• Question: Do hormones affect you physically eg. legs and arms??

    Asked by BANKOK to Amy, Craig, Laura, Partha, Saffron on 13 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Saffron Whitehead

      Saffron Whitehead answered on 13 Jun 2015:

      Yes hormones are important for maintaining muscle mass including insulin, growth factors, cortisol and of course steroids, particularly androgens, the male hormones. That is why athletes take steroids to build up their muscle mass although they are illegal.

    • Photo: Laura Wales

      Laura Wales answered on 18 Jun 2015:

      I remember also being told about the “fight or “flight” response in university.

      When the body perceives a danger or threat it responds by releasing cortisol and adrenaline as the body prepares itself for what is about to happen. This causes the heart rate to increase, and among other things, it shunts blood to major muscle groups (eg. arms, legs, shoulders). It also changes some functions of the nervous system and gives the body a boost of energy so that we can fight or flight (run away).

      We don’t necessarily fight or run though, as this response can happen when we feel stressed, anxious or angry. It may be more a thing we have adapted from our anscestors – like if cave men were being chased by a wild animal and they had two options – run away as fast as possible or get eaten!

Comments