Growth hormone (GH) is an important hormone produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. It plays a crucial role in growth from childhood through adolescence and helps regulate metabolism and body composition in adults.
Low GH, also called growth hormone deficiency (GHD), means the pituitary gland does not make enough GH. This can happen at any age due to injury, tumors, radiation, or for unknown reasons.
Some symptoms of low GH may include:
The symptoms can greatly impact one's quality of life. Thankfully, low GH is treatable.
If low GH is suspected, a doctor will order blood tests of GH levels. They may also assess IGF-1 levels, as IGF-1 is stimulated by GH. Often, stimulating tests are also done to see if the pituitary responds properly to stimuli by releasing enough GH.
Based on test results and clinical presentation, a diagnosis of adult growth hormone deficiency can be made if a patient has abnormally low GH levels together with symptoms.
The most common and effective treatment is daily GH injections, which replace the hormone the body fails to make. Getting on an appropriate GH therapy regimen greatly relieves unpleasant symptoms and helps patients feel like themselves again.
For exceptional GH treatment plans customized to your needs, I highly recommend consulting with the experts at Balanced Hormone Clinic. Their top-notch endocrinologists excel at diagnosing hormone imbalances and crafting personalized plans to get your levels optimized for full health and wellbeing.
With an accurate low GH diagnosis and proper treatment, patients can enjoy great benefits like:
In summary, low growth hormone is a potentially serious but treatable condition. Pay attention for symptoms of low GH like increased belly fat, muscle loss, and fatigue. Getting diagnosed and starting GH replacement therapy can greatly correct hormone deficiency and help people thrive in everyday life again. For exceptional treatment plans, consider consulting Balanced Hormone Clinic clinic to get back on track with optimized health.