9 Surprising Effects Of Low Serotonin Levels

Aside from anxiety problems and depression, serotonin deficiency sends us many signs that we should not ignore or rule out that they may be associated with this neurotransmitter.

Serotonin is a chemical that makes us happy. In general, it gives us a sense of an overall welfare.

But its functions go far beyond a pleasurable emotional state.

In addition to acting as a neurotransmitter in the brain, serotonin, also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), can act as a hormone when found in our bloodstream.

Serotonin affects a huge number of physical and psychological functions: in fact , it plays a major role in controlling our bone metabolism, our liver regeneration and even our body’s cellular division.

The chemical components found in our body are very fascinating.

Thanks to 5-HT, for example, we can count on an inner balance that gives us an overall well-being of the processes that contribute to our overall health.

Today we want to explain how low serotonin levels can affect your body.

It is worth keeping in mind these symptoms. Many times they are associated with other problems when in fact it is due to a simple imbalance between neurotransmitters and hormones.

Low serotonin levels cause digestive problems

You may have never heard of peristalsis before. This term refers to the muscle contractions that take place throughout our digestive system with a very specific purpose: To efficiently move food and fluids through the digestive system.

When serotonin levels are low, our cells stop producing enough calcium.

With less calcium , the digestive muscles degenerate and stop sending food through efficiently. Therefore, our digestive process becomes much heavier and much slower.

2. Low serotonin levels and irritable bowel

This fact is interesting: almost 95% of serotonin is produced and stored in the intestines. A deficiency of these neurotransmitters causes changes in bowel function.

This makes it possible to experience repeated episodes of constipation.
In addition, due to muscle deterioration of the digestive system, it is also very common to suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Under these circumstances, it is therefore a good idea for your doctor to order a blood test and a complete evaluation of your symptoms to be done to confirm if your problem is in fact related to low serotonin levels.

3. A weaker immune system

If you have been through a period of decline such as muscle weakness, extreme fatigue, low mood and more infections or colds than usual, do not hesitate to go to the doctor.

A low level of serotonin can also make your immune system ineffective and much weaker.

4. Changes in your biological clock

Low serotonin levels can also change your circadian rhythm. In fact, a common symptom experienced is feeling more sleepy during the day than at night.

In fact, daily drowsiness is also said to be a common symptom of depression.
It is known that endogenous depression is due to a deficiency in serotonin.

5. Urge for salty food

This fact is undoubtedly very interesting: people who suffer from a decrease in serotonin in their bodies have a greater need for sodium and therefore have a craving for salty foods.

Nevertheless, we can not consider this symptom an absolute indicator of a 5-HT deficit. There must also be other factors present such as: being constantly being discouraged, fatigue, digestive problems, etc.

6. Depression

Woman staring out of a window with rain on

As we said earlier, a deficit of serotonin levels is associated with a decrease in our mood.

In fact, there is a direct link between low serotonin levels and the development of depression.

All of this stems from a lack of receptors that can receive serotonin or tryptophan, an amino acid that is able to regulate serotonin.

In the event that if depression is not very severe, something as simple as improving your diet and exercising some kind of sport can improve our mood.

In the vast majority of cases, however, it is necessary to resort to prescribed drugs to restore serotonin levels.

7. Greater anxiety

Our body has at least 14 different serotonin receptors, and 5-HT1A is the most important of them all.

If this receptor fails at some point in our lives, we will immediately feel greater sensitivity, nervousness, worry, and anxiety.

This is a very important fact that we must keep in mind to understand that both anxiety and depression often originate with chemical imbalance.

8. Migraine

Serotonin levels are also important in the development and onset of migraines.

The cause of a good deal of this type of debilitating headache lies behind tryptophan deficiency, the precursor to serotonin, which mediates its adequate production.

9. Small memory problems

Lack of attention, fatigue, difficulty concentrating on specific facts and retaining information are also associated with a serotonin problem.

This symptom is very common in people suffering from depression. A problem that at the same time tends to improve effectively when undergoing a pharmacy treatment to treat it.

To sum it all up, serotonin levels disrupt a large amount of body processes. In fact, the 9 listed in this blog are just a handful of examples.

Therefore, it is necessary that in the emergence of a problem, physical or emotional discomfort, to consult a doctor.

A good diet, exercise and adequate medication can restore our well-being.