failure, which can lead to the development of problems with the heart, nervous system, and even the appearance of malignant tumors.

Can breasts hurt with hormonal failure?

With excessive production of hormones, the breast becomes very painful.

Soreness of the mammary gland with an increased hormonal background is observed in almost all women. Thus, the body reacts to an excessive increase in blood estrogen. Also, the cause of pain in the chest area can be mastopathy, which develops against the background of dysfunction.

This disease quickly degenerates into a malignant one, so if your chest hurts not only before the expected menstruation, then be sure to visit a mammologist.

Can hCG rise with hormonal failure?

Quite a lot of women think that an elevated hCG level is evidence of pregnancy. If a woman is completely healthy, then this is usually the case. But if the fair sex has all the signs of a hormonal failure, then such hCG indicators indicate that she is developing some kind of severe pathology. This may be a sign of a pituitary adenoma, an ovarian defect, or a thyroid problem.

Hormonal failure is a dysfunction that is caused by pathologies of the neuroregulatory or endocrine system. It can appear in both women and men. When it occurs, the normal functioning of the body is disturbed, the metabolism suffers most of all. If no action is taken for a long time, the risk of developing serious diseases is high. A change in the hormonal background requires an immediate appeal to the attending specialist, it is important to immediately begin drug therapy. Only she can help prevent the negative impact of this pathology.

Causes of hormonal failure in women

It is not always possible to determine the causes of hormonal failure in women. Various and, at first glance, harmless factors can provoke the development of this disorder. However, in all cases, the mechanism for the development of a failure lies in a decrease in the level of progesterone in the blood. Progesterone and estrogen are female hormones that keep the reproductive system healthy. There is usually more progesterone in the blood than estrogen. However, in cases where its concentration begins to fall, a hormonal failure occurs in the body in women. This usually results in:

• • Genetic predisposition - if a woman suffers from a congenital hormonal disorder, then such failures will be repeated over and over again. In this case, the pathology requires a more detailed examination and complex treatment.

• • Lack of ovulation - if a woman's progesterone level is disturbed, failures occur in many organ systems. The reproductive system is no exception: with a low level of this hormone, the female body loses the ability to bear a fetus.

• • Overweight or obesity can also lead to hormonal imbalance in women. With an excessive amount of subcutaneous fat, the body cannot function normally, the hormones produced for regulation become insufficient.

• • Natural periods in a woman's life - puberty, pregnancy, childbirth or menopause can also lead to a serious failure. Pathology of this nature is considered the safest, it does not always require drug therapy.

• • Unbalanced nutrition, strict adherence to diets - due to the lack of essential vitamins, minerals and other components, abrupt changes begin. Because of this, a serious failure can occur, the treatment of which consists in a complete revision of the lifestyle.

• • Women's diseases - if a lady has diseases such as polycystic ovaries, uterine fibroids, a cyst in the chest and other diseases, then they can be the cause of the imbalance.

• • Chronic diseases - bronchial asthma, migraine, atherosclerosis, hypertension and many other diseases also negatively affect the level of hormonal levels.

• • Infectious diseases - if sore throats, tonsillitis, SARS, influenza and much more often occur, its background is constantly changing. It can also crash.

• • Sexually transmitted infections - syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and other diseases adversely affect the body's regulatory abilities.

• • Constant emotional overstrain, nervous stress - these factors have a direct impact on the production of hormones, which can lead to this pathology.

• • Excessive physical activity - being in constant stress, the body is looking for ways to maintain its usual state, which causes an imbalance.

• • Diseases of the endocrine system - due to improper functioning of the thyroid gland, an excessive or insufficient amount of hormones can be produced in the blood, which quickly causes a violation of the natural background. Failure in women often occurs after removal of the thyroid gland.

• • Operations on the abdominal cavity, surgical interventions in the vagina - due to artificial simulation, the body releases a huge amount of hormones into the blood, which leads to this pathology.

Hormone imbalance symptoms

Recognizing signs of hormonal failure in the early stages is quite difficult. Its manifestations are similar to many diseases that require a completely different method of treatment. When the first changes in your body appear, it is best for a woman to contact her doctor.

The most common symptoms of hormonal imbalance include:

• • Violations in the functioning of the central nervous system - if previously a woman was calm and quiet, then with an imbalance, her behavior changes significantly. She is prone to sudden mood swings, prone to depression, apathy. Also often there are unreasonable and short outbursts of aggression. A woman begins to get upset over all trifles and trifles, constantly worries about something, easily begins to cry.

• • Unstable and irregular menstruation - in case of a long absence of a cycle or fast menstruation, a woman should immediately contact her doctor. Also, special attention should be paid to changing the volume of secretions - if they become scarce, you should immediately take blood tests for hormones. Most often, this symptom of hormonal failure occurs in women with low body weight.

• • A decrease or complete disappearance of libido - the lack of sexual desire also signals a malfunction in the background. If earlier a woman led an active and full sexual life, and now any touch has begun to give her some discomfort or disgust, you should consult a doctor. Dysfunction can also be recognized by the absence of secretion during intercourse, which makes it unpleasant and painful for a woman.

• • Violation of the reproductive system is the most difficult and dangerous moment, which is very difficult to treat with medication. In the case of a long course of pathology, many ladies forever say goodbye to the ability to endure and give birth to a baby on their own. Of course, some of them manage to get pregnant, but the risk of fading or miscarriage remains extremely high.

• • A sharp change in body weight - due to a change in the background, the body begins to sharply accumulate fat or get rid of it. In some cases, such changes cannot be corrected - a woman, despite dieting and playing sports, continues to gain weight. In the absence of medical treatment, this process cannot be stopped.

• • Sleep disturbance, excessive fatigue - also an imbalance is accompanied by increased anxiety and sensitivity, the appearance of severe insomnia and apathy. Despite the absence of physical exertion or nervous tension, a woman still constantly experiences severe fatigue.

• • Deterioration in the quality of nail plates and hair - you can recognize the symptoms of hormonal failure by severe hair loss, a change in their structure, the quality of nails also deteriorates: they become brittle, exfoliate heavily. No vitamins can cope with this problem.

• • Regular rashes - in case of failure, a change in the skin on the back, mammary glands and face occurs first. Usually they complain about acne, which they can’t get rid of. Over time, black hairs begin to grow in their place.

Failure during puberty

In adolescence, every girl faces serious adjustments. The body of the girl becomes suitable for bearing the fetus. She develops secondary sexual characteristics: the mammary glands increase, menstruation occurs, hair appears in places where they were not there before. However, due to hormonal failure, these changes may be delayed or appear incomplete. With a serious deviation, secondary sexual characteristics may be absent altogether.

If there is not enough hormones in the girl's body, then sexual development does not occur, and menstruation appears after 16 years. This phenomenon can be provoked by stress, the influence of serious chronic diseases, regular lack of sleep, genetic predisposition, and much more. If you begin to notice that your child has become overly irritable and aggressive, this is a good reason to consult an endocrinologist. Hormonal failure in women should be treated under the strict guidance of a specialist.

In most cases, the causes of this phenomenon lie in the wrong way of life, which often haunts adolescents in this period of their development. To get rid of the negative manifestations of this pathology, it is enough just to reconsider the way of life. Usually, after a while, the level of hormones returns to normal on its own. However, if the violation is persistent, you should immediately contact your doctor for the selection of effective drug therapy. Hormonal failure is a serious problem that requires a responsible approach to treatment.

Treatment of disorders

After the fact of imbalance is confirmed, the doctor will try to determine the cause of this phenomenon. This is necessary in order to prevent the re-development of pathology. To do this, the specialist will send you for a biochemical blood test, an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs and the abdominal cavity. After the diagnosis of the hormonal background is completed, you may be prescribed:

• • Hormones.

