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Why Do Athletes Use HGH?

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is a hormone produced naturally in the body. It is responsible for cell division. It also stimulates growth and maintenance of tissue. Levels of HGH fall off markedly in your 30s, and steadily decrease from there.

  1. Misconceptions

    • All beefed up

      Some athletes think that by taking synthetic forms of HGH, they will bulk up, in essence giving them a steroid effect and look. This is a misconception. HGH can help you perform better because it makes you look and feel better.

    Results

    • Leaning out

      HGH has been proven to increase bone density, make thicker skin, get rid of fat and lean you out. These results were proven in a 1990 study of older men, published in the New England Journal of Sports Medicine.

    Injuries

    • Sidelined

      There is a direct link between HGH and tissue maintenance, so some athletes use it under the guise that it is speeding their recovery from injury.

    Side Effects

    • Fluid retention

      Fluid retention is a side effect of taking HGH. HGH can also produce diabetes-like symptoms. These symptoms do go away once you stop taking HGH.

    Warnings

    • Forbidden

      HGH is not considered to be as harmful as steroids, but it is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of banned substances.

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