Contents:
- Medical Video: 10 Warning Signs Your Heart Isn't Working Properly
- Get to know hormone function
- 1. The hormone insulin
- 2. Parathyroid hormone
- 3. The hormone cortisol
- 4. Aldosterone hormone
Medical Video: 10 Warning Signs Your Heart Isn't Working Properly
You may have known there are people who have enlarged thyroid glands, experience menstrual disorders, have short postures, or perhaps most often find people who have diabetes. Did you know that diseases like that are actually caused by hormonal disorders? Therefore, hormone function for the human body is really important.
Get to know hormone function
Hormones are substances that are formed by certain body parts in small amounts and carried to other body tissues and have an influence on the activity of body cells. Hormones are produced both in the brain (part of the hypothalamus and pituitary) and outside the brain (pancreas, thyroid gland, adrenal, and reproductive organs). These organs release hormones, then hormones will enter the bloodstream to the destination organ where the hormone works.
The body produces a lot of hormones. Of all the hormones produced, there are four hormones that are very important for survival. If there is a serious interference with this essential hormone, death can occur. What are the four hormones?
1. The hormone insulin
Insulin is a hormone produced by pancreatic beta cells. This hormone has anabolic or constructive properties. Insulin is produced when levels of nutrients in the blood (sugar, fat, and amino acids) increase. The function of the hormone insulin in the body is to reduce blood sugar levels, free fatty acids, and amino acids, and help store them.
The presence of the hormone insulin makes the cells of the human body use sugar as the main energy ingredient. The work of the insulin hormone is opposed by the hormone glucagon which is produced by pancreatic alpha cells.
The absence of the hormone insulin can cause the condition of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) as occurs in diabetes mellitus (DM) or diabetes. If not treated, hyperglycemia can cause interference with various organs such as the kidneys, nerves and retina.
Insulin deficiency can also cause the breakdown of fat from fat tissue, resulting in an increase in fatty acids in the blood. In conditions where the body cannot use sugar as the main fuel, cells will use fatty acids as an alternative energy. The use of fatty acids for this energy will increase the release of ketone bodies (ketosis), which are acidic, causing acidosis. This acidosis can reduce the work of the brain and if severe can lead to coma until finally death.
2. Parathyroid hormone
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a hormone produced by the parathyroid gland. This gland is located around the thyroid gland. PTH plays an important role in regulating blood calcium levels. Calcium itself has an important effect on muscle contraction and blood clotting processes.
PTH is released in low blood calcium conditions. This hormone increases calcium by increasing the release of calcium from the bones, absorption of calcium from the intestines and kidneys. Calcitonin is a hormone that can inhibit the work of PTH.
PTH is important for life because if there is no PTH, muscle spasms can occur, including the respiratory muscles, causing respiratory failure and leading to death.
3. The hormone cortisol
You must often hear about steroids. Usually steroids are often prescribed for anti-inflammatories or di the gym often you hear people want to inject steroids to get a good body shape. However, did you know that your body already has natural steroids called the cortisol hormone?
Cortisol or glucocorticoids are the most widely released hormones by the adrenal gland. The basic ingredient of this hormone is cholesterol. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone, because this hormone is released especially when our body is in a state of stress.
The function of the hormone cortisol is very important in the body's metabolism and immune system. Unlike insulin, the hormone cortisol is metabolic (breaking down). The presence of the hormone cortisol in the blood can increase the breakdown of food reserves in the body, so that blood sugar, fat and amino acids will increase in the blood, so that these ingredients can be a source of energy in stressful situations.
4. Aldosterone hormone
The hormone aldosterone may be heard less frequently than cortisol. Aldosterone is also released by the adrenal gland and has an important role in the balance of sodium ions (salts) and body potassium. Aldosterone will be produced if sodium levels in the blood are reduced or blood potassium levels are excessive.
This hormone causes sodium to be reabsorbed by kidney cells and disposal of potassium into the urine. Reabsorption of sodium is followed by absorption of water from the kidneys. Through this mechanism sodium storage and increase in body fluids result in an increase in blood pressure.
The absence of aldosterone can cause the body to lose sodium and water, and increase potassium levels which are dangerous because they can cause death quickly.