• • Homeopathic preparations.

• • Antipsychotics.

• • Preparations with a high content of calcium.

Hormonal failure is difficult to treat in overweight women. Therapy is prescribed after some of the extra pounds are dropped. To do this, you must constantly follow a special diet, play sports, follow all the recommendations on the correct daily routine. To normalize nutrition, a woman is advised to revise her menu, add fresh fruits and vegetables to it. Also, at the insistence of a doctor, you can take vitamin complexes.

Basic principles of recovery

If you have a failure, all appointments should be made by the attending physician based on the results of the diagnosis. This is the only way to choose an effective treatment method that minimizes the risk of developing serious complications. Before your doctor can prescribe you medication, you will be sent for an extended study. First of all, you need to take a blood test, which will show the degree of hormonal failure. Only knowing this parameter, you can get adequate and necessary treatment that will not provoke the development of other disorders.

The background is restored in two ways. First of all, it is necessary to find the cause that influenced the development of this pathology, after which drug treatment is determined, which brings the level of hormones back to normal. If you ignore any of these points, there will be no point in therapy. The duration of treatment in each case is determined individually, it depends on the degree of damage. Usually, to restore a normal background, tablets are taken from several weeks to several years.

If you have been diagnosed with a failure, in no case do you need to waste time using traditional medicine methods or self-treatment. So you draw only aggravate the situation, which will lead to the development of serious complications. Remember, therapy should be done by a qualified doctor. Only he can prescribe the right medications. If you have any side effects from their use, tell your doctor about it - he should review the treatment regimen for hormonal failure. In rare cases, to restore the body resort to surgical intervention.

Consequences of failure

Hormonal imbalance is a serious problem that requires immediate drug therapy. In the absence of the necessary treatment, a woman can develop a number of serious complications that completely change her lifestyle. Usually appear:

• • Problems with overweight.

• • Difficulties with conception.

• • Complete loss of libido.

• • Diabetes.

• • Diseases of the pancreas.

• • The development of tumor formations.

• • Diseases of the cardiovascular system.

• • Osteoporosis due to poor absorption of calcium.

Prevention of hormonal failure

To prevent the development of a hormonal disorder, do not forget to regularly take appropriate tests and undergo a medical examination. In the presence of predisposing factors, it is necessary to carefully monitor the state of your body and, when the first symptoms of a hormonal failure appear, contact your doctor. Prolonged absence of drug therapy can lead to serious consequences.

To minimize the risk of violation, try to lead a healthy lifestyle and do not self-medicate. Eat right, go in for sports, start therapy for other pathologies on time, and then no failure can happen to you. If you ignore the treatment of this disorder for a long time, infertility, breast cancer, obesity and many other complications can develop. Be sure to ask your doctor what hormonal failure is and why it is dangerous.

A hormonal failure can be called a violation of the endocrine and neuroregulatory systems, which entails a series of pathological conditions. Dysfunction can occur in both women and men. It is important to understand that all processes in our body depend on the current hormonal status. This means that a failure can significantly affect your well-being and cause serious harm to the body.

In women, pathological phenomena from the organs of the reproductive system are often recognized as the cause of hormonal failure. Inflammatory processes, weakening of the body's immune defenses can become a reason for violations. These disorders entail problems in the genital area, menstrual irregularities, deterioration in general well-being.

An important feature of diseases of the female and male reproductive sphere is an asymptomatic course in the early stages of occurrence. That is why the main role in prevention is played by constant medical supervision. Individuals need to visit a physician regularly to avoid serious imbalances and diseases of the genital organs.

What is a hormonal imbalance?

Male and female sex hormones are secreted by endocrine glands. Reproductive organs, cerebral cortex, adrenal glands and thyroid glands are responsible for health in this area.

In the process of life in the human body there are many changes that entail hormonal jumps. They can be observed especially clearly in the female body, which goes through the stages of puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and menopause. At these stages of life, the ratio and amount of hormones produced can vary significantly.

Hormonal failure is an imbalance due to excessive or insufficient production of substances produced by the organs of internal secretion.

Causes of hormonal failure

congenital disorders

Pathologies, absence or delay in the development of the genital organs can cause improper hormone production.

Puberty

Abnormal functioning of the endocrine system is often caused by puberty. In adolescence, girls and boys go through a stage of growth and formation of reproductive organs. At this moment, their body changes quite a lot externally and internally. In girls, stable menstruation is established, which indicates readiness for pregnancy and childbirth.

Endocrine diseases

Functional disorders occurring in the peripheral glands can cause a serious imbalance. Malignant and benign tumors, infectious and inflammatory lesions are capable of causing failures.

Disorders of neuroendocrine regulation

This category includes disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary system that regulates hormone production. Incorrect work is provoked by injuries of the brain and cranium, encephalitis, cancerous lesions.

Diseases of the adrenal glands

Hormonal metabolism takes place in the liver. Pathology of the adrenal cortex provokes a violation of the process of excretion of metabolites.

Taking hormonal medications

Hormonal disorders can cause some groups of medications. The risk of failures is not excluded even if the patient is taking medications prescribed by the attending physician.

Often the cause of hormonal failure in women is the use of self-selected birth control pills. In men, an imbalance often occurs during the course of treatment for diseases of the genitourinary system, baldness, allergies, neuroses and skin pathologies.

stress

Prolonged and strong emotional experiences have a negative impact on the functioning of the endocrine glands. Due to stressful situations, disorders of the central nervous system develop, which has a direct impact on the work of the endocrine sphere.

Unhealthy Lifestyle

Non-compliance with the normal regime of the day, excessive physical activity and lack of sleep are serious stress. There is a syndrome of chronic fatigue, depression, irritability, the level of sexual activity decreases.

Improper nutrition

The systematic intake of fatty foods, a violation of the normal daily calorie content leads to a set of excess body weight. Obesity is one of the causes of diseases of the endocrine system.

Malnutrition can also negatively affect the hormonal background. If a girl adheres to a strict diet for a long time, vitamin deficiency, exhaustion, and thinning of the walls of internal organs occur. In the case of a sharp weight loss of 10 or more kg, women often stop menstruating, which doctors manage to restore with great difficulty.

Alcoholism and drug addiction

Alcoholic beverages and narcotic substances are the cause of serious hormonal disorders and other life-threatening diseases. In men suffering from beer alcoholism, there is an increased content of estrogen. As a result, such patients often experience hair loss, female-type obesity (breast and hip enlargement), and impotence.

Gynecological problems

Diseases of the reproductive organs (for example, cancer of the uterus and ovaries) entail reduced or increased secretion of hormones. An unsuccessful operation on the genitals of a man or woman can have a negative impact.

Abortion

Forced termination of pregnancy is a huge stress for the body. Hormonal dysfunction is the most common complication of abortion. The highest risk of failure exists in women who terminate their first pregnancy at a fairly late date.

Among the typical signs of hormonal dysfunction after an abortion, nervousness, weight gain, blood pressure drops, and excessive sweating are distinguished.

Pregnancy and childbirth

The hormonal background changes markedly after the fertilization of the egg. During pregnancy, women suffer from constant mood swings, fatigue, anxiety and tearfulness.

Hormonal transformations during this important period cause menstruation to stop, weight gain, and mammary gland growth. Among the signs of failure, a sharp unmotivated weight gain, virilization syndrome, and neurological pathologies are distinguished.

Imbalance after the birth of a child can be associated with gynecological diseases, stress, infectious and inflammatory processes, exacerbation of chronic health disorders.

