Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is defined as a “peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and cell regeneration in humans and other animals.” In other words, it is essential for “normal” human development, especially in children.
The caveat here is that you need to get an HGH prescription from a doctor affiliated to hghtherapydoctor.us, should you wish to take it.
The inferred questions at the outset of this article are what role does HGH play in human development? And under what circumstances will a medical specialist prescribe HGH?
By way of answering these questions, let’s consider the following points.
Table of Contents
1. What is a peptide hormone?
Biologydictionary.net describes peptide hormones as a “class of proteins which are bound by receptor proteins and enable or disable a biological pathway.”
In other words, peptide hormones bind to other proteins in the body enabling growth, development, and reproduction. Thus, the growth hormone (HGH) being a peptide hormone specifically enhances the body’s ability to grow and develop. Without it, the physical growth of an individual will be stunted.
Note: Peptide hormones have a short half-life. In other words, they break down (or apart) exceptionally quickly. When produced by the human body, the benefit of this is that it allows the body to expedite its function. However, when taken artificially, it has to be taken on a regular basis because it does not last long in the human body.
2. The HGH’s release mechanism and function
The pituitary gland naturally produces HGH. And as described above, it drives physical growth and development in children and teenagers. However, it also has other functions like regulating body fluids, body composition, sugar and fat metabolism, heart function, and muscle and bone growth.
At this juncture, it is essential to note that HGH is not continuously released by the pituitary gland. It is released in controlled bursts every three to five hours. This release mechanism is managed by two other hormones, growth hormone-releasing hormone and somatostatin, released by the hypothalamus (a part of the brain).
The growth hormone-releasing hormone stimulates the pituitary gland to release HGH, and somatostatin inhibits or prevents the release of HGH.
Finally, these hormone levels are increased by sleep, low blood glucose levels, stress, and exercise. They also increase during puberty. These levels are reduced during pregnancy and if the brain senses high HGH levels or insulin-like factors already present in the bloodstream.
3. What happens when your body’s natural HGH levels are not correct
The human body’s HGH levels can be in one of three states: normal, too high, and too low. The only acceptable state is that these HGH levels remain within what is determined the normal range by medical professionals.
Thus, let’s consider what happens to the human body if its HGH levels are too high or too low.
Too much HGH
As its name states, high HGH levels translate into continued and unnecessary growth.
This results in a condition known as acromegaly in adults.
What is acromegaly?
Succinctly stated “acromegaly is a condition that develops due to overproduction of growth hormone, usually caused by a benign tumor of the pituitary gland. It leads to an increase in size of the hands and feet, a change in the appearance of the face and enlargement of the internal organs.”
The term acromegaly means the enlargement of the body’s extremities. An adult’s skeletal structure does not continue to grow because the bones’ growth plates have fused and cannot grow anymore. Hence, the reason for the growth in the hands and feet and the internal organs of the body.
As described above, this condition occurs when there is a benign tumor in the pituitary gland.
Acromegaly is not a fast-developing condition; thereby, its symptoms grow slowly over the years. Some of the symptoms of acromegaly and the tumor include the gradual increase in the size of the human hands and feet, headaches, visual field defects, carpal tunnel syndrome, especially around the thumb, increased sweating, and aches and pains in bones and joints.
Secondly, this condition often causes changes in the face’s appearance, including the enlargement of the nose, increase in the forehead and jaw’s prominence, spaces appearing between the teeth and an enlarged tongue.
Thirdly and finally, sufferers might also suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis.
Too little HGH
Succinctly stated, two little growth results in stunted growth in children. It causes increased fat, reduced sense of well-being, increased risk of heart disease, and a weak heart, muscles, and bones.
Thus, it is reasonable to assume that, as soon as you experience any of these symptoms, it is essential to seek medical treatment as quickly as possible
4. The benefits of taking synthetic HGH
Synthetic HGH was first created in 1985. And it is approved by the FDA for treating the following conditions in both children and adults.
- Chronic kidney disease
- Short bowel syndrome in adults
- Muscle wasting associated with HIV/AIDS
- Children born too small for their gestational age
- Osteoporosis
It is also prescribed by doctors for off-label purposes, including anti-aging treatment. As an aside, some anti-aging experts have speculated that the use of HGH-based products can reverse aging.
However, there is no scientific, research-based evidence for this.
Other claims about the benefits of using synthetic HGH include the following:
- The use of artificial HGH increases the body’s natural HGH levels. It has been well established that the body’s natural HGH levels decrease with aging. Thus, by taking synthetic HGH, the human body is encouraged to increase its natural HGH production.
- Part of the aging reversal process is the inference that synthetic HGH turns back the body’s biological clock, builds muscle, reduces fat, increases energy levels, and normalizes blood sugar levels.
Final thoughts
There is no doubt that the use of synthetic HGH has its place in the health treatment regime. However, it is also used as an anabolic steroid, which is illegal, but its side effects can be disastrous, resulting in the loss of human life. Therefore, it is essential to consult with a medical professional before you take it.