Growth hormone helps process protein and increases fat breakdown to help provide the energy needed for tissue growth.
HGH is essential to growth, especially in children, but it is also involved in many other processes in the body, including bone density, muscle mass, and mood.
Different hormones control various body functions and processes, including growth and development, metabolism, sexual function and reproduction, and mood.
HGH Levels and Deficiency
Growth hormone levels can change throughout 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.
Some people use HGH because they believe it will build muscle, improve performance, or slow aging.
In adults, a lack of growth hormone is often due to damage to the pituitary gland, which may be permanent. The damage could have occurred in childhood or adulthood.
Causes of HGH deficiency include:
- radiation therapy
- a head injury
- infections, such as meningitis
Problems in the pituitary with producing growth hormone 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 around the waist;
- increased risk of heart disease and stroke;
- weak heart;
- weak muscles and bones;
- tiredness;
- reduced ability to think;
- other conditions.
Growth hormone deficiency can also be a combination of one or more hormone deficiencies. Some medical conditions may also benefit HGH treatment.
These include:
- 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: This genetic disorder interferes with the proper development of various parts of the body.
- Chronic kidney disease.
Injections
A person can administer HGH injections at home or receive the hormone at the doctor’s office.
The most common treatment in both adults and children is growth hormone therapy using lab-developed HGH injections.
Doses occur several times per week or on a daily basis depending on how severe the deficiency is. Manufacturers designed the growth hormone to mimic the behavior of natural growth hormone in the body. It will be prescribed by a doctor.
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.
Taking growth hormone can affect the body’s response to insulin, which controls blood sugar levels. Growth hormone deficiency can also lead to high cholesterol and brittle bones if it is not treated.
Specific treatment for growth hormone deficiency depends on the person.
Doctors base this treatment on certain factors, such as:
- age;
- overall health and medical history;
- the extent of the condition;
- tolerance for specific treatment;
- treatment expectations;
- patient’s choice.
The earlier the lack of growth hormone is treated in children, the better chance they have to grow to a near-normal adult height.
Children can gain as many as 4 inches or more over the first 3 years of treatment. Another 3 inches or more can grow during the next 2 years.
Many adults have to take HGH treatment for the remainder of their life.
Anyone taking HGH will undergo regular monitoring to assess the safety and effectiveness of the hormone.
The goal of growth hormone treatments in adults and children is to restore energy, metabolism, and enhance body development or shape. It can help to reduce total body fat, especially around the belly.
HGH injections can also help to improve strength and exercise tolerance and reduce the risk of heart disease in those who lack the growth hormone.
Many people experience an increase in overall quality of life.
Best Brands of HGH on the Market
Five brands are the world’s leading manufacturers of HGH. We have listed them with their manufacturers:
- Norditropin by Novo Nordisk;
- Genotropin by Pfizer;
- Humatrope by Eli Lilly;
- Saizen by Merck Serono;
- Omnitrope by Sandoz.
There is no significant difference in quality, safety, and effectiveness among the brands of HGH listed above because the molecular structure of the medication in all of them is the same.
All best injectable HGH products contain synthetic somatotropin, produced via recombinant DNA technology.
Because of this, the product is also called recombinant somatotropin in the medical community. The final product has the same protein structure made up of 191-amino acids just like the natural GH that should be synthesized in your body.
The main difference between the various growth hormone injections are in their popularity, ease of use, price, dosage form, storage, etc.
The most popular and prescribed brand worldwide is Norditropin, which also has the largest global market share – over 37,57% in 2017.
It is manufactured by Novo Nordisk which is a global leader in diabetic and human growth hormone medications. Their product – Norditropin FlexPro Pen, does not require reconstitution and provides significant comfort for the patients. That makes it so popular among patients.
Risks and side effects
Most people tolerate HGH injection treatments well with few problems.
However, possible side effects include:
- muscle aches;
- joint discomfort;
- headaches;
- swelling of the hands and feet.
Those who experience these symptoms or other problems should talk to their doctor. They can change the dose if necessary to help remedy the symptoms.
HGH injections are not recommended for people who have:
- tumors;
- cancer;
- serious illness;
- severe breathing problems;
- multiple injuries;
- complications from open heart or abdominal surgery.
HGH can affect insulin usage in the body, so people with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar levels carefully.
Other treatments may be required depending on the cause of the HGH deficiency.
Surgery or radiation may be necessary to treat a tumor in the pituitary. Pituitary hormones may also have to be taken to correct a gland that is not working properly.
A team of qualified experts is here to help you discover every detail of your future therapy during a free consultation. Schedule here.