Today we are going to talk about a very important chemical substance, a hormone, that is produced in our body, but which many people do not know about. Its name is Angiotensin . You may have heard this name, or maybe a doctor has told you. However, this Angiotensin is an amazing substance that helps to maintain the proper balance of our body, especially our blood pressure. So let's see what it is and how it works.
What is Angiotensin? Let's understand it simply!
Simply put, angiotensin is a special hormone produced in our bodies. Its main function is to control our blood pressure by tightening (i.e. causing our blood vessels to contract) and signaling the body to retain water and salt (especially sodium).
Now you're probably wondering what hormones are, right? Hormones are like messengers running around our bodies. They carry messages through the bloodstream to our organs, muscles, and other tissues. Those messages tell the body what to do and when to do it.
There are four different forms of angiotensin, designated by Roman numerals: Angiotensin I, II, III, and IV (`Angiotensin I–IV`). Of these, Angiotensin II is the main and most active form of the hormone . If the amount of this angiotensin in our body decreases or increases, it can affect our health.
Sometimes, doctors use synthetic angiotensin II, given intravenously (IV), like saline, to treat conditions in adults where their blood pressure drops too low, such as septic shock.
What does Angiotensin II do to our body?
Angiotensin II, a hormone that has a complex function in our bodies, mainly increases blood volume, raises blood pressure, and increases sodium (salt) levels in the body. Angiotensin II binds to various receptors throughout our bodies, affecting various systems and functions. Consider the following:
- Our adrenal glands are stimulated to release another hormone called aldosterone . This aldosterone is what causes the body to retain sodium and excrete potassium in the urine.
- It causes blood vessels to constrict (i.e. tighten) and increases blood pressure .
- It stimulates the hypothalamus in our brain, making us thirsty for water .
- And also, Salt (sodium) triggers the desire to eat through the hypothalamus .
- Our pituitary gland helps release antidiuretic hormone (ADH), or vasopressin, which causes the kidneys to reabsorb water back into the body.
Important point: All of these things help to maintain the proper amount of fluid in our bodies and blood pressure.
How are angiotensin levels controlled? This is a bit complicated!
Okay, so now you're wondering how this angiotensin level is controlled in our bodies, right? It's a rather complicated set of interconnected hormones, enzymes, proteins , and reactions. We call this entire system the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) . Don't worry, I'll walk you through it in a simple step-by-step manner:
1. Getting Started: Imagine that your blood pressure is decreasing. At that moment, our kidneys release an enzyme called renin into the blood.
2. Next step: This renin goes and breaks down a protein called angiotensinogen, which is made in our liver. One of the pieces that is made is a hormone called angiotensin I. But this is not yet active, which means it doesn't have much of an effect.
3. The most important part: This angiotensin I, floating around in the blood, is broken down again by an enzyme called Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) in our lungs and kidneys . That's when the active hormone Angiotensin II is formed. This is the real workhorse!
4. What happens now?: This formed angiotensin II causes the walls of the small arteries (called arterioles ) in our body to contract. This narrows the passageway for blood, which increases blood pressure. Not only that, but angiotensin II also stimulates our adrenal glands to release aldosterone , and the pituitary gland to release ADH (vasopressin) .
5. The end result: This aldosterone and ADH together tell the kidneys to retain sodium (salt) in the body. Aldosterone causes potassium to be excreted in the urine. So, when sodium levels increase in the body, water also stays in the body. Then the blood volume increases, and blood pressure increases. That's how this `(RAAS)` system is completed.
This ``RAAS`` system can also be activated by other hormones, such as corticosteroids , estrogen, and thyroid hormones . But remember, if there is a problem with this system, it can affect our blood pressure, sodium, and potassium levels. However, there are many other things that can affect blood pressure, such as high cholesterol, genetics, and some medications.
What happens if angiotensin levels decrease?
Imagine, what happens if the level of Angiotensin II in your body drops too low? Even then, problems arise. Here are some situations that can occur:
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Increased potassium levels (hyperkalemia)
- Low sodium levels (hyponatremia)
- Excessive fluid (water) excretion with urine
Now let's see what the symptoms of each of these conditions are.
Symptoms of low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Feeling dizzy, blue eyes, and/or fainting
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Feeling very tired
Symptoms of high potassium (hyperkalemia)
- Stomach pain and diarrhea
- Chest pain
- A fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Muscle weakness or numbness in the limbs
- Nausea and vomiting
Symptoms of low sodium levels (hyponatremia)
- Muscle twitching (jamming) or weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Drowsiness, lethargy
- Headache and confusion
- Sometimes seizures
If you have symptoms like these, it is very important to definitely see a doctor and seek advice.
What happens if angiotensin levels increase?
What if the angiotensin level is too high? That's not good either. It causes the body to retain too much water and raise blood pressure (hypertension) . This condition is often seen in people with heart failure . Scientists believe that too much angiotensin can also cause the heart to enlarge.
Doctors prescribe medications to treat people with high angiotensin II levels. The most common are angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) (such as enalapril ) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) (such as losartan) . Like all medications, these medications can have some side effects. For example, they can cause high potassium levels (hyperkalemia).
Finally, the most important thing you need to remember!
So, you probably understand that Angiotensin is a hormone that is essential for controlling our blood pressure. If you are constantly having trouble keeping your blood pressure under control, and you also have changes in your sodium (salt) levels , the best thing to do is to talk to your doctor or nurse and ask about your angiotensin levels. It may be that abnormalities in those levels are causing your symptoms. A doctor can do the necessary tests and find out the cause. So, taking care of your body is the most important thing!
` Angiotensin, Blood Pressure, Hormone, Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS), Hypertension, Hypotension, Kidneys
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