The hormones produced by the human pancreas have an important effect on the quality of life and metabolic processes in the body. Everyone knows insulin, but few people know that its effect is largely related to the work of another hormone - glucagon. To understand its importance, you need to consider all sides of the issue.
Pancreas and its hormones
The human body is a complex mechanism that must work smoothly, without failures, so that we can feel good. The pancreas is one of the most important organs that is involved in the basic processes of metabolism. It is thanks to the work of this gland that food products are processed into those compounds that are absorbed by the cells of the body. This happens with the help of hormones that are synthesized in the pancreas.
The main hormones of the pancreas:
- Insulin, which is responsible for blood sugar.
- The hormone is glucagon, which has the opposite effect of insulin.
- Somatostatin performs the function of suppressing a number of hormonally active substances.
- Pancreatic polypeptide, which controls the digestive system.
The action of the hormone glucagon is closely related to the action of insulin. Experts rarely examine them separately, although in conversations about blood sugar levels we often operate on insulin.
Glucagon structure
In medical practice, this hormone is also called the "hunger hormone." Having determined where the glucagon hormone is produced, scientists went on to study its structure. As it turned out, despite its importance to the human body, the structure of glucagon is quite simple: it consists of only 29 amino acids.
It is proved that the structure of the hormone glucagon is the same for humans, cows, pigs and rats. Modern pharmacology uses the pancreas of pigs or bulls to secrete the necessary substance, which is added to medicines.
Hormone glucagon and its functions
Despite its low fame, this hormone takes on the implementation of important processes for human life. Once in the blood, the hunger hormone moves towards the liver, where it interacts with the receptors of its cells and promotes the production of glucose, which also enters the bloodstream. Glucagon allows you to maintain it at the required stable level.
Other functions of the hormone glucagon:
- Stimulates and enhances renal blood flow.
- It takes an active part in the regenerative processes of liver cells.
- The hormone glucagon accelerates the breakdown of lipids and controls the level of cholesterol in human blood.
- Promotes the rapid removal of sodium from the body, which improves heart function.
- It removes insulin from the cells of the body.
This hormone interacts closely with adrenaline at times of danger. With an increase in the level of adrenaline in the blood, the level of glucagon rises sharply, which contributes to a better oxygen supply to the muscles.
It has also been proven that at the time of digestion, glucagon levels drop sharply, while insulin levels, on the contrary, increase. As soon as the processes in the body are completed, the hormonal level changes in the opposite direction.
Normal glucagon level
A number of factors affect the stable production of the hormone glucagon in the human body:
- Drop in blood glucose.
- Increased levels of amino acids in the blood.
- Active physical activity.
All of these actions contribute to a sharp jump in glucagon in the blood. At the same time, specialists tend to share the hormone content for children and adults.
Normal level:
- Children from 4 to 14 years old. The norm is in the range from 0 to 148 pg / ml.
- Adults (over 14 years old). The norm is determined by the boundaries from 20 to 100 pg / ml.
A sharp deviation from normative indicators indicates the development of pathologies of a very different nature in the body.
The level of hormone in the blood of a person is determined by taking blood from the cubital vein. Only on the basis of a blood test can we determine at what level the hunger hormone is located.
Elevated hormone levels
A change in the hormonal level in the human body most often indicates any processes that can have a detrimental effect on health. Some of them proceed, at first glance, unnoticed.
So, an increase in the level of the hormone glucagon is a symptom for the following diseases:
- Type 1 diabetes.
- Pancreatitis in acute form.
- Cirrhosis of the liver.
- Chronic renal failure.
- Hypoglycemia.
- Severe stress for the body associated with traumatic effects (operations, burns, etc.).
This is only a number of factors that will affect the deviation of the hormone of hunger from a normal level. A decrease in the indicator can also talk about pathologies: cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis.
Glucagon preparations
Modern medicine is able to supply people with drugs that will help the body's natural processes to properly regulate the hormonal background. Having found out where the glucagon hormone is produced, what functions it performs, what it affects and why it is necessary, scientists have successfully resolved the issue of creating the appropriate medicines.
First of all, drugs containing glucagon are used to relieve spasms, improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system, and also for the treatment of diabetes. The composition of the drug includes a hormone that is secreted from the pancreas of cows and pigs (as indicated above, the structure of the hormone in these animals is identical to human).
Indications for use
The use of drugs that affect the hormonal background is possible only on the recommendation of a doctor. Otherwise, this is fraught with the development of undesirable pathological consequences.
According to studies, drugs containing animal glucagon are prescribed in the following cases:
- For the effect of relaxing the muscles of the stomach and intestines.
- Conducting shock therapy for patients with mental disorders.
- Diabetes mellitus, in some cases type 2 diabetes.
- Elimination of spasms with intestinal diverticulosis.
- An auxiliary tool for laboratory diagnostics of the body.
Such drugs should adjust the level of glucose in the blood of a person, in some cases, additional use of insulin is not required.
Contraindications
Such a hormonal drug is available in the form of a solution for injection, which can be administered both intravenously, intramuscularly, and subcutaneously. For emergency use, only the first two types of drug administration are suitable.
The appropriate dosage is determined by the attending physician, based on the diagnosis of the patient, his individual characteristics of the body. For treatment and for preparation for the examination, various doses of the drug are used. Doctors say that in emergency cases, improvement occurs within ten minutes.
There are restrictions on the use of:
- Pregnancy. It is proved that the drug does not penetrate the placental barrier, which means it is safe for the fetus. However, doctors recommend the use of drugs only in extreme cases.
- It is not recommended to use the drug for children whose weight is less than 25 kilograms.
- Individual intolerance to the auxiliary components of the drug.
In all other cases, all recommendations depend solely on the decision of the doctor. After glucagon therapy, the patient needs a recovery period: food with protein, sweet tea and peace for about 2-3 hours.
Conclusion
Doctors agree that the best way to prevent diseases is to have a good lifestyle, which also helps maintain the necessary hormonal levels. Avoiding unpleasant deviations is possible if you monitor your diet and be alert to the signals of your own body.