The human growth hormone is a powerful chemical substance produced in the body. It is produced by the pituitary gland located in the brain and is responsible for spurring growth in children and adolescents. So, all those puberty growth spurts you and your friends had been partly due to growth hormone secretion.
It also helps to regulate body composition, body fluids, muscle and bone growth and density, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism, and even to some extent heart function. The human growth hormone is also an important component of tons of medications prescribed for patients all over the world.
The growth hormone is not only important for just growth but it also helps to maintain tissues and organs throughout life. Even though the amount secreted by the pituitary gland reduces from middle age it doesn’t negate its importance as those with a deficiency are many times prescribed synthetic human growth hormone to maintain the necessary levels needed.
Before you go on to make any decisions involving the growth hormones, this guide will serve as a source of the necessary knowledge and facts you need to know about the human growth hormone.
1. It Is Mostly Used To Treat Growth Hormone Deficiency
Growth hormone deficiency, sometimes called pituitary dwarfism, is when a person has lower than normal levels of growth hormone causing them to not grow at the same rate as their peers. It is typically treated with growth hormone or Genotropin injections over a long period. It is best done early to reduce the risks of complications.
2. It Won’t Magically Make You Younger
As said before, the production of the human growth hormone wanes as we age and many times, the hormone has been marketed as some formula that gives you access to the fountain of youth. These claims will tell you that the hormone will stimulate your cell growth, make your skin firmer and improve its elasticity, and a host of other bold claims.
There is little research backing these claims and even though there are now many versions of this hormone (oral formulas, inhaled versions, injections), they are not backed by the strongest of research. A report by the New England Journal of Medicine showed an improvement in body composition and muscle tone of twelve men after taking the hormone but the sample size was too small and did not factor in a huge number of important parameters. So, take any formula you see with a grain of salt.
3. The Hormone Is Regulated
In the United States, the human growth hormone is approved only for the improvement and treatment of those with hormone deficiency. It can also be used by those with issues associated with HIV and is only effective when administered as an injection.
It is also a controlled substance by the Food and Drug Administration and using the hormone for a condition not approved is considered illegal.
4. The Side Effects Of The Hormone
Treatment with the human growth hormone has a wide array of side effects that should be considered before committing to any regimen that involves the hormone. The side effects include carpal tunnel syndrome where the pressure to a nerve in your wrist causes numbing and pain in your hand, increased resistance to insulting, type 2 diabetes, joint and muscle pain, enlargement of breast tissue in men, increased risk of certain cancers and a host of others.
If the hormone is not necessary for your daily living, you should consider these side effects carefully and have an experienced doctor guide you.
5. The Cost Of The Hormone
Hormone replacement therapies are always expensive. In the United States, where growth hormone therapy has been approved for children who may wind up shorter than their peers, hormone replacement therapy may run as high as ten thousand to sixty thousand dollars per year for the procedure. Many times, these procedures are not covered by insurance and people have to pay out of pocket leading to medical debts sometimes.
This is another fact to be considered before committing to procedures.
6. You Can Produce Excess Growth Hormone
This is usually a result of a benign tumour of the pituitary gland. It is usually rare and can lead to gigantism and enlargement of the hands, feet, chin, nose, and so on. It can also cause the enlargement of other organs like the liver, heart, and kidneys.
These are some important facts about the growth hormone and hopefully, it leads you to make informed decisions about your medical procedures.
