We get a body at the moment we are born. But have you ever noticed how, while we get manuals and help guides – and in some cases a 24/7 toll-free customer service number – for every other important item we own, no one has ever offered you are “body 101 manual?” This doesn’t always matter […]
Continue readingHormones and neurotransmitters are fascinating chemicals that govern a wide variety of bodily functions. As long as they remain in balance, things go well, but too much or too little can cause many unpleasant symptoms and disrupt important biological processes. One of the more important neurotransmitters is serotonin.What is Serotonin?Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT), first isolated […]
Continue readingMost people associate endorphins with runners. There is some truth to that, but this neurological chemical is a lot more intricate than that. Understanding the intricacies behind endorphins may help you control it and use it in a productive way. What is Endorphin?Endorphins (or beta-endorphins) are neuropeptides that are vital for the body (Source). One of […]
Continue readingWhat is Cortisol?Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that is secreted by the adrenal gland. There are two types of Cortisol plays a key role in what is known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis). Your stress response system is sometimes more commonly referred to as your “fight or flight” response and more recently as the […]
Continue readingWhat is Dopamine?Dopamine is one of many chemicals in the body, but as a Slate article notes, it’s implicated in some real biggies: sex, lust, love, addiction, gambling, heart health, breastfeeding, body movement and mental health. Dopamine’s widespread effects have to do with how it affects the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and neurohormone – […]
Continue readingYou remember the ride to your birthing center. You remember the labor. You remember the baby’s birth and beauty. You get your infant home. In just a few weeks you become aware of a problem. There is something wrong with my baby. I was really concerned about dead skin or scabbing on our baby’s scalp, […]
Continue readingAre you getting some signs that could indicate your pregnancy? Many early symptoms might confirm that you are pregnant within a few weeks after conception. Although your midwife or ob-gyn will confirm your pregnancy during your first visit in the 8th week, you may actually show some early signs even by the time of 5-6 […]
Continue readingValentine’s Day always gets me thinking about oxytocin, commonly called the “love hormone.” Although it is strongly associated with women, childbirth and lactation, men also produce this important hormone. What’s fascinating about oxytocin is how many physiological functions, behaviors and emotions are affected by this one hormone in both men and women. Endocrinologists and social […]
Continue readingThe term “shin splints” has become sort of a catch-all term for pain below the knee that often plagues athletes. As a runner myself, I have found this loose definition to be confusing and unhelpful. For this reason, I decided to put together this guide to everything you ever needed to know about shin splints. This […]
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