Climax

Hormonal disruptions are observed in women during menopause. After reaching the age of 45-55, the body begins to restructure, the production of eggs is completed. The menstrual cycle becomes irregular and then stops completely. The ability to become pregnant and give birth to a child is lost.

At this time, the concentration of the female sex hormone - estrogen - is significantly reduced in the body. As a result, the aging process actively proceeds in the body. Gray hair appears, deep wrinkles appear, libido decreases.

Patients complain of hot flashes (feelings of heat in the facial area), migraines, hair loss, brittle nails, cystitis, and pain during sexual intercourse. In old age, the lack of female sex hormones predisposes to osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, pathologies of the nervous system.

Symptoms of a hormonal failure

You can find out about the onset of a hormonal failure by such symptoms as:

• Emotional instability.
• Anxiety, irascibility and irritability.
• Weight change.
• Excessive body hair.
• Pain in the lower abdomen due to premature uterine contractions.
• Irregularity of menstruation.
• Underdevelopment of the mammary glands.
• Uterine bleeding.
• Decreased sex drive.

Consequences of hormonal failure

Left untreated, hormonal imbalances can lead to:

• Female or male infertility.
• Obesity.
• The growth of malignant tumors.
• Impotence.
• Heart attacks and strokes.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Myoma of the uterus.
• Diseases of the mammary glands.

Diagnosis and treatment of hormonal failure

Diagnosis of hormonal failure is:

• Gathering and checking medical history.
• Exclusion of tumors of the endocrine system.
• Examination of the reproductive system.

To correct the patient's condition, doctors apply:

• Medical treatment. Vitamins A, E, calcium, selenium, zinc, potassium, substitutes for female and male hormones are used. neuroleptics, homeopathic remedies.
• Surgical intervention. Operations are performed to remove cystic formations and tumors.
• Proper diet. Patients are helped to normalize body weight through a balanced diet and exercise.
• Restoration of the regime of work and rest.

All vital processes of the human body are interconnected with the physiological changes in the level of hormones in the blood, which control its cycles of development and growth, reproduction and decay. For hormonal secretion in the body, the system of functional regulation of internal organs is responsible - the granular apparatus, represented by various endocrine glands of internal secretion.

They have a significant impact on the work of the central nervous system and exercise control and functional regulation of each vital organ. Hormonal failure is a process of hormonal dysfunction caused by pathologies in the neuroregulatory and endocrine systems.

The activity of the intrasecretory glands and the hormones they synthesize are in a state of harmonious equilibrium and balance in a healthy body. But such a state is very fragile.

Violation of the synthesis of just one type of hormones leads to a violation of the coordination in the work of all endocrine glands - an imbalance of hormones, manifested by various pathological changes in the body.

Signs and symptoms of a failure in the hormonal background are observed in women of different ages, various disorders lead to an imbalance of hormones:

• an increase in the synthesis of hormones, or its decrease;
• changes in the chemical structure of hormones, leading to impaired synthesis;
• violations in the system of transport of hormonal organic substances;
• simultaneous failure of synthesis in various glands of the endocrine system.

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Causes of hormonal imbalance in women

The factor of insufficient hormonal synthesis, which caused hormonal failure in women, can be various pathological processes in the form of:

1. Infectious and inflammatory processes in the endocrine glands;
2. Anatomical congenital anomalies due to their underdevelopment;
3. Surgical interventions, with injuries, or tumor processes in the secretory glands;
4. Hemorrhagic manifestations in their tissue structure;
5. Lack or violation of blood supply;
6. Deficiency in the diet of vitamin and mineral elements;
7. Immune failure.

Excess secretion of hormones is provoked by:

• uncontrolled use of drugs containing hormones;
• various injuries (mainly the abdomen and head);
• inflammatory pathologies.

Disrupt the balanced operation of the system of the granular apparatus can:

• stressful and hypodynamic conditions;
• chronic lack of sleep;
• addiction to bad habits;
• too early sex life, or its complete absence.

In addition, there are reasons for changes in the hormonal background in women, due to physiological reasons. This is facilitated by the reorganization of the background during pregnancy.

In this period, the synthesis of new hormones begins to ensure normal gestation. At the beginning of pregnancy, the synthesis of female hormones increases, and at the beginning of the 2nd trimester it decreases, since the synthesis of estriol by the placenta begins.

Hormonal changes occur again after delivery. Pregnancy hormones stop being synthesized and they are replaced by the synthesis of the prolactin fraction, which stimulates the intensity of milk production. When a woman stops breastfeeding, there is a decrease and the body returns to the normal volume of synthesis of the main female hormones (progesterone and estrogen).

A sharp imbalance of hormones is also caused by medical abortions. Endocrine glands stop the synthesis of a number of hormones. In response to such stress, the body responds with increased secretion of adrenal and female sex hormones. During this period, the female body is very vulnerable.

Concomitant pathologies and unfavorable factors against the background of hormonal imbalance can provoke pathological disorders in the structure of the ovaries - their tissue growth (tecomatosis), tumor formations, or the development of processes.

signs of hormonal failure, photo

There are almost no specific, special symptoms of a malfunction in the balance of hormones in a woman's body, so the diagnosis of endocrine diseases is not an easy process - the signs of a hormonal failure are similar to the symptoms of many other diseases. Although there are several signs that suggest a hormonal failure still exists. They appear:

Increased appetite, but weight loss progresses. This indicates increased secretion processes in the thyroid gland. Pathology appears:

• irritability and nervousness;
• insomnia and hyperhidrosis;
• tremor of the fingers on the hands;
• cardiac arrhythmia;
• low, prolonged body temperature.

The lack of functional activity of the thyroid glands is characterized by signs:

• the development of simultaneous obesity throughout the body;
• weakness (asthenia) and a tendency to drowsiness;
• dry skin and mucous membranes, including the vagina;
• brittle hair and their thinning;
• chilliness and low temperature;
• hoarseness of voice.

In women of 30 years of age, hormonal failure often results from dysfunction in the hypothalamic-pituitary system. What provokes the development of a selective process of obesity, when, with thin legs, the upper body is rapidly overgrown with fat. Wavy crimson stripes appear over the stretching of the skin of the thighs, abdomen and mammary glands.

The presence of such "metamorphoses" causes sharp jumps in blood pressure in women. As a result of excessive synthesis of somatotropin (growth hormone), the appearance changes - the jaw and tongue increase, the shape of the lips, cheekbones and superciliary arches changes.

The voice becomes hoarse, there is increased hair growth and joint pain. In the presence of tumor neoplasms in the pituitary gland, the symptoms of hormonal imbalance are marked by a deterioration in visual functions, accompanied by persistent migraines.

Failure of the endocrine gland of the digestive system (pancreas) leads to the development of diabetes, accompanied by skin itching, slowly healing wounds, furunculosis, constant thirst and polyuria (frequent urination).

Increased synthesis of androgens (testosterone) provokes hormonal failure in women with symptoms of delayed menstruation, heavy menstrual flow, intermenstrual hemorrhages, and irregularities in the duration of menstruation. At the same time, changes in appearance are manifested:

• excessive hair growth on the body and face of women;
• rough, greasy skin;
• regular rashes and the development of acne.

Signs of age-related hormonal failure in women are manifested by a mass of unpleasant symptoms during menopause. This is due to a sudden cessation of the hormonal synthesis of female hormones and an increase in hormones synthesized by the glands of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, thyroid and adrenal glands. The manifestation of symptoms depends on the genesis of various disorders.

With the vegetative-vascular nature of the disorders, the symptoms are expressed:

• hypertension and heart pain;
• bouts of tachycardia;
• hand tremor and hyperhidrosis;
• hot flushes to the head.

