The amazing hormone that controls water in the body: Are you aware of ADH? (Antidiuretic Hormone)

Do you sometimes feel extremely thirsty? Or do you need to urinate frequently? Did you know that there is a small but very important " worker " in our body behind these things? He is the hormone we are talking about today, ADH, which stands for Antidiuretic hormone. This is a key factor that precisely manages the amount of water in our body. Let's understand this simply today, as if we were talking to a friend.

Simply put, what is ADH?

ADH is a hormone that helps balance the amount of water in our body. Another name for it is Arginine Vasopressin (AVP). It is like the "water manager" in our body. This hormone is produced by the hypothalamus, a very small but very important part of our brain. But it is produced and released into the blood at the right time by the pituitary gland in the brain. Imagine, when your body is running low on water, the density of your blood increases. This is detected by sensors in our body. At the same time, these sensors send a signal to the brain saying, "Okay, now release some ADH into the blood." Then this ADH hormone travels through the blood and tells our kidneys. "Hey, there is not enough water in the body, so don't excrete too much water in the urine. Save some water." It tells the kidneys. The kidneys then reabsorb the water the body needs, increasing the concentration of the urine that is excreted. Here are some things that happen when the body retains water in this way:

• Your blood is getting a little diluted.
• Blood osmolality, simply put, means the concentration of dissolved substances in the blood decreases.
• Blood volume increases.
• Blood pressure may increase.

If you do all these things but your body's water balance is not balanced, your brain will tell you that you are "thirsty." So you drink water. That's how this system works.

What happens if ADH levels increase or decrease?

Some health conditions can cause your body to produce too little or too much ADH, or your kidneys may become less responsive to the hormone. That's when problems arise. Let's take a look at the symptoms of these two conditions.

Diseases associated with ADH imbalance

There are two main medical conditions that are caused by low or high levels of the ADH hormone.

1. Diabetes Insipidus

This is a condition that occurs when the body does not produce enough ADH or when the kidneys do not respond to ADH. There are two types of this too:

• Central Diabetes Insipidus: This occurs when damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland in the brain impairs the production or release of ADH.
• Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus: This is when the brain produces ADH, but the kidneys are unable to respond to the hormone. This can be hereditary or a symptom of another medical condition.

2. SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone)

In this condition, the ADH hormone is released into the blood at an inappropriate time and in an excessive amount. This causes the kidneys to retain too much water, which can cause the blood sodium level to drop dangerously low.

How does a doctor diagnose these conditions?

Although there is a test that measures the level of ADH in your blood, doctors don't always use it. Most often, your doctor will make a diagnosis based on your symptoms, medical history, and other tests (urine tests, blood levels of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, and osmolality). In some cases, two special tests are done to make a definitive diagnosis.

• Water Deprivation Test: In this, you are asked to abstain from drinking water for a period of time under medical supervision. Then, blood and urine samples are tested at regular intervals to see how your body responds.
• Water Loading Test: Again, under medical supervision, you are given a specific amount of water to drink at a specific time. Changes in your blood and urine are then monitored for several hours.

Drugs that can affect ADH levels

Some medications you take can also affect ADH levels. So be sure to clearly inform your doctor about all the medications you are taking when you see him.

Treatment and prevention

Changes in ADH levels may not be completely preventable, but they can be controlled to some extent by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and drinking enough water. Treatment options depend on the condition.

• If ADH levels are low (Diabetes Insipidus): Artificially produced ADH hormone is given as pills or a nasal spray. The doctor also advises drinking more water and making dietary changes.
• If the ADH level is high (SIADH): The main thing to do here is to limit the amount of water you drink per day. Also, if the cause of this condition is another disease or medication, the doctor will consider treating it or changing the medication.

If you smoke or drink alcohol, stopping or reducing your intake is also very important to control this condition. Before doing anything, it is essential to talk to your doctor and seek advice. ADH, Antidiuretic Hormone, Vasopressin, Diabetes Insipidus, SIADH, Kidney, Hormone, Excessive Thirst, Body Water, ADH Sinhala