Cable Forum - Endorphin Fix

Hi all

I ride a bike every day now and have since Nov 2006 trying to keep fit (love it now) so it's part of my keep fit programme. Often I feel a bit high after a good high ride and when speaking to my doctor recently he mentioned endorphins and reading the following it all seems to make sense.

Has any one else experenced this..........

When you cycle, swim, run, or carry out any other form of strenuous endurance exercise, your pituitary gland releases substantial quantities of 'endorphins', chemicals which can block sensations of pain and produce overall feelings of euphoria. Endorphins are known to attach to 'receptors' on the outer surfaces of brain cells, acting like chemical keys which fit into locks. If enough endorphin is inserted into the outer 'keyhole' of a nerve cell, that cell is unlikely to convey pain messages to the conscious part of the brain.

Endorphins were discovered almost by accident in the 1970s when scientists were carrying out research on drug addiction. Investigators had wondered for years why the human brain contained receptors for chemicals produced by the poppy plant, and they eventually discovered why: the brain produces its own set of neurochemicals which are actually far more potent than morphine, opium, and heroin but share the same neural receptors with these drugs.

The naturally produced brain chemicals, called the endorphins and enkephalins, are released in times of stress. They can make a mangled accident victim as serene as a Buddhist monk, and they can also make an athlete feel great after an extremely vigorous workout. The latter effect is sometimes referred to as the 'runner's high', and the post-exercise surge in endorphins helps to explain why many exercisers seem to become addicted to their sport. Their workouts become 'fixes' which mask the pain of everyday living, and even injuries or illnesses can't stop the training process because the athlete is relentlessly searching for endorphin-induced mood elevations. Mike