If you’re suffering from headaches with nausea, then chances are your pineal gland does not work properly.  

The pineal gland secretes melatonin, which plays a major role in our sleep-wake cycle. But if your body develops an imbalance in melatonin levels, it can lead to serious health issues such as pineal gland tumors, seizures, vision changes, etc.   

That’s why you must know how to manage your pineal gland to avoid these health issues.  

Keep reading!!! 

The pineal gland is a small gland that is located deep inside the brain where two halves of the brain join. This area is known as the epithalamus. This endocrine gland produces melatonin which regulates the sleep-wake cycle through circadian rhythms. It also helps in other body functions like bone metabolism, mental health, and aging. But if you develop imbalance due to any reason you might develop mental and physical conditions.  

Functions: The main function of the pineal gland is to produce melatonin hormone which regulates your sleep-wake pattern through circadian rhythms. This circadian rhythm works as an internal clock in your body that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. It recurs again after 24 hours automatically and gives signals whenever a person is tired, to sleep; and wake up and feel alert at the same time every day. The pineal gland produces melatonin in greater amounts when it’s dark which makes you fall asleep.  

The other functions the pineal gland performs in the body, include: 

• Bone metabolism: The pineal gland releases melatonin which also increases bone mass. This helps you to avoid osteoporosis, a condition in which a person’s bones become brittle and can easily fracture.  
• Mental health: Sleep deprivation can cause mental health disorders.  
• Aging: As people age, they tend to sleep less which means their body produces less melatonin hormone. That also suggests less melatonin production leads to aging.  

The hormone: Melatonin is the hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland. Its secretion depends on exposure to light. Researchers believe that melatonin performs two functions – to control circadian rhythms and regulate certain reproductive hormones.  

Imbalance: Imbalance usually happens very rarely.  

• An increased calcium deposit in your pineal gland (due to various reasons) creates an imbalance in the production of melatonin. Pineal gland calcification happens when calcium builds up in body tissue, causing the tissue to harden. This is very common in the case of pineal gland dysfunction. As you age calcification can prevent your pineal gland from functioning properly. Researchers are still studying the other effects of calcification on the pineal gland.  
• And pineal gland is associated with the hypothalamus, and if you develop any problems in the hypothalamus, it can create pineal dysfunction.  

• Other than that, these conditions and situations affect the production of melatonin that disturbs your sleep-wake cycle, including: 

• • Pineal gland tumors 
  • An injury that affects your pineal gland 
  • Pineal gland calcification.  

Pineal gland tumors are exceedingly rare. This condition affects children or adults under 40. This is not always cancer(malignant), but it can create problems as it grows because it presses against other parts of your brain. And the pressure blocks the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (that surrounds the cushions of the brain). And this blockage is dangerous and requires treatment.  

Any injury to the pineal gland can affect the production of melatonin. 30% of people who have traumatic brain injury (TBI) have issues with one of the endocrine glands of their brain (it can be the pineal gland or pituitary gland). This type of condition happens when you get an injury to your head.  

Management: To manage your melatonin levels, you can take melatonin supplements or medications. But be careful because it has some side effects too. And in case you develop any tumors on or near your pineal gland you can take chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy helps to prevent cancer cells from growing (with the help of drugs). Radiation therapy destroys cancer cells with the help of focused strong beams. In the case of pineal gland tumors, surgery is also an option. During surgery, they remove the tumor from the pineal gland. It is a very difficult surgery and sometimes surgeons remove the entire pineal gland.  

The pineal gland is an important gland that produces melatonin hormone which regulates your sleep-wake cycle. All its functions are still a mystery. Pineal conditions are rare, but if you’re experiencing symptoms like memory issues, nausea, sleeping problems, tremors, menstrual cycle, etc. it is better that you visit your doctor to confirm.  

Want to know more about the signs of pineal gland tumors? At Doral Health and Wellness, we have the best endocrinologists to help you manage your condition. For more information, you can visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11212, or call us on +1-347-384-5690. You can also visit our website at https://doralhw.org or contact us at info@doralhw.org if you have any queries.