Relaxin is a protein hormone first described in 1926 by American doctor Frederick Hisaw. Hormones are natural substances produced by the body that act as chemical messengers. They help transmit information between cells and systems and affect most functions in our body. There are sex hormones called “male” and “female” for their primary role in …
The pituitary gland is responsible for producing luteinizing hormone, also known as LH. In women, LH is responsible for the production of progesterone, the maturation of follicles and ovulation. It is an essential hormone for female fertility. In humans, it is also linked to reproductive capacity, LH directly affects sperm production, by acting on the …
It is said that the face is the mirror of the soul. Through the face, or better said faces, we can express emotions and moods: laughter, sadness, anger and most feelings are visible on our face. We use different facial expressions to adapt to communication situations, whether consciously or not, we show the feelings that …
The endocrine system produces small molecules called hormones. Hormones act as messengers and influence many important processes in the body: they help maintain blood pressure, regulate sexual desire, and control hunger, among other essential tasks. The same hormone can have different functions. Prolactin is a protein hormone responsible for over 300 different processes in vertebrates, …
DNA is probably the most well-known molecule of biological origin, it is found in all living things on planet Earth. But… Why is DNA so important? DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) contains the instructions necessary for life: inside our DNA is encoded the information needed to make all the proteins in our body. Proteins fulfill a multitude …
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, causing progressive loss of muscle function and control. The abilities to walk, talk and swallow are gradually impaired to the point of being completely lost. ALS is a disease whose exact causes are still unknown, but it has multiple contributing factors: …
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which a woman produces more androgens (male hormones) than normal. This causes cysts (fluid-filled sacs) to form in the ovaries. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common hormonal disorder in women of childbearing age. Women who have PCOS have high levels of male hormones. Impaired hormone production causes …
Hair loss is clinically known as alopecia. And it is that both men and women can suffer from hair loss from a certain age, for various reasons. Alopecia can have many different origins, often its causes are genetic or stem from a poor diet, nutritional deficiencies can lead to pathological conditions such as anemia, where …
The period of development of the fetus in the uterus, which goes from conception to childbirth, is called pregnancy. A baby develops for about 40 weeks of gestation (280 days), these weeks are divided into three trimesters and each has its stages of growth. Prior to conception, a series of physiological mechanisms are required to …
Pregnancy or gestation is the period from the implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus until the time of delivery. This is accompanied by a series of physical and biological changes in the body that allow the development of the fetus. Sometimes pregnant women experience a series of somewhat unexpected and rather annoying conditions, …
Sweating or perspiration is the mechanism by which our body keeps our temperature constant, around 37 degrees. When it’s hot, we exercise or in stressful situations, our body temperature rises. Through perspiration and cooling of the skin, our body is able to release heat. Some people sweat excessively compared to others. This condition, when considered …
There are different factors, common to both genders, that have the ability to influence headaches, such as family history and age. However, headaches are much more common in women than in men. Statistically, over a year, women are three times more likely than men to have at least one migraine. This significant difference in the …
Sometimes when waking up we notice a dryness in the mouth, as if the saliva is thicker than normal, usually this feeling is accompanied by hoarseness in the throat. The feeling of dry mouth on waking is often produced by sleeping with your mouth open., and is a sign that you are probably not breathing …
Many anxious people report that in stressful or distressing situations, they feel a strange tingling sensation in their hands, similar to that felt when we fall asleep on one arm or leg after leaning on it for a long time. This sensation has a name, in the field of neurology it is known as paresthesia. …
Superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome (SDCSS) is a condition that affects balance. It is difficult to diagnose and is usually associated with panic attacks or other psychiatric disorders. However, this syndrome has its origins in a problem with the development of the semicircular canals, small canals located in the inner ear that help us maintain …
Abdominal fat is more difficult to eliminate than other fats. Let’s see why and if it can really be fought. As we age, both men and women begin to accumulate fat in the abdomen, this fat in addition to causing us psychological discomfort because we do not look well, it is also difficult to eliminate, …
Reactive hypoglycemia shows how biological processes related to nutrition can affect our mood and predispose us to behave in one way or another. In this article we will see what reactive hypoglycemia is and its impact on our emotions and psychological processes in general. What is reactive hypoglycemia? Reactive hypoglycemia, or postprandial hypoglycemia, is a …
An allergic reaction is an overreaction of the immune system to a substance that does not cause a reaction in most people. The most common allergic reactions are animal dandruff, dust, pollen, medication and food allergies. Allergic reactions are common, it is estimated that in industrialized countries about one third of the population suffers from …
Heart attack is a type of ischemic heart disease related to insufficient blood supply that can have several causes. However, these types of health problems have a psychological dimension that should not be overlooked. Therefore, in this article we will review the main tips to consider for a healthy life after suffering a heart attack. …
Both pneumonia and bronchitis are related respiratory diseases to some extent, which is why it is quite common for people to confuse the two. Although both are caused by some type of infectious agent that has entered the respiratory system, their symptoms and severity are very different, and one is potentially more deadly. Below we …
Viruses are infectious agents by definition, and few biologists today classify them among living beings. These are segments of genetic information (DNA or RNA) covered with a capsid (nucleocapsid), itself surrounded or not by an envelope. Because viruses lack organelles such as ribosomes or mitochondria, they cannot grow or replicate on their own: to proliferate, …
Bacteria have inhabited Earth for over 3.5 billion years, making them the oldest life forms on Earth. It is therefore not surprising that 15% of the organic matter of the earth’s crust (70 gigatonnes of carbon) is stored in these prokaryotic beings, as simple as they are essential to life. In fact, according to the …
Of all the organs in the human body, the pancreas is one of the most important given its implications for the digestive and endocrine systems. Thanks to this glandular structure, our blood sugar is regulated, and without its ability to produce enzymes, it would be very difficult to digest. Below we will review some of …
Blood, the fluid connective tissue that circulates in the capillaries, veins and arteries of vertebrates, is one of the main foundations of life for multicellular beings. This fluid is responsible for allowing a localized defense against infections, participating in the transport of nutrients and oxygen to cells, modulating body thermoregulation, transporting hormones, enzymes and other …
The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. From a medical point of view, this corresponds to a series of neurophysiological variations in our body and to an increased activity of the adrenal glands, pituitary gland, pancreas and …
Working more than 8 hours in front of a computer is the daily life of many employees, especially those who work in offices or from home. Many working days are spent sitting, with few breaks to stretch or relax muscles. If we add to this that there are few people who incorporate physical exercise into …
The digestive system is essential to the life of vertebrates (and any living being that is not very complex at the physiological level). We are heterotrophic living beings and therefore need to eat to obtain the energy necessary to maintain cellular homeostasis. Additionally, many compounds we need for life (macro and micronutrients) cannot be synthesized …
Certain plants and herbs that are easily found in homemade wax or from herbalists have been shown to help combat discomfort and reduce symptoms associated with the common cold. A cold or cold usually does not require medical intervention, although we should be careful and ensure that the symptoms improve and the condition does not …
