Hormones, Memories, and Emotions

The brain also plays an important role in controlling hormones throughout the body, which affects muscle function, energy production, water and electrolyte balance, and other important activities that improve endurance. The pituitary gland, housed in the middle of our brain, produces a variety of hormones that not only affect our muscles and other endurance activities, but respond to how we train. Properly trained athletes maintain an optimal balance of all hormones; overtrained athletes have significant hormone imbalances.

Often referred to as the “master gland” of the body, the pituitary has significant control over our entire hormonal system. In addition, the pituitary is influenced by memories and emotions stored in nearby regions of the brain. Through all these interactions, the pituitary affects adrenal and thyroid hormones, sex hormones, and others discussed below.

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The pituitary also secretes growth hormone, which stimulates muscle development. Its production occurs during sleep, making proper sleep patterns an important part of recovery. While growth hormone production is higher in childhood and is reduced as we age, sufficient amounts are still secreted even in older, healthy athletes. Like other hormones naturally produced in our body, poor health may reduce the level of growth hormone. In rare cases, pituitary problems at any age, such as a tumor, might require the necessity of a patient to take a synthesized form of human growth hormone—HGH. Unfortunately, it’s become too common for those seeking to restore youth, control weight, or enhance sports performance to also take HGH. However, the use of HGH does not actually guarantee improvements in sports. It’s a banned substance in sports, and its use is dangerous. Taking HGH may also reduce the pituitary’s ability to produce growth hormone, creating an even more serious problem when HGH injections are stopped. Side effects of HGH include fatigue, muscle weakness, reduced sex hormones and sexual function, blood sugar irregularities, and others.