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Human Growth Hormone Facts

Batul Nafisa Baxamusa
Growth hormones are chemical messengers in our body, that control the process of growth. Read on to know some interesting human growth hormone facts.
Human growth hormone, commonly known as HGH or hGH, stimulates growth and cell production in the human body. It is secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain. This complex hormone is made from a group of 191 amino acids. It is the largest and most abundantly created protein by the pituitary gland.
Pituitary gland produces HGH throughout a person's childhood. The growth hormone is secreted the most during adolescence. The body continues to secrete HGH even after adolescence, usually in short bursts during sleep. As we grow older the pituitary gland produces less amount of HGH, and the production continues to decline in the adult life.

Functions of HGH

The main function of HGH is to increase the body's height and muscle mass. It helps in retaining calcium, maintaining healthy bones, reducing fat, controlling sugar and insulin levels, maintaining immunity, etc., especially during the growing years of the body.

Positive Facts

  • Many people think that the human growth hormone has anti-aging properties. People have reported high energy levels, increased muscle mass, and less body fat after a HGH therapy. It makes the skin look younger, and decreases wrinkles. Thus, this adds fuel to the notion that this hormone is similar to the fountain of youth.
  • You must have heard of the term doping in the highly competitive world of sports. There are anabolic steroids containing HGH, that help increase body mass, strength, and endurance power in athletes. Use of such steroids is banned by many sporting committees and groups.
  • The mind and body are benefited immensely by the use of HGH. It also helps improve vision, memory, and makes the immune system stronger.
  • This growth hormone promotes tissue repair, regenerates bone cells, and helps in combating infections and diseases.
  • It not only stimulates protein anabolism and triglyceride breakdown, but also serves to maintain the blood glucose and insulin levels.
  • The first synthetic HGH injection was produced in 1986, and gave good anti-aging results.
  • It helps promote good moods, and increases youthful feelings in people in their mid-thirties and early-forties.
  • Children suffering from deformed height, kidney failure, syndrome of Prader-Willi, or Turner's Syndrome, are treated with HGH injections or pills. Muscle degeneration associated with HIV/AIDS can also be treated in this way, under medical guidance.

Negative Facts

  • Use of drugs associated to the growth hormone may lead to soft tissue swelling, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, breast enlargement in men, and diabetes.
  • Other side effects include heart and liver enlargement, increased pressure around the brain, and high blood pressure.
  • It is also known to cause hypoglycemia, as HGH drugs are known to increase the production of insulin in the body. This leads to dangerously low sugar levels.
  • HGH speeds up the process of acromegaly, that is, abnormal growth of the bone.
  • If it is not used as prescribed, it leads to extended belly in bodybuilders. It may also cause joint pain.
Whether HGH really contains anti-aging properties is still debatable. Most of the time, aggressive marketing gimmicks push naive people in trying out something that may cause more harm than good. The human growth hormone side effects show us another side of this wonder hormone. Science is making new breakthroughs everyday.
New and improved methods are being discovered to maintain the vitality and energy of youth. However, it is always better to maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet. Choose nutritious food and exercises over HGH injections. If you have any query regarding their usage, consult your doctor. Aging is a part of the cycle of life. Accept it and age gracefully! It is your health, so the choice is yours.