Table of Contents
What is HGH Therapy for Adults?
HGH Therapy: Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is a vital hormone for the body. HGH is responsible for the vitality and health of every cell and tissue in the human body. But with age, even something as crucial as HGH decline. This drop-in HGH is attributed to signs of aging such as weight gain, fatigue, memory problems, sexual health issues, etc.
Since most if not all symptoms of “aging” can be linked to the low levels of HGH, medical professionals have started research as to whether giving HGH to older patients could reverse some of the symptoms. The first breakthrough study on the anti-aging effects of HGH was published in 1990 by Dr. Daniel Rudman at the Wisconsin Medical College in Milwaukee. These results were then published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research by Dr. Rudman had clearly shown the numerous anti-aging benefits of HGH. The men in the control group given HGH showed loss of fat, increased muscle tone, glowing and young-looking skin. They also reported a sense of better overall wellbeing.
Importance of HGH therapy
A growth hormone deficiency (GH) occurs when the pituitary gland does not produce enough growth hormone. HGH deficiency is a relatively rare condition in younger adults as their pituitary glands function properly. It is estimated that only 1 in every 10,000 persons have a growth hormone deficiency caused due to pituitary gland malfunction. However, as you age, the HGH levels in the body decline. Therefore it is not uncommon for most adults between the ages 45 to 65 to experience some level of adult-onset of age-related growth hormone deficiency. Growth hormone replacement therapy is prescribed for men and women adults suffering from age-related growth hormone deficiencies or adult-onset.
Human growth hormone or HGH is very important for children to grow into healthy, active adults of normal body stature. It also plays a role in adults maintaining muscle growth, metabolism, cellular repair, and other critical body functions. However, crucial hormone-like HGH drops as you age. This steady decline can cause HGH deficiency and, in turn, some side effects. Growth Hormone replacement therapy is used to treat this age-related deficiency.
Common Risks of HGH Treatment?
Possible side effects of HGH use include:
- Swelling because of fluid in the body’s tissues (edema)
- Numbness and tingling of the skin
- Increased heart disease and diabetes risk
- Growth of facial features, hands, and feet (acromegaly)
- Growth of cancerous tumors
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Low blood sugar
- High cholesterol levels
- Mood changes, dependency, and withdrawal
- Liver damage
- Nerve, muscle, or joint pain
- An enlarged heart
- Fatigue and tiredness
HGH also increases the diabetes risk and can even contribute to the growth of cancerous tumors.
One of the main risks of HGH treatment is using this therapy in non-FDA-approved cases. Some people use this drug along with other performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids to improve athletic performance and build muscle. However, there are no proven results of improved athletic performance. HGH is also being touted as anti-aging therapy that could reverse the age-related bodily deterioration in normal people. However, these claims are not proven. Also, the use of HGH for anti-aging is not approved by FDA.
However, some people ignore these warnings and get injectable HGH from doctors who prescribe it for off-label purposes. They also get hold of these through online pharmacies, websites, and anti-aging clinics, etc. There are also adulterated products in the form of sprays and pills that claim to increase your body’s self-production of HGH. These companies make fake advertisements that claim to reduce fat, turn back your biological aging clock, restore hair growth and color, build muscle, normalize blood sugar, improve sex life, increase energy, vision, sleep quality, and memory. However, there is no evidence of the positive effects of pills as HGH gets digested by the stomach before it can be absorbed by the blood.
Moreover, if you get the drug illegally, you may not know the ingredients. Since HGH costs are high, many counterfeit products are available in the market. If you are not getting HGH from your doctor, you may not be getting a safe one.
Who needs HGH therapy treatment?
Synthetic human growth hormone was developed in 1985 and approved by the FDA to treat certain conditions in adults and children. In children, HGH hormonal injections are approved for treating conditions such as short stature occurring due to unknown causes and poor growth caused due to medical conditions, including
- Turner’s syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the development of a girl child
- Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes low levels of sex hormone, poor muscle tone, and a constant feeling of hunger.
- HGH deficiency or insufficiency
- Chronic kidney disease
- Children born small for gestational age
In adults, HGH therapy is approved for the following cases:
- Short bowel syndrome, a condition in which the nutrients are not absorbed by the small intestine or due to surgical removal of a large section of the small intestine
- HGH deficiency due to rare tumor-like growth in the pituitary gland
- Muscle wasting diseases such as HIV/AIDS
What does Expert say about HGH Treatment?
The world’s biggest advocate for anti-aging medicine is the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M). The co-founder of A4M, Doctor Ronal Klatz, who authored the book Grow Young with HGH, has said that the positive anti-aging effects of the growth hormone are beneficial to both body and mind, physiology and anatomy, form and function. By Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy, you will be able to recover your health, vigor, sexuality, and looks.
Doctors in general practice believe that HGH replacement therapy should be done only with the doctor’s consultation. Furthermore, its use in children should be limited to extreme cases and not be prescribed for normal children.
Review Guide For HGH Therapy – Is It Really Useful For Adults?.