Hormones are chemicals that coordinate different functions in your body by carrying

messages through your blood to your organs, skin, muscles and other tissues. Hormones are

like the body's chemical messengers, orchestrating a symphony of functions that keep us

alive and functioning. Produced by various glands throughout the body, these molecules

regulate a multitude of processes, including growth and development, metabolism,

reproduction, and mood. Hormones work by traveling through the bloodstream to target

tissues and organs, where they bind to specific receptors, triggering a response. Hormones

can act quickly, like adrenaline during a fight-or-flight response, or more gradually, such as

those involved in puberty or the menstrual cycle. The endocrine system, responsible for

producing and regulating hormones, includes glands like the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and

pancreas, hypothalamus, ovaries, testes, pineal, and parathyroid. Each gland secretes different

hormones, which act individually or in conjunction with others to maintain balance within the

body, known as homeostasis. While hormones work harmoniously to keep the body in

balance, disruptions in their production or signalling can lead to various health issues.

Hormonal imbalances can manifest in a myriad of ways, from growth disorders and infertility

to metabolic disorders like diabetes and thyroid dysfunction, as well as mood disorders such

as depression and anxiety.