It All Starts by Understanding Your Hormones  

Introduction to Hormones

Hormones are chemical substances that act as messengers between cells. They carry signals that tell cells what to do. Without instructions from hormones, cells would become confused and begin to malfunction.

Hormones are made mainly in endocrine glands and control important cellular processes, including hair growth, bone formation, and biological transitions such as puberty and menopause. Each type of hormone is matched to a unique hormone receptor located on the surface of a cell, and fits into its receptor like a key into a lock. Once a hormone “unlocks” a cell, it is able to transmit its message. A hormone may, for example, tell a cell to replicate, make a certain protein, or increase energy production. When hormones leave glands and travel to their target cells or tissues, some of them hitch a ride with a protein, while others make the trip on their own. If a hormone is carried by a protein, it is not free to communicate with a cell until it is released. A hormone that circulates freely through the blood, however, can affect a cell immediately.

But how does the body know when to make hormones? First, the brain senses that the body is low on a particular hormone. It then sends a message to the gland that makes that hormone, which subsequently produces the substance in the required amount. Finally, a part of the brain called the hypothalamus detects when enough hormone has been created and signals the gland to stop production until levels fall again.

Although they affect hundreds of biological functions, the hormones estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone are primarily considered sex hormones because they control sexual development and fertility. In addition, other major hormones, including melatonin, DHEA, insulin, and cortisol, influence physiological processes such as mood regulation, metabolism, energy production, and the ability to cope with stress. Learning the roles that hormones play in the body is an important step towards recognizing when they are not working right. Moreover, understanding how certain hormones affect each other can provide another important piece of the biological puzzle. Once you have the right information, you may be able to identify which hormones are out of balance and take steps with your doctor to remedy the problem.