For emotional disorders:

• excessive nervousness, bouts of anger and anger;
• depressed mood and tearfulness;
• anxiety and depression.

insomnia is one of the signs of hormonal imbalance

Neurological signs:

• decreased attention and impaired mental productivity;
• drowsiness during the day and insomnia at night;
• frequent manifestation of migraines and signs of vertigo.

Functional disorders in metabolic processes, manifested by:

• osteoporosis - increased bone fragility;
• symptoms of hirsutism (hair in the form of a mustache and beard);
• slowing down hair growth in the armpits and groin area.

If symptoms and signs of hormonal failure occur in women, treatment depends on which hormone deficiency is found in the body - one or a group. The treatment protocol is due to two directions - the regulation of imbalance with oral contraceptives, or individual drugs.

In the first treatment option for hormonal dysfunctions, oral contraceptive preparations are used with a different number of hormonal combinations - low-dose and micro-dose forms. Sometimes, if long-term treatment is necessary, a mixed course of drugs is prescribed, but a short-term course of high-dose contraceptives is also possible.

• Among nazkodozirovannyh drugs preference is given to Femodena, Gestoden, Marvelon, Desogestrel, Cyproterone, Zhanin, Yarina, Drospirinone.
• In therapy with microdosed drugs, Mercilon, Desogestrel, Novinet, Loest and Gestodene are used.

Treatment of hormonal levels in women with hormone preparations begins with an individual selection of medicines. Which causes a certain difficulty, since the treatment course consists of several drugs and it is important to choose them in such a way as not to cause a violation of the secretion of those hormones that are present in the norm.

• With excess secretion of androgen, drugs "Dexamethasone", "Cyproterone" or "Metipred" are prescribed.
• To normalize the level of progesterone in the blood, "Urozhestan" and "Dufaston" are prescribed.
• Estrogen deficiency is corrected with the help of Premarin, Divigel or Proginova, and if it is in excess, Clomiphene or Tamoxifen is prescribed.

These are just minor examples of the treatment of this problem, a specific therapeutic regimen should be drawn up by a specialist doctor.

The health of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, as well as the condition of the bone tissue, depends on the level of hormones. Hormonal failure in men often causes the development of pathologies of the genitourinary system, in particular, the appearance. The functional activity of the endocrine organs is one of the factors affecting life expectancy.

Important:androgen biosynthesis occurs in the male gonads - testicles (testicles). These hormones are necessary for the formation of secondary sexual characteristics, growth and development of muscles. The regulator of the activity of the sex glands is the hypothalamic-pituitary system.

Extremely high activity of the endocrine glands is characteristic of puberty. The hormonal background in men stabilizes at the end of puberty, that is, on average by the age of 17-20 and remains unchanged for about 10 years. Already from the age of 30, a significant part of the male population has a gradual drop in the level of the most important sex hormone -. The annual decline reaches 1.5%.

Baseline testosterone levels at the end of puberty vary among men.

It depends on the following factors:

• general health;
• the presence or absence of chronic pathologies;
• type of sexual constitution.

Due to individual differences, in some, androgen deficiency manifests itself already at a relatively young age, while in others it persists very well into old age.

Possible causes of hormonal imbalance in men

Among the reasons leading to hormonal failure in young men include:

Note:The organs of the endocrine system include the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, thyroid gland, and testicles. Violation of the functional activity of any of them, one way or another, leads to hormonal failure. An important role is played by the state of the kidneys and liver, since these organs are directly involved in the metabolism of androgens and their excretion from the body.

Androgen deficiency is often caused by toxic damage to the body associated with occupational hazards, the use of certain types of household chemicals, as well as the abuse of alcohol, etc.

Hormonal failure can cause malnutrition; Some foods can reduce testosterone production. A great danger to men's health is soda with synthetic dyes.

Note:in recent years, andrologists have started talking about the negative impact on the hormonal background of such a popular drink among the male population as beer. It has been established that it contains the so-called. phytoestrogens, which are analogues of female sex hormones. The result of regular consumption of beer in significant volumes is the appearance of excess body fat.

Regardless of age, the following factors can lead to hormonal failure:

• frequent;
• chronic;

Some pharmacological agents can have a negative effect on the synthesis and metabolism of hormones. In particular, testosterone levels are reduced by drugs that are used for treatment.

Currently, the so-called. bioenergy factors, including radiation.

Testosterone levels can also be reduced by:

• arterial hypertension ();
• high pulse rate (tachycardia over 80 beats / min.);
• or a decrease in blood hemoglobin;
• reduced diuresis against the background of kidney pathology;
• high (above 25 mmol/l);
• high blood glucose level (above 7 mmol/l);
• leukocytosis;
• (more than 6.5 mmol / l).

Overheating of the testicles has an adverse effect on androgen synthesis. They function normally at a temperature of about 33.5°C. A man wearing clothes that are not suitable for the weather (warm underwear at positive temperatures) is one of the factors leading to hormonal failure.

In the elderly, a decrease in the level of testosterone in the body is a consequence of the natural aging processes, against which the functional activity of the gonads decreases. The balance of sex hormones is changing (the proportion of women is increasing). Lack of testosterone causes, and this in turn leads to an increase in leptin production. The biosynthesis of this hormone occurs in the subcutaneous fat layer. Leptin additionally inhibits the production of testosterone, and as a result, a vicious circle is formed.

Symptoms of hormonal failure in men

The following symptoms may indicate a decrease in testosterone levels:

One of the frequent signs of androgen deficiency is a decrease in sexual desire and potency. Hormonal failure can cause cardiovascular diseases in men, and nervous disorders.

In the body of a man, there is not only testosterone, but also female sex hormones - estrogens. They affect sexual desire, and libido can decrease not only against the background of their excess, but also with a lack. Estrogens are directly involved in the process of sperm maturation, and also maintain a normal level of calcium metabolism in bone tissue. A significant part of them is formed as a result of testosterone biotransformation (including in the liver), and a small amount is synthesized by the gonads.

Hormonal failure leads to the development in a man of a disease that provokes a decrease in bone strength.

Important:It is known that the hormonal background can change at different times of the day. Such fluctuations do not lead to health problems, but affect the psycho-emotional background, the degree of fatigue and sexual desire.

Diagnosis of hormonal disruptions

To identify violations of the hormonal background, a thorough study of a number of organs and systems is required.

The doctor assesses neuropsychic activity, including the ability to memorize and.

To identify possible pathologies of the cardiovascular system, electrocardiography and echocardiography, ultrasound scanning of blood vessels (Dopplerography) and lipid profile analysis are used.

To assess the functional activity of the endocrine glands, it is necessary to determine the total level of testosterone, LH (gonadotropic hormone), TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin), estradiol and prolactin.

Treatment of hormonal failure in men

Medical tactics are determined by the following factors:

• cause of hormonal imbalance;
• the degree of decrease in hormone levels;
• age;
• individual characteristics of the patient's body;
• the presence of concomitant chronic pathologies.

In young people, the problem of androgen deficiency can be successfully solved by stimulating therapy. Its task is to stimulate the functional activity of the gonads. According to indications, patients are prescribed hCG (chorionic gonadotropin). In addition, measures are taken to improve the functions of the liver and prostate, ie. organs in which the metabolism of sex hormones takes place. Treatment is carried out with the help of natural and synthetic means, and includes vitamin therapy. Often, normalization of the activity of the endocrine glands - the thyroid gland, pituitary gland and adrenal glands - is required.

With genetically determined diseases, hormone replacement therapy is required, which involves lifelong intake by a man. A similar tactic is used with an age-related decrease in androgen levels.

Traditional medicine offers a number of natural preparations to solve the problem.

