4 Signs and Symptoms of Growth Hormone Deficiency

The human growth hormone is also known as somatotropin. It is a peptide hormone charged with the responsibility of stimulating growth, cell regeneration, and cell production in humans and animals. As such, this is an important hormone when it comes to human development. Other than its use for growth purposes, the human growth hormone is also useful in stimulating the increase in glucose concentration while also stimulating the production of IGF-1. The human growth hormone is released from the anterior pituitary gland to the bloodstream. It is possible to take the top growth hormone supplement if you have a deficiency of this vital hormone. This is something many people may not be aware of. Some clear signs and symptoms can show that one is lacking the human growth hormone. We shall discuss some of these signs and symptoms here.

Cases of too much growth hormone

One’s body can produce too many growth hormones. In the case of adults, when one has excessive growth hormone production, this case is known as acromegaly. The patients will have swollen feet and hands. The facial features also become altered. Such a patient will also experience high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Organ enlargement is also another common side effect.

Case of too little growth hormone

It is also possible to have cases where people suffer from low growth hormone, also known as hormone growth deficiency. It causes poor growth in children. In adults, there are many side effects such as heart disease, weak muscles, and bones as well as increased fat, and a low sense of well-being. Too few growth hormones can be present from birth due to causes such as injury to the pituitary glands or genetics. It is also possible that low-growth hormones could develop in adults because of issues like brain injury, damage to the pituitary gland, or due to pituitary tumors.

Signs and symptoms of growth hormone deficiency

There are signs that one can see and, in a way, tell that someone, especially a child has growth hormone deficiency. Here are such 4 signs and symptoms:

1.   Slow height growth in children 3 years and above

When a 3-year-old child does not show much growth in height this could be a sign that they are suffering from growth hormone deficiency. If the child has a growth rate of fewer than 3.5 centimeters every year after their third birthday, chances are that they have a low growth hormone. The normal growth of children after 3 years is at least 3.5 centimeters per year. The child will become slimmer and lose the rounded tummy they had as a toddler. The children could grow at rates higher than the above. However, any growth in height lower than 3.5 cm per subsequent year could be a clear sign of hormone growth deficiency and calls for one to seek help from a pediatrician.

2.   Decreased bone density, leading to osteoporosis

Osteoporosis means porous bones. When one suffers from this condition, they are likely to suffer bone fractures. When you are suffering from low growth hormones, it means the bones are not growing correctly. Your wrist, spine, and hip bones could suffer fractures. When this happens, your physician will test for low-growth hormones so one can be given the correct treatment such as supplements. There are over 200 million people worldwide who suffer from osteoporosis. The bones are made of growing tissue. Healthy bones look like spongy bones. The inside of the bones is called trabecular bone and the outer of the bone is made of a hard shell known as cortical bone. If the growth hormone is no longer working, this simply means the holes in the spongy part of the bone grow bigger and are in number. This weakens the strength of the bones hence making them weak and suffering breakages.

3.   Depression

Depression is a mood disorder and can be said to be a deep feeling of sadness, anger, or loss based on someone’s daily life activities. One experiences low hormones that are supposed to help in better moods and a feeling of happiness. The growth hormone is said to be part of these hormones and therefore when one has low growth hormones, then this kind of mood imbalance sets in.

4.   Delayed puberty

When there is a growth hormone deficiency, then it means children will not develop at the speed they are supposed to. In essence, there will be delayed puberty in both boys and girls. The boys will have no testicular development by the age of 14 while the girls will not have developed breasts by the age of 13.