n this complex and ever-changing world, people encounter various moments that evoke deep emotions. Sometimes, these emotions manifest as laughter and joy; other times, they surface as sadness and tears.
Recently, the claim that “suppressing tears is equivalent to suicide” has sparked widespread debate online. Does this sensational statement hold any truth? Are tears shed during sadness really toxic? To answer these questions, this article will delve into the composition, function of tears, and the potential consequences of suppressing them.
I. Tears: Nature’s “Lubricant” for the Human Body
Before understanding whether tears are toxic, we first need to comprehend their basic functions and composition. Tears are a weakly acidic, clear, colorless liquid primarily secreted by the lacrimal glands. They not only moisten the cornea and lubricate the eyeball but also serve as part of the body’s self-protection mechanism.
When the eyes are stimulated by external factors, such as the pungency of onions, smoke, or emotional fluctuations, the lacrimal glands accelerate tear secretion to wash away irritants or alleviate emotional stress.
It’s worth noting that people are constantly “shedding tears,” albeit mostly unnoticed.
Tears become apparent only when the lacrimal glands secrete enough to overflow the orbit. Therefore, tearing up is not always associated with sadness or pain; it can also be a physiological response or emotional expression.
II. The Composition and Functions of Tears
Tears have a complex composition, with the majority being water (about 98.2%), and also containing small amounts of inorganic salts, proteins, lysozyme, immunoglobulin A, and other substances. These components play crucial roles in maintaining ocular health.
- Water: Keeps the cornea moist, preventing dryness and damage.
- Inorganic Salts: Regulate the osmotic pressure of tears, balancing it with the internal fluids of the eyeball.
- Proteins: Include lysozyme, lactoferrin, etc., with antibacterial and defensive functions that inhibit bacterial growth.
- Lysozyme: Destroys bacterial cell walls, thereby killing or inhibiting bacterial growth.
- Immunoglobulin A: Enhances ocular immunity, preventing eye infections.
Additionally, tears contain substances related to emotions, such as prolactin and adrenocorticotropic hormone. These substances are more abundant during emotional tearing and may be involved in the body’s stress response and emotion regulation.
III. Emotional Tearing and the Origin of the “Toxic” Claim
The claim that tears are toxic largely stems from a misunderstanding of the protein components in emotional tearing. Professor William Frey II of Stanford University conducted a famous experiment in 1981, measuring the chemical composition of reflex tears and emotional tears.
The results showed that the protein content in emotional tears was indeed higher than in reflex tears.
However, these proteins are primarily harmless substances such as antibacterial lysozyme, lactoferrin, and albumin that regulate osmotic pressure.
While emotional tears may contain some protein hormones related to stress, such as prolactin and adrenocorticotropic hormone, their concentrations are not high enough to directly harm the body.
