In this day and age, we are learning more and more about the human body than what could have been thought possible in the past. Every day chemical reactions take place within ourselves yet we turn a blind eye to them and pay them no heed. Whenever we eat, a chemical reaction happens within our stomachs to break down the food to turn it into a source of energy our body can utilize. Whenever we move, a chemical reaction releases signals into the brain to tell our limbs to perform rotary functions. Whenever we are injured, our brain sends and receives signals to determine how to perceive the extremity of the sensation. These signals are due to endorphins, one of the most important neurotransmitters in our body. Mind you, these are all natural …show more content…
These structures tend to differ in the number of each element, however some do share the same ones such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur such as the alpha-endorphins with the structure of C77H120N18O26S with beta-endorphin beng C158H251N39O46S, gamma-endorphins having the structure of C83H131N19O27S and beta-neo-endorphins with C158H251N39O46S. The only endorphin that does not have sulfur are the alpha-neo-endorphins which have a structure of C60H89N15O13. These endorphins function in our bodies by being released within the brain and binding to opioid receptor sites. These opiate receptor sites are comparable to security guards. They decide who has the proper identification to pass through and act as a barrier between the cell and outside of it. The opiate receptor sites bind with endorphins which in turn triggers an electrical signal being sent to the brain to change how it perceives a stimulus, in this case pain. This is how the body regulates the pain it feels (Sprouse-Blum et al. 2010). Without them, if we were to experience being pricked with a needle, stabbed with a knife or punched in the stomach with brass knuckles, the pain we would feel would be much more profound and psychologically harming. How the
Experts believe bipolar disorder is caused by an underlying problem with specific brain circuits and the balance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters (WebMD). There are five brain chemicals noradrenaline (norepinephrine), serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphin. Noradrenaline and serotonin are the most common chemicals linked to psychiatric mood disorders such as depression and bipolar (WebMD). Dopamine is linked to the pleasure system in the brain (WebMD). When a disruption happens to the dopamine system connects to psychosis and schizophrenia (WebMD). If there is too much dopamine in one place, it can cause psychosis. Dopamine motivates us (Deans, 2011). Dopamine is linked to everything, metabolism, evolution, and the brain (Dean, 2011). Serotonin is connected to many different body functions including sleep, wakefulness, eating and impulsivity (WebMD). Researchers believe that abnormal brain functioning of brain circuits that involve serotonin as a chemical messenger contributes to mood disorders (WebMD). Oxytocin is a hormone commonly associated with childbirth and breastfeeding. Oxytocin plays a critical role in social and emotional behavior. Oxytocin increases the susceptibility to feeling fearful and anxious during stressful events (NWU, 2013).
As well as killing pain, moderate doses of pure opioids produce a range of mild effects. They depress the activity of the nervous system, including such reflexes as coughing, breathing and heart rate. They also cause widening of the blood vessels, which gives a feeling of warmth and reduces bowel activity, which causes constipation.
Pain effects the body through the nerves. The phenomena of pain is conveyed from a peripheral part of the person, through afferent nerves to a part of the brain, similar to sight, touch, and hearing. These signals are then interpreted by the brain as pain (Murphy, 1981). The nerve cells used to relay pain messages to the brain are specific nerve cells called nociceptors. These nerves do not send messages until "the stimulus reaches noxious levels," (McClesky, 1992).
The reason that this drug can be so intense and dangerous is because it falls into the category II narcotics. Many commonly known narcotics include opium, morphine, and heroin. The addiction rate of any of these drugs is phenomenal. Narcotics are central nervous system depressants that relieve pain without causing the loss of consciousness. They can also produce feelings drowsiness, mental confusion and euphoria. The analgesic effects of narcotics result from the drugs’ effects on the emotional aspects of pain. Many patients that experience intense pain say that after the administration of the narcotic, their pain is as intense as ever but no longer as bothersome. Because narcotics block the emotional side effects of pain they make it much more bearable.
