How to Know if You Have Growth Hormone Deficiency?
Being healthy is probably the most essential thing that every person wants in life, and it is up to us to do all we can to remain in that condition. Unfortunately, not everyone has the luck to be healthy for the whole life, and once we get sick, we see how significant our health is and how it can be difficult to get it back.
People with rare conditions have even more struggle to fight for their health because many diseases are still not researched enough, and for many of them, there is no proper medicine that can help.
Although it is not easy, and many people lose faith, it is not a solution, and if you or some of your loved ones have a rare condition, quitting is not an option, and it is necessary to fight and try to find a cure.
Science is improving all the time, and new medicines are found every day, so only being persistent and having faith can help you or your loved ones. There are many rare diseases, each of them is difficult in its own way, and in this article, we will better explain growth hormone deficiency.
What is it?
Source: floridamedicalclinic.com
There are various definitions of this rare condition, but to keep it simple and say it by using simple words – it is the lack of growth hormone. Many people are convinced that this hormone is important only for children, but the truth is different, and adults need it too.
It does not mean that adults do not need this hormone because they stopped growing since it is not its only function. It is important for normal brain and muscle function, and it plays a huge role in fat distribution in our bodies.
It can be caused before and during birth or by severe head trauma in childhood or adulthood. Other causes of GHD (growth hormone deficiency) can be brain infections and radiation treatments. Although GHD is more often in the early years, it is not that rare to see it in adults.
The main symptoms
Source: medicalnewstoday.com
First of all, we need to mention that symptoms are not the same when we talk about children and about adults, and we will explain better all of them. Noticing symptoms in time means receiving the proper treatment in time, which is always a much better option than waiting too long.
Children
Source: parents.com
A pivotal year to notice the symptoms of GHD is year three, and children with this condition will grow in height much slower after their third birthday. For kids, it is normal to grow about 3.5cm in height per year, and if the growth is less than that, it can be an alarm sign.
Of course, it does not mean that the diagnosis is GHD, but it is definitely better to check. Kids with this rare condition may have other typical symptoms such as looking a little chubby and much younger than they are, waiting to come into puberty much longer than their friends, and problems with hair growth.
Luckily, the intelligence of the child is not endangered by GHD, and there is no need to worry about slow mental growth, even if the condition is approved by the medical specialist, which is important because GHD can easily be confused for another one by laics because of similar symptoms.
Adults
Source: balancehormoneoklahoma.com
We already mention that even the adults are not growing in height, they still need a growth hormone, and its lack can cause many severe problems. The symptoms are varied, but many people will first notice high cholesterol and fat values in the blood. Although reasons for these high levels may be different, including poor diet, it is not something to overlook, and it always needs to be checked by a specialist.
High levels of cholesterol and fat in the blood can lead to diabetes and heart disease, which means that people with AGHD are at greater risk of getting some heart disease or dealing with high blood sugar.
Another symptom is fragile bones which result in many fractures, and it is much obvious if some older adults have AGHD. People can also notice that they are too sensitive to extreme temperatures, no matter if it is too hot or too cold, and they also can feel tired and weak all the time.
These people can often be too tired for regular activities and have decreased or no sexual wishes. Besides these physical symptoms, there are a lot of psychological ones, and they are as important as physical is.
It can be difficult to notice them sometimes, and they are not necessarily the sign of AGHD because many rare conditions have similar psychological effects, but we need to mention them, so you can pay attention and check if you have some of them or some of your loved ones have.
The first symptom we will mention is depression since many people can experience it, and it can lead to many severe problems and even suicide if it is not treated, and it is obvious how important is not to overlook it.
These people may feel rejected and isolated from other people, which can make their depression even worse. Besides depression, people with AGHD can experience poor memory and problems with concentration, which is never a good thing especially for those who need to be extremely focused at work. Anxiety is another symptom to mention, which can be associated with extreme mood swings, and it is something that we can easily notice and react to in time.
Final thoughts
GHD is a rare condition that requires consultation with a specialist who can find out the best possible treatment. It is never a good idea to start with a treatment or give someone a diagnosis based on articles you read without consultation with an expert.
Some of the medicines showed better results than others, and if you want to learn more about one of them, check https://hghtherapydoctor.us/product/serostim/ and you will learn everything you need about this therapy, but we need to mention once again that consultations with a doctor are a must.
