What is beta-endorphin?
Beta-endorphin is one of the many endogenous opioid peptide neurotransmitters. He is an agonist of brain opioid receptors. When these receptors are activated, the central nervous system of the body is depressed, which reduces the perception of the total amount of body pain. It is also speculated as a basic neurotransmitter and as important as noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine on the function of the brain. When the body is stressed, endorphins are released through the nervous system to the spinal cord. Unlike other types of endorphins, beta-endorphins can cross from the bloodstream to the brain. Here it acts as an analgesics that help the body and brain to deal with pain until they disappear.
Pain experience is different for everyone. Some people have high tolerances than others. The amount of endorphins released by different activities is naturally different for each person. The more endorphins in the body, the more pain relief felt.
As pain increases, beta-endorphin also releases into the bloodstream and brain. There are stories of people who do what seems to be unnatural performances in times of stress. Performances like a mother who raises a car from her child trapped underneath her are attributed to the amount of beta-endorphin, which is in a hurry of their bodies. Studies have shown that beta-endorphin plays a role in all kinds of physiological behavior. These include stress, alcoholism, obesity, mental illness and diabetes.
stress and pain are two main cases of endorphin release in the body. Others include intense exercises, acupuncture, childbirth and eating food loaded with capsaicin. Light up to medium drinking can also cause endorphin release, even if there will be no heavy drinking.
Long distance runners and marathon testify to peaceful feeling-"runner high"-when he pushes his body to a higher level of performance. When the runners develop, beta-endorphins are released and connected to the limbic and prefrontal areas of the spo brainJené with pleasant strong emotions such as romantic love. This gives runners an increased feeling of euphoria and emotions that come only when they run.
beta-endorphin is not physically addictive. Unlike exogenous opiates such as codeine and morphine, beta-endorphin is almost instantly absorbed by opioid receptors to which they bind. Opirates are absorbed resistant and therefore it takes longer to relieve pain. This resistance can lead to dependence on the healing to maintain relief.