What is Low Growth Hormone?
Low growth hormone, also called growth hormone deficiency (GHD), is a condition where the pituitary gland does not produce enough growth hormone (GH). Growth hormone is essential for growth and cell regeneration. Children need it to grow taller, while adults need it to maintain muscle mass, bone density, and a healthy metabolism.
Some key points about low GH:
- It is usually caused by damage or tumors in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus in the brain, where GH is produced. Genetic mutations can also cause GHD.
- Common symptoms include:
- In kids - stunted growth, increased body fat
- In adults - decreased muscle mass, poor bone health, fatigue, high cholesterol
- Diagnosis involves blood tests for IGF-1 and GH levels after stimulation tests like the insulin or arginine tolerance test.
- Treatment is daily injections of synthetic human GH to replace what the body cannot produce. This helps normalize height in kids and manage symptoms like fatigue and high cholesterol in adults.
- If untreated, complications may include short stature, obesity, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, poor quality of life. Early diagnosis and treatment is key.
- Main types of GHD:
- Adult-onset: Starts in adulthood, usually from a pituitary tumor. Milder symptoms.
- Childhood-onset: Starts in childhood, affects growth and development.
In summary, low GH or GHD arises from the body's inability to produce adequate growth hormone. Diagnosing it early and treating it with daily GH injections can help affected children grow taller and help both kids and adults avoid complications like obesity and bone loss. Paying attention to symptoms like unexpectedly slow growth or unexplained fatigue, and getting blood tests done, are key to identifying this issue. For more information, consult the experts at Revive Hormones.