Growth hormones: Uses And Effects

Hormones play a significant role in the body. They play a part in controlling nearly every major body function, including growth. If their body does not produce enough, a person may need to have growth hormone injections.
Different hormones are responsible for controlling various body functions and processes. Hormones control processes such as:
Growth and development
Metabolism
Sexual function
Reproduction
Mood
There are several glands in the body that produce hormones, but the pituitary is considered the master control gland. Not only does it control other glands but it also makes the hormone that triggers growth.
The pituitary gland is located in the brain below the hypothalamus. It secretes hormones in response to chemical messages from the hypothalamus.
The human growth hormone, HGH, helps to influence height, as well as build bones and muscles in the body.
Contents of this article:
What does human growth hormone do?
What are human growth hormone injections?
Other uses of growth hormone injections
What does human growth hormone do ?

The hormone that triggers growth is produced in the pituitary gland.

HGH is essential to growth, especially in children. It controls more than just growth, however, and is involved in many processes in the body. It helps with the processing of protein and increases fat breakdown to help provide the energy needed for tissue growth.

Growth hormone levels can change through the day and physical activity plays a part. Exercise and similar activities can cause the levels to rise naturally. Sleep, stress , and low blood sugar levels also increase growth hormone levels.

Even small changes in HGH levels affect the body. Too little or too much growth hormone can cause significant growth problems. Too little HGH is one of the main causes of short stature and conditions such as dwarfism.

A lack of HGH is usually due to damage to the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus. Mutations in genes can also cause a lack of HGH.

HGH deficiency in children

Children who suffer from a lack of HGH are often a normal size when born. Some children are unable to produce HGH when they are born and remain deficient throughout their life. In some children, a lack of HGH is part of a genetic condition. In many others, the cause of the deficiency is unknown.

The age of 2 or 3 is when growth problems are often noticed. Children may experience slow growth or even none at all. Symptoms of HGH deficiency in children are:

Looking much younger than other children their age

A chubby body build

Impaired hair growth

Delayed puberty

HGH deficiency in adults

In adults, a lack of HGH is often due to permanent damage to the pituitary gland. The damage could have occurred in childhood or adulthood.

Problems in the pituitary with producing HGH are commonly due to a pituitary

tumor. The pituitary can be damaged by the tumor itself or by treatment such as surgery and radiotherapy .

In adults, a lack of HGH can cause a number of different problems including:

Anxiety and depression

Increased fat

Increased risk of heart disease and stroke

Weak heart

Weak muscles and bones

Tiredness

Reduced ability to think

Other HGH conditions

Growth hormone deficiency can also be a combination of one or more hormone deficiencies. Children may also be suffering from medical conditions that require HGH treatment including:

Turner's syndrome - women with this condition generally have underdeveloped female sexual characteristics

Prader-Willi syndrome - a genetic disorder that causes weak muscle tone, feeding difficulties, poor growth, and delayed development

Noonan syndrome - a genetic disorder that interferes with the proper development of various part of the body

Chronic kidney disease

What are human growth hormone injections?

The most common treatment in both adults and children is growth hormone therapy using lab-developed HGH injections.

The growth hormone is designed to mimic the behavior of natural HGH in the body. It will be prescribed by a doctor. Doses will be administered several times per week or on a daily basis depending on how severe the deficiency is.

HGH treatments can be self-administered or given by a doctor. Treatments are often given for several years. Patients will see their doctor every month or so to check their condition.

• Blood tests will be carried out to see if extra growth hormone is needed and if treatments should be increased, decreased, or stopped. Cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and bone density will also be checked to see if they are healthy.
  Carpel tunnel syndrome is one of the side effects associated with HGH injections taken by healthy adults.
  HGH injections are also advertised as an anti-aging or weight loss treatment. Many people aim to help increase their energy as well as fight the decrease in muscle and bone mass that happens with aging.
  The Endocrine Society do not recommend HGH injections for adults or children unless they have a growth hormone deficiency. There is not enough evidence available to prove that HGH injections can make an athlete better or slow down the aging process. Using them for any nonmedical reason is illegal in the United States.
  The Mayo Clinic state that HGH injections can have the following side effects in healthy adults:
  Carpal tunnel syndrome
  Swelling in the arms and legs
  Joint and muscle pain
  Enlargement of breast tissue in men
  HGH injections are designed for adults or children who have a lack of growth hormone and should only be described by a doctor.
  Mental and emotional therapy may be another important part of treatment. People with a lack of growth hormone should try to lead a healthy lifestyle. Both children and adults should focus on getting plenty of sleep, eating a balanced diet, regularly exercising, and following medical advice.