HGH is human growth hormone (somatropin), the bioidentical version of growth hormone (GH), also known as somatotropin. It is a 191-amino acid polypeptide single-chain hormone that impacts nearly every cell in the body. Unlike other hormones that have limited functions, the vast functions regulated or supported by GH make this easily the body’s “master hormone.” Because of the many roles of growth hormone, keeping its levels in proper balance is the most important thing you can do for your body throughout your life.
As you age, the anterior pituitary gland’s somatotrophic cells slowly decrease growth hormone production. If GH levels decline to a point where insufficient growth hormone is available to reach and activate the many receptor cells throughout the brain and body, significant changes and unwanted problems could occur.
Doctors prescribe HGH therapy to adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Blood analysis, physical examination, consultation, and a thorough medical history review provide a hormone specialist with the necessary information to diagnose and treat GHD safely and effectively.
What Does This Hormone Affect?
Adult growth hormone deficiency may appear in many ways, as symptoms often equate to the areas of the body that receive the least GH. Because growth hormone enters the bloodstream in pulsatile bursts, it races quickly throughout the body to bind with GH receptors on cellular surfaces. Decreased supplies of growth hormone interact with some cells and bypass others, leaving those cells unable to perform their functions.
Areas of crucial importance to growth hormone signaling include the following:
- Regulate body fat distribution
Adults with GHD experience increased body fat accumulation, especially central adiposity, as belly fat crowds the internal organs. Enlarged fat deposits and higher fat cell volume can lead to other health risks. HGH therapy helps reduce fat cell number and volume toward normal, resulting in body fat loss.
- Body fluids
GHD in adults decreases body fluid volume, and treatment with HGH therapy restores fluid volume to a normalized state. Fluids influenced by GH include extra-cellular volume (ECV), plasma volume (PV), renin concentration, sodium, total body water, insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
- Muscle and bone growth
Converse to the increase in fat mass, growth hormone deficiency decreases lean body mass, exercise tolerance, and muscle strength as GH influences cellular regeneration and protein anabolism – two crucial functions involved in muscle mass growth. Adults with GHD experience decreased bone mineral content and low bone turnover, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. HGH therapy increases bone formation markers and resorption, improving bone density, strengthening the bones, and reducing fracture risk.
- Sugar and fat metabolism
Growth hormone deficiency increases insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and type 2 diabetes risk. GH works directly on the metabolism helping to regulate the metabolizing of amino acids (protein), carbohydrates (sugars), and lipids (fats). HGH therapy improves metabolism, aiding insulin sensitivity, cell glucose uptake, and the body’s fat-burning abilities.
- Heart function
Growth hormone influences many areas of heart health, reducing left ventricular mass and function, blood cell reproduction, circulation, nitric oxide synthase, and peripheral vascular resistance when levels are low. GHD may also increase intima-media thickness and large arterial plaque formation, which can lead to atherosclerosis and heart disease. HGH replacement increases left ventricular wall mass, stroke volume, and fractional shortening and improves diastolic function. Increased nitric oxide generation helps to improve blood pressure levels.
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- Inflammation and vascular health
C-reactive protein, an inflammation marker, increases in patients with GHD. LDL and total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels increase, while beneficial HDL cholesterol levels tend to decline in adults with a growth hormone deficiency, increasing the risk of cardiovascular events. As cholesterol levels build up in the arteries and inflammation increases throughout the body, a person becomes increasingly susceptible to long-term tissue damage and numerous health risks. HGH therapy significantly improves these areas, improving heart health, mortality, and morbidity outcomes.
HGH deficiency can be caused by age, severe head injuries, infections, radiation treatments, autoimmune conditions, problems with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, and a brain tumor.
Low Levels of HGH and Risks
Growth hormone deficiency can lead to many health problems, a few mentioned in the previous section. Another concern is brain functions, where growth hormone receptors that do not receive enough GH signaling lie dormant.
Numerous cognitive changes occur in GHD adults, including problems with fluid intelligence, active problem-solving, and short-term memory. Because of growth hormone’s role in neurogenesis, it provides neuroprotective benefits for the brain. It could reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia when low levels are restored through HGH therapy.
Emotional issues such as increased anxiety, stress (raising cortisol levels), irritability, and depression are possible. Reduced endorphin signaling can severely impact emotional well-being.
Adults with HGH deficiency may also suffer from low libido, vaginal dryness (women), and erectile dysfunction (men). Decreased quality of life and reduced energy are typical.
GHD increases the risk of developing more significant health issues, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, dementia, and more.
Be careful when choosing a GH deficiency treatment. Many products on the marketplace advertise they boost your human growth hormone (HGH) without second-party testing to back those claims. For example, Nugenix GH boost claims to revitalize growth hormone levels. Whether this is the case can be fully explored in Nugenix GH boost ingredients: 2023 efficacy review.
If you have GHD, doctor-prescribed HGH therapy is the best course of action. Bioidentical human growth hormone has the same chemical structure as naturally produces GH, providing the body with more of this essential hormone.
Conclusion
Maintaining hormonal balance is crucial, especially when that hormone is HGH. Growth hormone deficiency can lead to physical changes, including weight gain, muscle loss, weak bones, aging skin, thinning hair, and body aches. Impaired cognitive processing and changes in mood and energy can rob you of your enjoyment in life.
With HGH therapy, adults enjoy better health, vitality, and well-being. A hormone doctor is best to call when you have concerns about your growth hormone levels.