By attaching to opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the body they reduce the sending of pain messages to the brain and reduce feelings of pain. The part of the brain that controls emotions are also changed and cause a person to feel relaxed and extremely happy, a euphoric state of being. This is when a person starts to crave the drug, the brain is saying it wants more. Natural endorphins are produced by a healthy brain on its own. Powerful cravings and physical dependence are due to the brain no longer producing the natural kind of endorphins because after
Opioids (including natural and synthetic) work by binding to opioid receptors in the CNS sending inaccurate signals to the brain about the intensity of pain being experienced, which results in a sedating feeling. Opioids affect how brain feels pleasure. In the event of consuming opioids while not experiencing pain, a person would experience elation, intense joy and comfort. Both aforementioned feelings act as positive reinforcement of opioids. The bodily response of using opioids weakens after a while of use, and the user starts to build up a tolerance. The continual usage of opioids changes how the brain works, where the brain learns to crave opioids when opioids are not available to maintain a ‘normal’ stable state. The CNS starts to send
“More than 16,600 people a year, die from overdoses of drugs, including Methadone, Morphine, and Oxycodone (OxyContin) and Hydrocodone combined with Acetaminophen (Lortab and Vicodin)” stated Consumers Report. The drugs listed above are all examples of Opioids. They are individual drugs that launch endorphins to the central nervous system which controls pain and relieves the severity of pain felt or silences it. Opioids also generate a sense of exhilaration and a calmness which is a product of the Analgesic effect. That feeling is one of the main reasons why people abuse opioids, they
Opioid is a narcotic analgesic class of drugs which includes that of heroin, the synthetic variation fentanyl and other analgesic as oxycodone(OxyContin), hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine. These drugs adhere specifically to the opioid receptors in the PNS and CNS. Main functions as a receptor ligand is to reduce pain which is why it is prescribed by physicians at a lower dose. A common side effects of these drugs is euphoria and
Endogenous opioids work together to modulate pain by activating different types of opioid receptors (μ, δ, κ, ORL1). In contrast, most exogenous opioids are primarily using μ receptors to dampen pain. T exogenous opioids will disproportionately activate feelings of euphoria and breathing by activating every μ receptor in the brain/spinal cord to successfully diminish the sensations of pain. There is a relationship between this disproportionate activation and our problems of addiction, dependence, and overdosing.
Most people usually think of the brain or heart being the most important part of our body. While they are indeed important, they would be entirely useless if certain substances called neurotransmitters didn’t exist. Neurotransmitters are substances in our body that carry signals from one nerve cell to another. Without these neurotransmitters in our body, we wouldn’t receive crucial signals such as telling our heart to beat. Six of the most common neurotransmitters in our body are dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Opioids are highly addictive and dangerous drugs, but have some medicinal use. The most common clinical use of opioid narcotics is as an analgesic to relieve pain (Fleckenstein, Hanson, & Venturelli, 2015, p. 276.). Opioid narcotics are used for pain relief. Once consumed, opioids activate receptors that are controlled by endorphins (Fleckenstein, et al., 2015, p. 277.). Endorphins are proteins that are released into the brain when one
“Opioids act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found on nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, gastrointestinal tract and other organs of the body. When these drugs attach to their receptors, they reduce the perception of pain and produce a sense of well-being, however, they can also produce drowsiness, mental confusion, nausea, and constipation.” (NIDA 2017) These drugs alter the functions of the brain that interact with areas of reward and
Opioids are pain relievers that bind to opioid receptors on nerve cells throughout the body. They produce feelings of euphoria, tranquility and sedation. However, opioids are “considered the most harmful of all illicit drugs” (Amato et al., 2005, p.321).
Addictive drugs cause dopamine neurons to release dopamine, the pleasure hormone. The narcotics disable the neurons that would usually keep the dopamine neurons in check; becoming over stimulated. Endorphins are produced and released within the brain, creating a high and reinforcing the individual’s positive associations with the activity. Hence “the rush” (Molintas, 2006)
Pain is something that connects all of us. From birth to death we can identify with each other the idea and arguably the perception of it. We all know we experience it, but what is more important is how we all perceive it. It is known that there are people out there with a ‘high’ pain tolerance and there are also ones out there with a ‘low’ pain tolerance, but what is different between them? We also know that pain is an objective response to certain stimuli, there are neurons that sense and feel pain and there are nerve impulses that send these “painful” messages to the brain. What we don’t know is where the pain