Folk remedies to increase testosterone levels:

• celery juice (drink 2 sips three times a day for a month);
• decoction of yarutka (drink 1 tablespoon 4 times a day);
• freshly squeezed carrot juice (take 50 ml three times a day for 4 weeks);
• decoction of yellow lily root (drink 1 tablespoon 3 times a day before meals);
• ginseng tincture (use according to the age dosages indicated in the annotation).

Important:before starting the use of some of the listed herbal remedies, it is recommended to consult a doctor for possible contraindications. In no case should you try to replace the prescribed drugs with them. Traditional medicine recipes are effective but should be used as adjunct treatments.

As the testosterone content in the body normalizes, the following positive changes occur:

• improves overall health and vitality;
• increases the ability to memorize and concentrate;
• the psycho-emotional state stabilizes;
• bone tissue is compacted and strengthened, since calcium ceases to be washed out of it;
• muscle tone increases and even muscle mass increases slightly;
• the risk of heart attacks and strokes is reduced due to the improvement of the condition of the heart and blood vessels;
• the course of hypertension is facilitated;
• with diabetes, the likelihood of complications is reduced.

Treatment of the hormonal failure itself gives a positive effect only after the elimination of the factors provoking it. If the cause of the deviations is a tumor neoplasm, a surgical intervention is indicated to eliminate it.

Hormones and neurotransmitters are biologically active substances of an organic nature. Entering the blood, they affect the metabolism and other physiological functions in a wide wave, causing a quick and long change in the functional state of the body. In a language more familiar to us, they make us fear and rage, depression and happiness, attraction and attachment.

In this article, we will not distinguish between hormones and neurotransmitters, since the only difference between them is where they are produced: hormones are produced in the endocrine glands, and neurotransmitters - in nerve cells. This is important for specialists, but what about us?

Major human hormones

Adrenalin- the hormone of fear and anxiety. The heart goes to the heels, the person turns pale, the reaction is "hit and run." Stands out in situations of danger, stress and anxiety. Increased vigilance, internal mobilization, a sense of anxiety. The heart beats strongly, the pupils dilate ("from fear the eyes are large"), there is a narrowing of the vessels of the abdominal cavity, skin and mucous membranes; to a lesser extent, it constricts the vessels of the skeletal muscles, but dilates the vessels of the brain. Increases blood clotting (in case of wounds), prepares the body for long-term stress and increased physical exertion due to muscles. Relaxes the intestines (pooped one's pants with fear), hands and jaws tremble.

Norepinephrine- the hormone of hatred, rage, malice and permissiveness. The precursor of adrenaline, is produced in the same situations, the main action is the heart beats and vasoconstriction, but more and more violently and shorter, and the face turns red. Short burst of anger (norepinephrine), then fear (adrenaline). The pupils do not dilate, the vessels of the brain - the same way.

Animals determine by smell whether adrenaline or norepinephrine is released. If the adrenaline is high, they recognize the weakling and chase him. If norepinephrine, recognize the leader and are ready to obey.

The great commander Julius Caesar made up the best military detachments only from those soldiers who, at the sight of danger, blushed, not turned pale.

Dopamine- a hormone of unbridled joy, pleasure and euphoria. Dopamine pushes us to exploits, madness, discoveries and accomplishments, a high level of this hormone turns us into donquixotes and optimists. On the contrary, if we lack dopamine in the body, we become dull hypochondriacs.

Any occupation or state from which we receive (or rather, look forward to) sincere joy and delight provokes a powerful release of the hormone dopamine into the blood. We like it, and after a while our brain "asks to repeat." This is how hobbies, habits, favorite places, adored food appear in our lives ... In addition, dopamine is injected into the body in stressful situations so that we do not die of fear, shock or pain: dopamine alleviates pain and helps a person adapt to inhuman conditions . Finally, the hormone dopamine is involved in important processes such as memory, thinking, regulation of sleep and wake cycles. Lack for any reason of the dopamine hormone leads to depression, obesity, chronic fatigue and dramatically reduces sexual desire. The easiest way to release dopamine is to have sex or listen to music that makes you shiver. In general - to do what the very anticipation of which makes you happy.

Testosterone- the hormone of masculinity and sexual desire. Testosterone triggers male forms of sexual behavior: the most obvious differences between M and F, such as aggressiveness, risk-taking, dominance, energy, self-confidence, impatience, desire to compete, are determined primarily by the level of testosterone in the blood. Men become "roosters", easily flaring up with anger and showing pugnacity. Increasing testosterone levels improves intelligence and "churns" empathy.

Estrogen- hormone of femininity. Influence on character: fears, pity, empathy, affection for babies, crybaby. E strogen develops in F an attraction to a dominant male, strong and experienced, recognized in society, and provides a number of other benefits: improves coordination and accuracy of movements (W is better than M in tasks that require quick skillful movements), enhances language abilities. If during fetal development a boy is exposed to abnormally high levels estrogen, he will end up in a male body, but with a female brain and grow up peaceful, sensitive, feminine.

Can you change your testosterone levels on your own? Yes. If a man practices martial arts, power and extreme sports, more often allows himself anger, his body increases the generation of testosterone. If a girl often plays a blonde and allows herself fears, her body increases the production of estrogen.

Oxytocin- a hormone of trust and tender affection. An increase in the level of oxytocin in the blood causes a feeling of satisfaction in a person, a decrease in fears and anxieties, a feeling of trust and calm next to a partner​: a person who was perceived as a person who was mentally close to himself. At the physiological level, oxytocin triggers the attachment mechanism: it is oxytocin that makes a mother or father attached to their child, binds a woman to her sexual partner, and creates a romantic mood and sexual attachment and a willingness to be faithful to a man. In particular, oxytocin makes married/in love men stay away from attractive women. According to the level of oxytocin in the blood, one can confidently speak about a person’s propensity for fidelity and readiness to become attached in close relationships. It is curious that oxytocin treats autism well: both children and adults with autism, after treatment with oxytocin, became not only more emotional themselves, but also better understand and recognize the emotions of other people. People with high levels of oxytocin live healthier and longer lives, because oxytocin improves the state of the nervous and cardiac systems, plus stimulates the production of endorphins - hormones of happiness.

An analogue of oxytocin - vasopressin, gives about the same effect.

Phenylethylamine- the hormone of love: if it "jumped" into us at the sight of an attractive object, a lively sympathy and love attraction ignite in us. Phenylethylamine is present in chocolate, sweets and diet drinks, but feeding these products will not help much: to create a state of love, another phenylethylamine is needed, endogenous, that is, secreted by the brain itself. Love potions exist in the tale of Tristan and Isolde or in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, but in reality our chemical system jealously guards its exclusive right to control our emotions.

endorphins are born in a victorious battle and help to forget about the pain. Morphine is the basis of heroin, and endorphin is an abbreviation for endogenous morphine, that is, a drug that is produced by our body itself. In high doses, endorphin, like other opiates, improves mood and triggers euphoria, but it is wrong to call it the “hormone of happiness and joy”: dopamine causes euphoria, and endorphins only contribute to the activity of dopamine. The main action of endorphins is different: it mobilizes our reserves and allows us to forget about the pain.

Conditions for the production of endorphins: a healthy body, serious physical activity, a little chocolate and a feeling of joy. For a fighter, this is a victorious fight on the battlefield. The fact that the wounds of the winners heal faster than the wounds of the vanquished was known in ancient Rome. For a sportsman, this is a "second wind", which opens on a long distance ("runner's euphoria") or in a sports competition, when the forces seem to be running out, but the victory is close. Joyful and long sex is also a source of endorphins, while in men it is triggered to a greater extent by vigorous physical activity, and in women by a feeling of joy. If women are more active in sex, and men are enthusiastically joyful, the stronger their health and richer experiences will be.

