|  | Conditions Treatments | Sleep Disorders

HGH Growth Hormone for Sleep Disorder

We all need a good night's sleep, but statistics from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimate that about 40 million people in the United States have chronic long-term sleep disorders and another 20 million people have problems sleeping. Recent studies have shown that human growth hormone could be used to treat sleep problems in older adults.

  1. Human Growth Hormone

    • Our bodies naturally produce growth hormone through the pituitary gland, the pea-sized gland at the base of the brain. Throughout childhood, growth hormone helps us grow; by the time adulthood is reached, the hormone is helping maintain tissues and organs. In middle age, the pituitary gland reduces the amount of growth hormone produced. Synthetic human growth hormone (HGH) was developed to take its place. HGH has been used in studies to help adults with sleep disorders, but is still considered an alternative treatment.

    How HGH is Administered

    • Synthentic human growth hormone is administered by injection under medical care. It is available only by prescription, approved for adults who experience a true deficiency in growth hormones. Selling full-strength HGH for medicinal or dietary use without a prescription is illegal in the United States, where HGH is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Diluted forms of HGH sold as homeopathic remedies are available in cream, pill or powder form, and are legal over-the-counter products per the FDA Compliance Policy Guide, Section 400.400.

    Sleep Disorders

    • Over 70 forms of sleep disorders exist; they are classified as lack of sleep, disturbed sleep or excessive sleep problems. Insomnia is the name for lack of sleep and is the inability to fall asleep. Daytime drowsiness is a symptom of insomnia that can be caused by stress, diet or too much caffeine. Disturbed sleep disorders include sleep apnea, restless-leg syndrome and sleepwalking. Excessive sleep, or narcolepsy, is characterized by falling asleep at inappropriate times and places.

    Aging and Sleep

    • In addition to sleep disorders, aging takes a toll on a good night's sleep. Sleep patterns change as we age, and older people exhibit different patterns of sleep than younger people. Older people are less efficient sleepers, taking longer to fall asleep and then remaining in bed longer to get the same amount of sleep they got when younger. Older people tend to wake more easily and more often than younger people and report feelings of insomnia more often. Daytime sleep also leads to difficulty sleeping through the night.

    HGH and Sleep Study

    • An article published in the August 16, 2000 Journal of the American Medical Association reported a link between sleep disorders and a lack of natural HGH in the blood of 149 men aged between 16 and 83. The research is credited to a team led by Professor Eve van Cauter of the University of Chicago. HGH is produced naturally at night during deep sleep and was highest for the younger test subjects. Subjects aged 45 and older lost the ability to fall back in deep sleep when awakened during the night. In subjects over 50, sleep declined 27 percent per decade of age, and growth hormone secretion had decreased by 75 percent.

    HGH for Sleep

    • While the University of Chicago study did not link sleep reduction directly to a lack of human growth hormone, the research did show a link: Less HGH was produced by the body because of less deep sleep time. Other studies on HGH replacement therapy have confirmed patients taking synthetic HGH sleep better at night. Before HGH can be prescribed for treating sleep disorders in people, additional studies are needed and FDA approval must be granted.

Sleep Disorders - Related Articles