Prostaglandins: Our own body's secret messengers responsible for body pain and menstrual cramps (Prostaglandins)

Have you ever cut your finger? Or been bitten by an insect and the area became red, swollen, and painful? We've all had experiences like this. And, if you're a woman, you probably know all too well about the pain you feel during your period. Today, we're going to talk about a small but very powerful chemical messenger that's behind all of this, but we don't talk about it much, and that's what we're going to talk about. It's called Prostaglandins . Although the name may sound a bit strange, they're involved in a lot of the day-to-day functions of our bodies.

Simply put, what are these prostaglandins?

Prostaglandins are a group of lipids (a type of fat) that are produced in our body when tissues are damaged, infected, or in special situations. Although they act like hormones, they are not actually hormones.

Now you might be thinking, "So what's the difference between hormones and these?" Think about it, the hormones in our bodies are like the postal service of the country. Hormones, which are produced in one place, like the pituitary gland in the brain, travel throughout the body through the blood and deliver messages to different parts of the body.

But Prostaglandins are not like that. They are like a person in the village delivering a message to the next house. That is, they are produced where they are needed and affect only the cells that are nearby . They do not travel throughout the body through the blood. Therefore, their action is very short-lived. These Prostaglandins are produced from a fatty acid called arachidonic acid, which is found in the cells of our body.

What is the main function of prostaglandins?

There are several types of prostaglandins. Also, there are several types of receptors that they bind to. Therefore, their functions are different. It depends on the organ, tissue they affect, and the needs of the body at that time.

Here are some of the main things they do:

Let's understand this with a real example.

Imagine you're in the kitchen chopping vegetables and your finger gets cut by a knife. Oops! What happens now? This is how prostaglandins work:

1. Stopping bleeding: Prostaglandins are immediately released from the injured tissue of the finger. These signal the platelets in the blood to "come here quickly and stick together to form a blood clot." That blood clot seals the wound and stops the bleeding. At the same time, prostaglandins also help to narrow the blood vessels in that area.

2. Inflammation: Next, another type of prostaglandin comes in and causes the blood vessels to dilate. This causes more blood to flow. This is why the wound becomes red and slightly swollen . This swelling prevents things like germs that might enter the wound from getting to other parts of the body.

3. Recruiting immune cells: These prostaglandins send another signal to our body's defense cells, white blood cells. Phagocytes, in particular, respond to this signal and "eat up" and clean up any germs and damaged cells that have entered the wound.

4. Pain: Along with all this, Prostaglandins make the nerve endings there more sensitive. That's why we feel pain . This pain tells us, "Your finger is hurt, take care of it."

5. After healing: After the wound has healed completely, another type of prostaglandin comes in and dissolves the blood clot that was formed earlier, because it is no longer needed.

Have you seen how complex a system is that goes on inside our bodies even when there is a small injury? Prostaglandins play a big role in coordinating all of this.

So, are prostaglandins good or bad?

This is a very important question. Prostaglandins are actually essential and natural for our bodies. They are essential for healing wounds, protecting against germs, and regulating the menstrual cycle. Inflammation, a process called inflammation, is a way for the body to protect itself.

But the problem arises when our body starts making more prostaglandins than it needs . That's when the problems start.

Also, the reason why people with chronic diseases like arthritis experience constant pain and swelling in their joints is because these prostaglandin levels remain high.

How are prostaglandins used in medicine?

Once the function of prostaglandins is understood, doctors use them for various treatments. They also use drugs that block their action.

Synthetic Prostaglandins

Drugs similar to prostaglandins, made in the laboratory, are used to treat various medical conditions.

• For labor: Pregnant mothers who are delayed in starting labor are given medications like Dinoprostone to dilate the cervix and contract the uterus.
• Glaucoma: Eye drops like Travoprost are used to treat glaucoma, a condition in which eye pressure increases.
• Erectile Dysfunction: Alprostadil, a blood vessel dilator, is used to treat this condition.
• Stomach Ulcers: Some painkillers can damage the stomach lining if taken continuously. To prevent this, medications such as Misoprostol are given that reduce stomach acid.

Drugs that block prostaglandin action

Many of the painkillers we use and encounter regularly work by stopping the production of prostaglandins. This group of drugs is called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , or NSAIDs for short.

What problems can be associated with prostaglandins?

Sometimes, our bodies make too many prostaglandins, or not enough. In both cases, various health problems can occur.

Conditions that occur when prostaglandins increase:

• Chronic pain: It can cause ongoing pain in the body.
• Hypersensitivity to pain: Feeling extreme pain from even the slightest thing.
• Painful menstruation (Dysmenorrhea): The menstrual pain we talked about earlier.
• Heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Research has found that elevated levels of prostaglandins also contribute to the growth of some types of cancer .

When prostaglandins are insufficient:

This is rarely associated with a chronic condition. However, there may be cases where the amount of prostaglandins needed to heal a wound is not enough. Also, in cases where the body does not produce enough prostaglandins to start labor, doctors give synthetic prostaglandins from outside.

When should you see a doctor?

If you have persistent pain or swelling in your body, be sure to see your doctor and discuss it. There can be many causes for this, but an imbalance in the activity of prostaglandins is likely to be the cause.

In particular, there is something to be said about menstrual pain.

Prostaglandins are amazing chemicals that work silently but powerfully in our bodies. Although they are essential for our survival, when their balance is disrupted, it can severely affect the quality of our lives. So pay attention to your body. If you have persistent pain or unusual symptoms, never hesitate to seek medical advice.