HGH is essential to growth, especially in children, but it is also involved in many other processes in the body, including bone density, muscle mass, and mood.

Different hormones control various body functions and processes, including growth and development, metabolism, sexual function and reproduction, and mood.

It helps process protein and increases fat breakdown to help provide the energy needed for tissue growth.

Growth hormone levels can change through the day, and physical activity plays a part.

Exercise and similar activities can cause the levels to rise naturally. Sleep, stress, and low blood sugar levels also increase growth hormone levels.

Even small changes in HGH levels affect the body.

Too little or too much growth hormone can cause significant growth problems. Too little HGH is one of the main causes of short stature and conditions such as dwarfism.

Some people use HGH because they believe it will build muscle, improve performance, or slow aging. However, the existing evidence does not support the use of HGH for these purposes.

Children with low levels of lack of growth hormone may or may not be smaller at birth. Growth problems may appear in time, for example, if they are smaller than their classmates and growing less than 2 inches a year.

Some children are unable to produce growth hormone when they are born and continue to have low levels throughout their life.

Symptoms of growth hormone deficiency in children are:

• looking much younger than other children their age
• having a chubby body build
• impaired hair growth
• delayed puberty
• short stature

In some children, a lack of growth hormone is part of a genetic condition, but sometimes the cause of the deficiency is unknown.

In Adults?

In adults, a lack of growth hormone is often due to damage to the pituitary gland, which may be permanent. The damage could have occurred in childhood or adulthood.

Other causes include:

• radiation therapy
• a head injury
• infections, such as meningitis

Problems in the pituitary with producing growth hormone are commonly due to a pituitary tumor.

The pituitary can be damaged by the tumor itself or by treatment such as surgery and radiotherapy.

In adults, a lack of HGH can cause a number of different problems including:

• anxiety and depression
• increased fat around the waist
• increased risk of heart disease and stroke
• weak heart
• weak muscles and bones
• tiredness
• reduced ability to think
• other conditions

Growth hormone deficiency can also be a combination of one or more hormone deficiencies.

Some medical conditions may also benefit HGH treatment.

These include:

• Turner’s syndrome: Women with this condition generally have underdeveloped female sexual characteristics.
• Prader-Willi syndrome: A genetic disorder causes weak muscle tone, feeding difficulties, poor growth, and delayed development.
• Noonan syndrome: This genetic disorder interferes with the proper development of various part of the body.
• Chronic kidney disease in children: HGH is not a treatment optionTrusted Source for adults with CKD.

Injections

The most common treatment in both adults and children is growth hormone therapy using lab-developed HGH injections.

Doses occur several times per week or on a daily basis depending on how severe the deficiency is.Manufacturers designed the growth hormone to mimic the behavior of natural growth hormone in the body. It will be prescribed by a doctor.

HGH treatments can be self-administered or given by a doctor. Treatments are often given for several years. Patients will see their doctor every month or so to check their condition.

Blood tests will be carried out to see if extra growth hormone is needed and if treatments should be increased, decreased, or stopped. Cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and bone density will also be checked to see if they are healthy.

Taking growth hormone can affect the body’s response to insulin, which controls blood sugar levels. Growth hormone deficiency can also lead to high cholesterol and brittle bones if it is not treated.

Specific treatment for growth hormone deficiency depends on the person.

Doctors base this treatment on certain factors, such as:

• age
• overall health and medical history
• extent of the condition
• tolerance for specific treatment
• treatment expectations
• patient’s choice

The earlier the lack of growth hormone is treated in children, the better chance they have to grow to a near normal adult height.

Children can gain as many as 4 inches or more over the first 3 years of treatment. Another 3 inches or more can grow during the next 2 years.

Many adults have to take HGH treatment for the remainder of their life.

Anyone taking HGH will undergo regular monitoring to assess the safety and effectiveness of the hormone.

The goal of growth hormone treatments in adults and children is to restore energy, metabolism, and enhance body development or shape. It can help to reduce total body fat, especially around the belly.

HGH injections can also help to improve bone density and muscle mass, increase capacity for exercise, and reduce the risk of heart disease in those who lack growth hormone.

Many people experience an increase in overall quality of life.