If we consider the action of hormones and neurotransmitters in the process of activity, then it looks a little simplified like this.

• The perception and analysis of information is regulated by norepinephrine. The higher the norepinephrine, the higher the speed of receiving and processing information.
• The emotional reaction to the information received depends on serotonin. The higher the serotonin, the more balanced, adequate, balanced the reactions.
• The generation of options for action is determined by dopamine: the higher its level, the easier and faster a person comes up with various solutions - however, without particularly checking them with criticism.
• Checking with criticism and screening out inadequate options is the work of serotonin.
• But in order to finally make a decision and start acting, you need norepinephrine.

The main thing that is important to know about hormones is that most of them are triggered by the same physical activity that they produce. Read the article again:

In order for a man to increase his masculinity, he needs to start behaving courageously: testosterone triggers healthy aggressiveness, but it is also triggered by martial arts, strength and extreme sports. If a girl often plays a blonde and allows herself fears, her body increases the production of estrogen, triggering fears and anxieties.

Oxytocin builds trust and close attachment, but it also triggers the same thing: start trusting your loved ones, say kind words to them, and you will increase your oxytocin level.

Endorphin helps to overcome pain and gives strength to the almost impossible. What is needed to start this process? Your willingness to exercise, your habit of overcoming yourself...

If you want to experience elation and euphoria more often, go somewhere where this behavior is practiced. Start screaming with delight in the company of people like you - the dopamine that bubbles up in your blood will delight you. The behavior of delight triggers the experience of delight.

A depressed person chooses gray tones, but mood-enhancing serotonin is triggered primarily by bright sunlight. A person in a bad mood stoops and prefers to lock himself in solitude. But just good posture and walking contribute to the production of serotonin, which triggers you to feel joy and happiness. Total: get out of the lair, straighten your back, turn on the bright light, that is, behave like a joyful person behaves, and your body will begin to produce serotonin, the hormone of joy and happiness.

WANT TO CHANGE YOUR STATE - START CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR!

Doctor of Medical Sciences V. Grinevich

All living beings on Earth - from plants to higher mammals - obey daily rhythms. In humans, depending on the time of day, the physiological state, intellectual capabilities and even mood change cyclically. Scientists have proven that fluctuations in the concentration of hormones in the blood are to blame. In recent years, much has been done in the science of biorhythms, chronobiology, to establish the mechanism of the occurrence of daily hormonal cycles. Scientists have discovered a "circadian center" in the brain, and in it - the so-called "clock genes" of biological health rhythms.

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

CHRONOBIOLOGY - THE SCIENCE OF THE DAILY RHYTHMS OF THE ORGANISM

In 1632, the English naturalist John Wren, in his "Treatise on Herbs" ("Herbal Treatise"), first described the daily cycles of tissue fluids in the human body, which he, following the terminology of Aristotle, called "humors" (lat. humor- liquid). Each of the "tides" of tissue fluid, according to Wren, lasted six hours. The humoral cycle began at nine o'clock in the evening with the release of the first humor of bile - "shole" (Greek. chole- bile) and continued until three in the morning. Then came the phase of black bile - "melancholy" (Greek. melas- black, chole- bile), followed by phlegm - "phlegma" (Greek. phlegma- mucus, sputum), and, finally, the fourth humor - blood.

Of course, it is impossible to correlate humors with currently known physiological fluids and tissue secretions. Modern medical science does not recognize any connection between physiology and mystical humors. And yet, the patterns of mood swings, intellectual abilities and physical condition described by Wren have a completely scientific basis. The science that studies the daily rhythms of the body is called chronobiology (Greek. chronos- time). Its basic concepts were formulated by the outstanding German and American scientists Professors Jurgen Aschoff and Colin Pittendrig, who were even nominated for the Nobel Prize in the early 1980s. But, unfortunately, they never received the highest scientific award.

The main concept of chronobiology is daily cycles, the duration of which is periodic - about (lat. circa) day (lat. dies). Therefore, the alternating daily cycles are called circadian rhythms. These rhythms are directly related to the cyclic change in illumination, that is, to the rotation of the Earth around its axis. All living beings on Earth have them: plants, microorganisms, invertebrates and vertebrates, up to higher mammals and humans.

We are all familiar with the circadian wake-sleep cycle. In 1959, Aschoff discovered a pattern that Pittendrig proposed to call Aschoff's rule. Under this name, it entered chronobiology and the history of science. The rule says: "In nocturnal animals, the active period (wakefulness) is longer in constant light, while in diurnal animals, wakefulness is longer in constant darkness." And indeed, as Aschoff subsequently established, with prolonged isolation of a person or animals in the dark, the wake-sleep cycle lengthens due to an increase in the duration of the wakefulness phase. It follows from Aschoff's rule that it is light that determines the circadian fluctuations of the body.

HORMONES AND BIORHYTHMS

During the circadian day (wakefulness), our physiology is mainly tuned to the processing of stored nutrients in order to obtain energy for an active daily life. On the contrary, during the circadian night, nutrients are accumulated, restoration and “repair” of tissues occur. As it turned out, these changes in metabolic rate are regulated by the endocrine system, that is, by hormones. There are many similarities with Wren's humoral theory in how the endocrine mechanism for controlling circadian cycles works.

In the evening, before nightfall, the "night hormone" - melatonin - is released into the blood from the so-called upper cerebral appendage - the pineal gland. This amazing substance is produced by the pineal gland only at night, and the time of its presence in the blood is directly proportional to the duration of the light night. In some cases, insomnia in the elderly is associated with insufficient secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland. Melatonin preparations are often used as sleeping pills.

Melatonin causes a decrease in body temperature, in addition, it regulates the duration and change of phases of sleep. The fact is that human sleep is an alternation of slow-wave and paradoxical phases. Slow-wave sleep is characterized by low-frequency activity of the cerebral cortex. This is "sleep without hind legs", a time when the brain is completely at rest. During REM sleep, the frequency of fluctuations in the electrical activity of the brain increases, and we dream. This phase is close to wakefulness and serves as a "springboard" to awakening. Slow-wave and paradoxical phases replace one another 4-5 times a night, in time with changes in the concentration of melatonin.

The onset of light night is accompanied by other hormonal changes: the production of growth hormone increases and the production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by another cerebral appendage, the pituitary gland, decreases. Growth hormone stimulates anabolic processes, such as cell reproduction and the accumulation of nutrients (glycogen) in the liver. No wonder they say: "Children grow in their sleep." ACTH causes the release of adrenaline and other "stress hormones" (glucocorticoids) from the adrenal cortex into the blood, so a decrease in its level allows you to remove daytime excitement and fall asleep peacefully. At the time of falling asleep, opioid hormones that have a narcotic effect, endorphins and enkephalins, are released from the pituitary gland. That is why the process of falling asleep is accompanied by pleasant sensations.

Before waking up, a healthy body should be ready for active wakefulness, at this time the adrenal cortex begins to produce hormones that excite the nervous system - glucocorticoids. The most active of them is cortisol, which leads to increased pressure, increased heart rate, increased vascular tone and decreased blood clotting. That is why clinical statistics show that acute heart attacks and intracerebral hemorrhagic strokes mainly occur in the early morning. Blood pressure-lowering drugs are now being developed that can only reach peak blood levels in the morning, preventing deadly attacks.

