Pop Quiz: Besides mental health symptoms, which of these physical symptoms is commonly associated with low serotonin levels?
- A) Unexplained fever.
- B) Chronic pain with no clear physical origin.
- C) Hyperactivity
- D) Heightened libido
Serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter that helps modulate how your brain processes pain signals. When levels are low:
- Pain Threshold Lowers: The body becomes more sensitive to pain signals that it might otherwise ignore.
- Signal Processing: Serotonin is part of the "descending inhibitory pathway"—essentially the body's internal volume knob for pain. Without enough serotonin, the volume is turned up.
- Conditions: This is why low serotonin is often linked to conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic migraines, where pain exists without a specific injury.
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