Serotonin

Elevated serotonin levels might be due to various reasons, such as your body reacting to certain medications, your diet, or your lifestyle choices. For example, some antidepressants called SSRIs are designed to boost serotonin in the brain. Eating foods rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that turns into serotonin, could also raise your serotonin levels. Additionally, high serotonin could be linked to specific health issues like serotonin syndrome, which is usually caused by interactions between drugs. It's important to remember that while serotonin is essential for our well-being, having too much can throw off our body's natural balance.

Symptoms of high levels of serotonin may include agitation, restlessness, rapid heart rate, dilated pupils, loss of muscle coordination, heavy sweating, diarrhea, headache, shivering, and in severe cases, high fever or loss of consciousness.

Low serotonin levels might mean that your body is having trouble managing important functions like mood, appetite, sleep, and digestion. This could be caused by various factors such as ongoing stress, an unhealthy diet, not getting enough exercise, or even certain medications that might mess with how your body makes serotonin. Also, specific conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, which affects the part of your gut where a lot of serotonin is made, could play a role in bringing down your serotonin levels.

Symptoms of low levels of serotonin may include feelings of sadness or depression, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, frequent mood swings, and decreased interest in activities that were once enjoyed.