What is Hormones?   

  A hormone is a chemical released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one cell to another.Cells respond to a hormone when they express a specific receptor for that hormone. The hormone binds to the receptor protein, resulting in the activation of a signal transduction mechanism that ultimately leads to cell type-specific responses.

 
As a teenager, we may be dealing with lots of emotional highs and lows. One minute we might feel great, and the next you feel sad and tearful. This kind of shift in our moods is okay!

our life is changing, just like your body. These mood swings are not just hormones - you may be feeling a lot more pressure these days, and we are still developing the skills we need to deal with that pressure. You may be facing added responsibilities at home, tougher grading policies in school and our friends may be changing.

As we grow older you will develop the skills we need to manage stress, but for now, just remember we are in a tough spot and need all the support we can get. Reach out to adults and friends -- there is always someone there who cares for us. This section is devoted to issues involving emotions and relationships. 


If you ever wondered why the teenage world seems to exist in an arena of topsy-turvy mood swings and turmoil, scientists at the State University of New York's (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center may have found the answer.

In an article published in Nature Neuroscience, researchers say they've discovered that the hormone THP, which in adults or younger children acts like a natural tranquilizer, calming you down, actually increases anxiety during puberty, reports CBS News correspondent Sharyl Alfonsi.

According to a Downstate Medical Center news release, SUNY scientists, led by Sheryl S. Smith, a professor of physiology and pharmacology, found that a brain receptor called GABA-A acts exactly the opposite in teenage brains compared to how it receives the THP hormone in adult brains.

Smith told Alfonsi that it may not be their friends making teens crazy, it may be THP. Instead of calming a person during a time of high anxiety, the GABA-A receptor appears to increase a teenager's stress, the researchers found.

What makes it act this way still needs to be studied, the researchers say, but the theory is indeed that adolescent "raging hormones" may play a role.