Why do we cry?

Any mother who coaxes a crying baby at 3 am can tell you, tears are not always the clearest way to convey messages. In fact, showing suffering is only part of the story.

People have 3 types of tears:

- Basic tears (constantly flowing from the tear glands) clean and lubricate the eyes, helping to see better.

- Reflex tears clean the eyes from irritating substances, such as when they're on the go.

- Emotional tears are the most complicated type created by both adults and children.

A unique form of human-only, emotional tears expel stress-producing hormones and proteins. This also explains the feeling of relief after crying. But if the body finds its own way to remove the waste, tears will become ineffective, as most are absorbed by the body.

MT