HORMONES IN RELATION WITH

FEELINGS
K. DEVI PRASANNA (B. Pharm III-A)

Hormones are the signaling molecules in multicellular organism that are sent to
distant organ by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior. These
hormones are chemicals produced and secreted by specialized cells that act on the various
target cells locally or remotely. Hormones are produced by the glands that is by the endocrine
system; released into the bloodstream act specifically on one or more “target organ” to regulate
their functionality.

The word hormone is derived from Greek word “hormao” that denotes “stimulate, move”.
These hormones which are secreted from the endocrine glands acts as messengers when
released into the bloodstream it influences physical, physiologically, behavioral changes, thus
interfering throughout the whole life with increasing roles, sexuality, reproduction,
metabolism, sleep, mood etc. Physically everything is related to hormones and
neurotransmitter. These chemical messengers of endocrine and brain system are known to be
magic but which actually mean feelings. These hormones used to adaptive to new environment.
Invest with the function of “mangers”; hormones control fundamental impulses and emotion
and it is not limited to just regulates body temperature, stimulates sexual growth and identify,
helps restore tissues.

They are different types of hormones which influences the emotions. The hormones like
dopamine, cortisol, adrenaline, melatonin, serotonin, oxytocin, estrogen, progesterone etc. This
hormones with increase in decrease in level of secretion the emotion may affect. The hormones
by its inhibition or induction show the following affects.

Dopamine

This hormone is also called as “feel good” hormone. Which gives pleasurable reward and
motivation. High or low level of these dopamine associated with several mental health and
neurological diseases. It also helps to strive, focus, and find things interesting.
Oxytocin

It’s called as “love hormone”. Oxytocin is natural hormone that stimulates uterine
contractions in child birth and lactation after child birth. It also affects aspects of human
behaviour and the male and female reproductive system. It acts as a chemical messenger in
your brain and has an important role in many human behaviour and social interactions,
including sexual arousal, recognition, trust, romantic attachment, parent- infant bonding etc.

Melatonin

It’s a hormone that your brain produces in response to darkness. It helps with the timing
of circadian rhythms and with sleep. Being exposed to light at night can block melatonin
production. These is the only hormone synthesized by the pineal gland and released in response
of darkness.

Serotonin

It is known as “happy hormone”. It plays vital role in body functions as mood, sleep,
digestion, nausea, wound healing, bone health, blood clotting and sexual desire. These also
influences learning, memory etc. lack of serotonin may leads to depression, anxiety, mania,
and other health conditions.

Cortisol

It is a primary “stress hormone”. It maintains stress level in our body apart from that it also
used for regulating metabolism, suppressing inflammation, regulating blood pressure,
increasing and regulating blood sugar and also help in control your sleep-wake cycle.

Estrogen

These hormone plays vital role in females it helps in develop and maintain both reproductive
system and female characteristics, such as breasts and pubic hair. Estrogen level vary among
the individuals. They also fluctuate during menstrual cycle and over a females’ life time. This
fluctuation can sometimes produce effects such as mood changes before menstruation or hot
flashes in menopause. Imbalance of this estrogen leads to irregular or no menstruation, weight
gain, low sexual desire, mood swings etc.
Progesterone

It plays vital role in regulating the menstrual cycle and also preparing uterus for pregnancy.
After you ovulate each month, progesterone helps thicken the lining of uterus to prepare
fertilized egg. If there is no fertilized egg, progesterone level drops and menstruation cycle.
The low level of this secretion causes mood swings, including anxiety or depression and
irregularity in menstrual cycle.

Adrenaline

Adrenaline is also known as epinephrine is an “stress hormone”. Adrenaline triggers the

body’s fight-or-flight response. It gives the body extra energy in critical or urgent situation. In
combination with high level of dopamine and non-epinephrine, adrenaline is responsible for
states we go through when we love.

CONCLUSION

Hormones play an essential role for the human body, care for sleep regulation, influence
growth and development, and are responsible for our mental state. Hormones are responsible
for regulating a variety of physiological processes and behavioral activities. Not only hormones
influence behavior, but also behavior and the environment can influence hormone
concentration. Which mean behavior can affect hormone concentration, which in turn can
affect behavior, and so on. So, hormones and feelings are interlinked with each other.

Reference

Online- www.wikipedia.org, www.nccih.nih.gov

Pdf- Biochemistry of hormones that influences feelings, www.remedypublications.com