Homeostasis and diseases

Homeostasis

Homeo means “same” and Stasis means “state”. Homeostasis is the body’s ability to maintain a balance, a constant internal environment or a steady state. In Sanskrit it means Samatvam or balance.

Feedback Loop

The body maintains this constant balance in the system using a feedback loop. There is an Incoming stimulus (Receptor), a  Sensory (Control Center)  and an Effector (Action/Output)

When there is stress or continuous pressure on any system in the body, then it cannot function at its optimal capacity and the feedback loop is broken and it changes or disrupts the Homeostatic condition. Immediately, there is a new stimulus received and the control center activates or starts directing the systems to restore balance and an action is taken and an output produced. This loop continues till the body restores the original balance.

For ex., When the body temperature goes up, immediately the brain directs the blood flow to the skin and the sweat glands get activated and it cools down the body to restore the temperature back to a normal range.

Negative Feedback Loop.

This condition where the body senses that something has gone out of range and brings it back under control is known as a negative feedback loop, meaning the body counteracts or opposes or works in a opposite way to bring back the balance. For ex., as soon as the temperature of the body increases immediately the body opposes the increase in temperature and tries to bring it back to the normal range.

Positive Feedback Loop

Both positive and negative feedback loops provide information for body to make adjustments and restore balance. Most of the feedback mechanisms involve a negative feedback loop. However, there are also a very few positive feedback loops working in our body.

Positive Feedback loops amplify/increase the initiating stimulus and continues to work till the process is complete or balance is restored.

For example., During Child Birth, the baby’s head presses the cervix and this activates Neurons to the brain to release the Hormone Oxytocin from the Pitutary gland. Oxytocin increases Uterine contractions and so the pressure on the cervix also increases. This process continues till the child is born.

Another example is the Blood Clot.

Universal Homeostasis

Everything in nature also maintains a Homeostasis. It continuously strives to restore the balance all the time.

Yoga helps regulate Homeostasis by stimulating and increasing the activity of stress blocking Neuro transmitters.

Vagus Nerve extends from the base of the brain and branches through the neck, chest, abdomen. It is the command center for regulating Homeostasis of many vital organs including Heart, lungs, Gastro Intestinal tract.

Patanjali, in his Yoga Sutras, describes that the following 5 factors as the reasons for pain/ discomfort or stress in the human body.

Avidyasmita raga dveshabhinivesha kleshaha

Avidya – Ignorance

Raga – Strong likes

Dvesha – Strong dislikes

Asmita – Separateness or Strong sense of self

Abhinivesha – Fear

The first manifestation of these imbalances is in prana resulting in irregular breathing.

This leads to Viksepa(Distracted state) that gives rise to  mental pain, anguish, turmoil, despair, tremors, erratic breathing, general nervousness, anxiety.

Yoga helps in awareness of internal and external sensations, so the stress/disease can be corrected even before it starts affecting the physiological systems in the physical body.

The first level of stress shows up in the digestive system and then starts affecting the other systems in the following order:

1. Digestive system

2. Respiratory system

3. Reproductive system

4. Shoulders

5. Head Region - Head aches, eyes, mouth dryness

6. Blood – increase in direct toxins in the blood

When there is a disconnection with self, when we are unable to accept ourselves or a part of ourselves, then it starts showing up in the Auto immune disorders and then cancer shows up in the body.

Homeostasis and Diseases

Many diseases are a result of the failure of homeostasis due to continued pressure or stress. Any Homeostasis systems can malfunction due to inborn defect or acquired disease.

Chart indicating Homeostasis and some of the common diseases

	Disease (Stimulus)	Sensors (Regulated)	Control Centre (Non Regulated)	Effector (Action/Output)
1	Body Temperature (Normal range is 37 degrees FH or 98 c)	Body Temperature increases	Brain -(Temperature regulatory centre in the brain)	Sweat glands gets activated. Blood flows to the skin. Skin starts sweating and cools down the body
		Body Temperature decreases		Body starts Shivering to generate heat. Goose bumps appear and hair stands up to trap a thin layer of air thereby trapping heat.
2	Blood Pressure  (B.P) Normal -120/80	B.P increases (Blood vessels get constricted)	Heart	Blood vessels dilate to reduce the pressure
		B.P decreases (Blood vessels get dilated)		Blood vessels constrict to increase the pressure
3	Diabetes (Normal range – 90/100)	Sugar Level increases	Pancreas and Liver	Beta cells in Pancreas releases insulin into blood and sugar levels drop. Liver stores excess insulin as Glycogen
		Sugar Level decreases		Alpha cells in Pancreas release Glucogen and Liver converts it into glucose and sugar levels increase
4	Thyroid - (Normal range – 0.4 to 4.0 mu/l)	Hyperthyroidism – increase in Thyroxin(T4) and T3 hormones	Pituitary gland and Hypothalamus in the Brain control the Thyroid gland	Body’s metabolism increases. The pituitary gland reduces the production of Thyroid stimulating Hormone (TSH)
	(Autoimmune Disorder. Produces hormones that influence the body’s metabolism)	Hypothyroidism – Decrease in Thyroxin(T4) and T3 hormones		Body’s metabolism slows down rapidly. Hypothalamus secretes Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) that causes the pituitary gland to release thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to release more T4.
5	PH imbalance (Normal range is 7.4)	PH level goes down (PH below 7.4) Acidosis (too much Acids in body)	Lungs (Respiratory) and Kidneys (Metabolic)	Lungs push out CO2 (Co2 is not exhaled completely) Kidneys release the acids into the blood (Asthma, Pneumonia are caused due to respiratory acidosis) (Co2 is acidic)
		PH level increases (PH above 7.4 to 14) Alkalosis		Lungs slow down breathing (Lungs retain CO2) Kidneys release Bicarbonates into the blood (Bicarbonate is Base/Alkaline)

Understanding common conditions in the body – Even though the below conditions cannot be technically grouped under diseases, nevertheless, they cause discomfort and disrupt the Homeostasis of the body

1	Sciatica (Technically not a disease)	Lower back pain, Hip pain, Shooting or mild pain in the Sciatica nerve emerging from the hips and going down to the foot	Lower Back	Compression of the sciatica nerve in the lower back. Narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back
2	Hernia	Pain and Discomfort. Abnormal exit of tissue or an organ, such as the bowel, through the wall of the cavity in which it normally resides.	Mostly Abdominal Region	Hernias are caused by a combination of pressure and an opening/ weakness of muscle or fascia; the pressure pushes an organ or tissue through the opening or weak spot
3	Endometriosis	Endometriosis occurs when bits of the tissue that lines the uterus (endometrium) grow on other pelvic organs, such as the ovaries or fallopian tubes. Outside the uterus, endometrial issue thickens and bleeds, just as the normal endometrium does during the menstrual cycle	Reproductive Organs	Pain and Cramps during menstruation and intercourse