Bomb319
Bluelighter
I'm curious to know what you guys think. Obviously the endorphins we naturally produce are used as painkillers, but I suspect there are a whole bunch of other useful evolutionary factors.
As you all know, opiate withdrawal is quite terrible and has a number of specific symptoms. In turn, this means that opiates must act ina completely opposite symptom list than withdrawal and indeed that is what we see. For example, whilst high, you will not yawn or sneeze, shit etc. Basic pharmacology.
I was thinking that it would be kind of strange for endorphins to control tawns and sneezes - why? Seemingly unrelated to pain. But once I listed all the symptoms of withdrawal and looked for this pattern, it became very clear to me and I have never seen it mentioned before. What can all these symptoms possibly have in common such that one molecule has evolved to ensure that these functions are stopped while in pain?
movement.
Imagine being in the wild as an early human or animal. If you receive a potentially life-threatening wound which of course always happens, then nature would select for making sure an injury is felt as pain is necessary, but not worsened. Picture a man with a gaping wound in his chest, but not any organs. Now think of withdrawal symptoms. This is what I come up with:
What most w/d symptoms have in common is rapid and potentially damaging involuntary body movements for those inflicted with a serious wound. So to reiterate, the RELEASE OF NATURAL OPIATES stops involuntary body movements thereby promoting healing and helping prevent making the wound worse or loss of blood.
Yawning - involuntary, would worsen a chest wound.
Sneezing - this one is the most obvious, of course rocking your body with all that pressure causes much muscle flexion and movement.
Watery eyes - A deer running from a wolf after being injured would be more likely to survive if it's eyes were dry and vision clear, right? Opiates stop tears.
Sex - an orgasm is another strong involuntary bodily movement. Why else would endorphins make it such that it's much harder to cum?
Sweating - again, opiates keep the body dry and ready. Sweat pouring into one's face and eyes would make it an easier target for death.
Coughing - yup, another major - probably the biggest - effect of opiates is to reduce coughing. A srong cough would easily damage wounds and tissue further. One who has endorphins will not cough and therefore not exacerbate injury.
RLS - again, fairly self-explanatory. Keep muscles ready, but not overactive. Involuntary movements as well as voluntary.
It goes on with other symptoms too, but these basic and well-known effects all serve to regulate the parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system. Those who move less heal quicker and survive, those who have less or none may sneeze or kick and die from further trauma or blood loss. It would likely take no time at all to produce these traits in a wild population as they are so important for survival.
Thoughts?
As you all know, opiate withdrawal is quite terrible and has a number of specific symptoms. In turn, this means that opiates must act ina completely opposite symptom list than withdrawal and indeed that is what we see. For example, whilst high, you will not yawn or sneeze, shit etc. Basic pharmacology.
I was thinking that it would be kind of strange for endorphins to control tawns and sneezes - why? Seemingly unrelated to pain. But once I listed all the symptoms of withdrawal and looked for this pattern, it became very clear to me and I have never seen it mentioned before. What can all these symptoms possibly have in common such that one molecule has evolved to ensure that these functions are stopped while in pain?
movement.
Imagine being in the wild as an early human or animal. If you receive a potentially life-threatening wound which of course always happens, then nature would select for making sure an injury is felt as pain is necessary, but not worsened. Picture a man with a gaping wound in his chest, but not any organs. Now think of withdrawal symptoms. This is what I come up with:
What most w/d symptoms have in common is rapid and potentially damaging involuntary body movements for those inflicted with a serious wound. So to reiterate, the RELEASE OF NATURAL OPIATES stops involuntary body movements thereby promoting healing and helping prevent making the wound worse or loss of blood.
Yawning - involuntary, would worsen a chest wound.
Sneezing - this one is the most obvious, of course rocking your body with all that pressure causes much muscle flexion and movement.
Watery eyes - A deer running from a wolf after being injured would be more likely to survive if it's eyes were dry and vision clear, right? Opiates stop tears.
Sex - an orgasm is another strong involuntary bodily movement. Why else would endorphins make it such that it's much harder to cum?
Sweating - again, opiates keep the body dry and ready. Sweat pouring into one's face and eyes would make it an easier target for death.
Coughing - yup, another major - probably the biggest - effect of opiates is to reduce coughing. A srong cough would easily damage wounds and tissue further. One who has endorphins will not cough and therefore not exacerbate injury.
RLS - again, fairly self-explanatory. Keep muscles ready, but not overactive. Involuntary movements as well as voluntary.
It goes on with other symptoms too, but these basic and well-known effects all serve to regulate the parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system. Those who move less heal quicker and survive, those who have less or none may sneeze or kick and die from further trauma or blood loss. It would likely take no time at all to produce these traits in a wild population as they are so important for survival.
Thoughts?