HGH Supplement Side Effects

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is naturally produced by the body in the early years of life. The pituitary gland continues to produce it until the 40s, where its production starts to lessen. This is commonly attributed to the aging process, and many people look for ways to replenish the presence of HGH in the body. HGH treatments require healthcare professional monitoring to avoid or lessen the occurrence of side effects.

Identification

• Human Growth Hormone is produced by the pituitary gland, and its secretion is important for normal growth and development in the childhood and adolescent years. In adulthood, Human Growth Hormone functions in the normal metabolism of the body. For supplemental treatments, it was originally extracted from the pituitary glands of deceased people. Now, it is processed in laboratories through genetic engineering.

Warning

• It is important to take HGH under the supervision of a health care professional, to avoid overuse and subsequent side effects. Excess HGH consumption can result in acromegaly, which causes overgrowth and bone deformities. This condition drastically lessens the life expectancy of the person, possibly leading to a premature death.
  HGH overuse can also cause blood sugar levels to lessen, and it can cause liver and thyroid damage. It also causes heart enlargement, and it stimulates the overgrowth of bodily hair. Increased use of HGH causes water retention, which can cause arm and leg swelling, arthritis symptoms, bloating, muscle pain and the symptoms of carpal tunnel disease.
  HGH consumed in abundance can cause headaches, and its overuse can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, and hardening of the arteries. These side effects are seen in older adults, and more research is needed to understand its long-term overuse effect.

Benefits

• Human Growth Hormone naturally works to make a person grow taller. As a supplement, it is beneficial to AIDS patients, as it prevents muscle wasting, and it helps to rebuild their muscle mass. HGH supplements can also be used as a hormone therapy to replenish its levels in people who have an HGH deficiency, due to pituitary gland surgery, tumors or other causes.
  HGH supplements are commonly used in children to treat conditions or diseases that may affect their growth and development, such as in kidney failure, Turner's or Prader-Willi syndromes, or to treat general short stature in children.
  In adults HGH supplementation, under the supervision of a healthcare provider, can decrease body fat, increase muscle mass, but not necessarily increase muscle strength, and it can strengthen the heart. It also tends to make people feel better and more motivated to exercise and do other active things.

Considerations

• Limiting how long HGH treatments are taken can lessen the occurrence of its side effects. Even lowering the amount of HGH administered has positive outcomes in avoiding negative results from its usage. HGH can also reach excessive levels in the body, due to the fact that it is also naturally produced by the pituitary glands. Therefore, caution must be observed when taking it, and a health care professional must monitor the levels of HGH in the body.

Significance

• Any amount of HGH can cause side effects in the body, and each person's body is different in their response to this hormonal therapy. Possible diet and exercise changes can yield similar benefits, therefore taking HGH supplements have to be measured between its benefits and risks. It causes the internal organs to adjust and compensate for the altered levels of circulating hormones, and the body needs time to adjust to the commencing and conclusion of any HGH supplementation. By taking care to use HGH in moderation--when necessary and according to professional advice--damage to the liver and other other organs may be avoided, and side effects can be minimized.