Why do some people get up “before dawn”, while others do not mind sleeping until noon? It turns out that the well-known phenomenon of "owls and larks" has a completely scientific explanation, which is based on the work of Jamie Seitzer from the Sleep Research Center at Stanford University in California. She found that the minimum concentration of cortisol in the blood usually occurs in the middle of a night's sleep, and its peak is reached before awakening. In "larks" the maximum release of cortisol occurs earlier than in most people - at 4-5 o'clock in the morning. Therefore, "larks" are more active in the morning, but get tired faster in the evening. They usually begin to fall asleep early, since the sleep hormone - melatonin enters the bloodstream long before midnight. In "owls" the situation is reversed: melatonin is released later, closer to midnight, and the peak of cortisol release is shifted to 7-8 in the morning. The specified time frames are purely individual and may vary depending on the severity of the morning ("lark") or evening ("owl") chronotypes.

"CIRCAD CENTER" IS IN THE BRAIN

What is this organ that controls the circadian fluctuations in the concentration of hormones in the blood? For a long time, scientists could not find an answer to this question. But none of them had any doubts that the "circadian center" should be in the brain. Its existence was also predicted by the founders of chronobiology Aschoff and Pittendrig. The attention of physiologists was attracted by the structure of the brain known to anatomists for a long time - the suprachiasmatic nucleus, located above (lat. super) crossed (gr. chiasmos) optic nerves. It has a cigar shape and consists, for example, in rodents of only 10,000 neurons, which is very few. The other nucleus, located close to it, is paraventricular and contains hundreds of thousands of neurons. The length of the suprachiasmatic nucleus is also small - no more than half a millimeter, and the volume is 0.3 mm 3.

In 1972, two groups of American researchers managed to show that the suprachiasmatic nucleus is the control center of the body's biological clock. To do this, they destroyed the nucleus in the brain of mice by microsurgery. Robert Moore and Victor Eichler found that in animals with a non-functioning suprachiasmatic nucleus, the cyclic release of stress hormones - adrenaline and glucocorticoids - into the blood disappears. Another scientific group led by Frederick Stefan and Irwin Zucker studied the motor activity of rodents with a remote "circadian center". Usually small rodents after waking up are always in motion. In laboratory conditions, a cable is connected to the wheel in which the animal runs in place to record movement. Mice and hamsters in a wheel with a diameter of 30 cm run 15-20 km per day! Based on the data obtained, graphs are built, which are called actograms. It turned out that the destruction of the suprachiasmatic nucleus leads to the disappearance of the circadian motor activity of animals: the periods of sleep and wakefulness become chaotic in them. They stop sleeping during the circadian night, that is, during daylight hours, and stay awake during the circadian day, that is, after dark.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus is a unique structure. If it is removed from the brain of rodents and placed in "comfortable conditions" with a warm nutrient medium saturated with oxygen, then for several months in the neurons of the nucleus the frequency and amplitude of the membrane polarization will cyclically change, as well as the level of production of various signal molecules - neurotransmitters that transmit a nerve impulse from one cell to another.

What helps the suprachiasmatic nucleus to maintain such a stable cyclicity? The neurons in it are very close to each other, forming a large number of intercellular contacts (synapses). Due to this, changes in the electrical activity of one neuron are instantly transmitted to all cells of the nucleus, that is, the activity of the cell population is synchronized. In addition, the neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus are connected by a special type of contacts, which are called gap junctions. They are sections of the membranes of adjoining cells, in which protein tubes, the so-called connexins, are embedded. Through these tubes, flows of ions move from one cell to another, which also synchronizes the "work" of the neurons of the nucleus. Convincing evidence of such a mechanism was presented by the American professor Barry Connors at the annual congress of neurobiologists "Neuroscience-2004", held in October 2004 in San Diego (USA).

In all likelihood, the suprachiasmatic nucleus plays an important role in protecting the body from the formation of malignant tumors. The proof of this was demonstrated in 2002 by French and British researchers led by professors Francis Levy and Michael Hastings. Mice with a destroyed suprachiasmatic nucleus were inoculated with cancerous tumors of bone tissue (Glasgow osteosarcoma) and pancreas (adenocarcinoma). It turned out that in mice without a "circadian center" the rate of tumor development is 7 times higher than in their normal counterparts. Epidemiological studies also point to the relationship between circadian rhythm disorders and oncological diseases in humans. They indicate that the incidence of breast cancer in women who work long night shifts, according to various sources, is up to 60% higher than in women who work during the day.

WATCH GENES

The uniqueness of the suprachiasmatic nucleus is also that the so-called clock genes work in its cells. These genes were first discovered in the Drosophila fruit fly in the analogue of the vertebrate brain - the head ganglion, the protocerebrum. Mammalian clock genes in their nucleotide sequence turned out to be very similar to Drosophila genes. There are two families of clock genes - periodic ( Per1, 2, 3) and cryptochrome ( Cree1 and 2). The products of these genes, the Per- and Cree-proteins, have an interesting feature. In the cytoplasm of neurons, they form molecular complexes with each other, which penetrate into the nucleus and suppress the activation of clock genes and, naturally, the production of their corresponding proteins. As a result, the concentration of Per- and Cri-proteins in the cytoplasm of the cell decreases, which again leads to "unblocking" and activation of genes that begin to produce new portions of proteins. This ensures the cyclical operation of clock genes. It is assumed that the clock genes, as it were, set up the biochemical processes occurring in the cell to work in the circadian mode, but how synchronization occurs is still unclear.

Interestingly, in animals, from the genome of which researchers have removed one of the clock genes by genetic engineering methods Lane 2, spontaneously develop blood tumors - lymphomas.

LIGHT DAY AND BIORHYTHMS

Circadian rhythms are "invented" by nature in order to adapt the body to the alternation of light and dark times of the day and therefore cannot but be associated with the perception of light. Information about the light day enters the suprachiasmatic nucleus from the light-sensitive membrane (retina) of the eye. Light information from the photoreceptors of the retina, rods and cones through the endings of the ganglion cells is transmitted to the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Ganglion cells do not just transmit information in the form of a nerve impulse, they synthesize a light-sensitive enzyme - melanopsin. Therefore, even under conditions when rods and cones do not function (for example, in congenital blindness), these cells are able to perceive light, but not visual information and transmit it to the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

One might think that in total darkness there should be no circadian activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. But this is not so at all: even in the absence of light information, the daily cycle remains stable - only its duration changes. In the case when information about light does not enter the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the circadian period in humans is lengthened compared to the astronomical day. To prove this, in 1962, the "father of chronobiology," Professor Jurgen Aschoff, who was discussed above, placed two volunteers, his sons, in a completely dark apartment for several days. It turned out that the wake-sleep cycles after placing people in the dark stretched for half an hour. Sleep in total darkness becomes fragmented, superficial, and the slow-wave phase dominates. A person ceases to feel sleep as a deep shutdown, he seems to be daydreaming. After 12 years, the Frenchman Michel Siffre repeated these experiments on himself and came to similar results. Interestingly, in nocturnal animals, the cycle in the dark, on the contrary, is reduced and amounts to 23.4 hours. The meaning of such shifts in circadian rhythms is still not entirely clear.

Changing the length of daylight hours affects the activity of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. If animals that were housed for several weeks on a stable regimen (12 hours light and 12 hours dark) were then placed on different light cycles (e.g. 18 hours light and 6 hours dark), they experienced altered activity wakefulness and sleep. A similar thing happens to a person when the light changes.

The cycle "sleep - wakefulness" in wild animals completely coincides with the periods of daylight hours. In today's human society "24/7" (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), the mismatch of biological rhythms with the real daily cycle leads to "circadian stress", which, in turn, can cause the development of many diseases, including depression, insomnia , pathology of the cardiovascular system and cancer. There is even such a thing as seasonal affective illness - seasonal depression associated with a decrease in the length of daylight hours in winter. It is known that in northern countries, for example, in Scandinavia, where the discrepancy between the length of daylight hours and the active period is especially noticeable, the frequency of depression and suicide is very high among the population.

