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Benefits & Complications of HGH

Human growth hormone (HGH) is a substance produced naturally by the pituitary gland that helps children grow normally and heals and maintains body tissues throughout life. HGH injections have now become a controversial method of stopping or reversing the aging process. However, these injections have as many associated complications as they do benefits, according to the Mayo Clinic.

  1. Faster Runners

    • According to a 2010 study by the American College of Physicians and the Annals of Internal Medicine, HGH injections offer athletes enhanced performance ability. The study involved 96 healthy recreational athletes and randomly administered HGH injections and a placebo to the group. Eight weeks later the athletes who were taking the HGH injections showed an increased ability to perform bike sprints or the 100-meter dash on foot.

      The difference in the speed was only 0.4 seconds per 10 seconds, but researchers say this slight change is enough to make a last-place finisher in an Olympic sprint a gold medal winner.

    Hormone Deficiency Benefits

    • Some people have a growth hormone deficiency, and HGH injections can make a difference for those people when it comes to the ability to exercise, according to the Mayo Clinic. This will allow the person to work out more vigorously and for longer periods of time in order to gain additional strength.

      The HGH injections will also make a hormone deficient person's bones more dense, decrease body fat and help to build muscle, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, those with normal levels are not helped by the injections in these areas, according to the American College of Physicians. In fact, HGH may even cause an otherwise healthy person to gain additional fat.

    Pain and Swelling

    • Human growth hormone injections may lead to the swelling of arm and leg muscles and significant pain in the joints, according to the Mayo Clinic. Studies into these side effects have been limited, so it is not clear whether the effects gradually go away or tend to get worse.

    Enlargement of Breasts

    • Men taking HGH injections can sometimes develop gynecomastia, according to the Mayo Clinic. This condition is the abnormal enlargement of the mammary glands, which makes a man appear to have the breasts of a woman.

    Disease

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, the use of HGH injections has been linked to diabetes and heart disease. It is not clear based on scientific research whether stopping use of the products can reverse these conditions.

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