With seasonal depression in the blood of the patient, the level of the main hormone of the adrenal glands - cortisol, which greatly depresses the immune system, rises. And reduced immunity inevitably leads to increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. So it is possible that short daylight hours are one of the reasons for the surge in the incidence of viral infections in the winter.

DAILY RHYTHMS OF ORGANS AND TISSUES

To date, it has been established that it is the suprachiasmatic nucleus that sends signals to the brain centers responsible for the cyclic production of hormones that regulate the daily activity of the body. One of these regulatory centers is the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, from where the signal to “start” the synthesis of growth hormone or ACTH is transmitted to the pituitary gland. So the suprachiasmatic nucleus can be called the "conductor" of the circadian activity of the body. But other cells follow their own circadian rhythms. It is known that clock genes work in the cells of the heart, liver, lungs, pancreas, kidneys, muscle and connective tissues. The activity of these peripheral systems is subject to their own daily rhythms, which generally coincide with the cyclicity of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, but are shifted in time. The question of how the "circadian orchestra conductor" controls the functioning of the "orchestrants" remains a key problem in modern chronobiology.

Cyclically functioning organs are quite easy to get out of control of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. In 2000-2004, a series of sensational works was published by Swiss and American research groups led by Julie Schibler and Michael Menaker. In experiments conducted by scientists, nocturnal rodents were fed only during daylight hours. This is just as unnatural for mice as it is for a person who would only be allowed to eat at night. As a result, the circadian activity of the clock genes in the internal organs of the animals was gradually completely rearranged and ceased to coincide with the circadian rhythm of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The return to normal synchronous biorhythms occurred immediately after the start of their feeding at their usual waking time, that is, at night. The mechanisms of this phenomenon are still unknown. But one thing is clear for sure: it is easy to get the whole body out of the control of the suprachiasmatic nucleus - you just need to radically change the diet, starting to dine at night. Therefore, a strict diet is not an empty phrase. It is especially important to follow it in childhood, because the biological clock "winds" at a very early age.

The heart, like all internal organs, also has its own circadian activity. Under artificial conditions, it exhibits significant circadian fluctuations, which is expressed in a cyclic change in its contractile function and the level of oxygen consumption. Biorhythms of the heart coincide with the activity of "heart" clock genes. In a hypertrophied heart (in which muscle mass is increased due to cell proliferation), fluctuations in heart activity and "heart" clock genes disappear. Therefore, the opposite is also possible: a failure in the daily activity of heart cells can cause its hypertrophy with the subsequent development of heart failure. So violations of the regime of the day and nutrition are likely to be the cause of cardiac pathology.

Not only the endocrine system and internal organs are subject to daily rhythms, the vital activity of cells in peripheral tissues also follows a specific circadian program. This area of ​​research is just beginning to develop, but interesting data have already been accumulated. So, in the cells of the internal organs of rodents, the synthesis of new DNA molecules mainly occurs at the beginning of the circadian night, that is, in the morning, and cell division actively begins at the beginning of the circadian day, that is, in the evening. The intensity of growth of cells of the human oral mucosa changes cyclically. What is especially important, according to daily rhythms, the activity of proteins responsible for cell reproduction, for example, topoisomerase II α, a protein that often serves as a “target” for the action of chemotherapeutic drugs, also changes. This fact is of exceptional importance for the treatment of malignant tumors. As clinical observations show, chemotherapy during the circadian period corresponding to the peak of topoisomerase production is much more effective than a single or continuous administration of chemotherapy drugs at an arbitrary time.

None of the scientists doubts that circadian rhythms are one of the fundamental biological mechanisms, thanks to which, over millions of years of evolution, all the inhabitants of the Earth have adapted to the light daily cycle. Although man is a highly adapted creature, which allowed him to become the most numerous species among mammals, civilization inevitably destroys his biological rhythm. And while plants and animals follow the natural circadian rhythm, humans have a much harder time. Circadian stress is an integral feature of our time, it is extremely difficult to resist them. However, it is in our power to take care of the "biological clock" of health, strictly following the regime of sleep, wakefulness and nutrition.

Illustration "The life of plants according to the biological clock."
Not only animals, but also plants live according to the "biological clock". Daytime flowers close and open petals depending on the light - everyone knows this. However, not everyone knows that the formation of nectar is also subject to daily rhythms. Moreover, bees pollinate flowers only at certain hours - at the moments of production of the largest amount of nectar. This observation was made at the dawn of chronobiology - at the beginning of the 20th century - by German scientists Karl von Frisch and Ingeborg Behling.

Illustration "Scheme of "ideal" circadian rhythms for the synthesis of the "wakefulness hormone" - cortisol and the "sleep hormone" - melatonin."
For most people, cortisol levels in the blood begin to rise at midnight and peak at 6-8 am. By this time, the production of melatonin has practically ceased. After about 12 hours, cortisol concentration begins to decline, and after another 2 hours, melatonin synthesis starts. But these time frames are very arbitrary. In "larks", for example, cortisol reaches its maximum level earlier - by 4-5 o'clock in the morning, in "owls" later - by 9-11 o'clock. Depending on the chronotype, the peaks of melatonin release also shift.

Illustration "A graph of the number of fatal heart attacks."
The graph shows the dependence of the number of fatal heart attacks among patients admitted to the clinic of the Medical College of the University of Kentucky (USA) in 1983, on the time of day. As can be seen from the graph, the peak number of heart attacks falls on the time period from 6 to 9 am. This is due to the circadian activation of the cardiovascular system before awakening.

Illustration "Suprachiasmatic nucleus."
If the suprachiasmatic nucleus is placed in "comfortable" physiological conditions (left image) and the electrical activity of its neurons is recorded during the day, then it will look like periodic increases in the discharge amplitude (action potential) with maxima every 24 hours (right diagram).

Illustration "Nocturnal animals - hamsters in the period of wakefulness are in constant motion."
In laboratory conditions, to record the motor activity of rodents, a cable is connected to the wheel in which the animal runs in place. Based on the data obtained, graphs are built, which are called actograms.

Illustration "The main "conductor" of biological rhythms - the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is located in the hypothalamus, an evolutionarily ancient part of the brain."
The hypothalamus is boxed in the upper image taken from a longitudinal section of the human brain. The suprachiasmatic nucleus lies above the optic chiasm, through which it receives light information from the retina. The bottom right figure is a section of the mouse hypothalamus, colored blue. In the lower left figure, the same image is shown schematically. Paired spherical formations are an accumulation of neurons that form the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Illustration "Scheme of synthesis of the "hormone of the night" - melatonin."
Melatonin causes sleep, and its fluctuations at night lead to a change in sleep phases. The secretion of melatonin obeys the circadian rhythm and depends on the illumination: darkness stimulates it, while light, on the contrary, suppresses it. Information about light in mammals enters the epiphysis in a complex way: from the retina to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (retino-hypothalamic tract), then from the suprachiasmatic nucleus to the superior cervical ganglion and from the superior cervical ganglion to the epiphysis. In fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds, light can directly control melatonin production through the pineal gland, since light easily passes through the delicate skull of these animals. Hence another name for the pineal gland - "third eye". How melatonin controls falling asleep and changing sleep phases is not yet clear.

Illustration "The suprachiasmatic nucleus is the controller of the circadian rhythm of various organs and tissues."
It performs its functions by regulating the production of hormones by the pituitary and adrenal glands, as well as by direct signal transmission through the processes of neurons. The circadian activity of the peripheral organs can be brought out of the control of the suprachiasmatic nucleus by violating the diet - eating at night.