Human Growth Hormone Facts

Human growth hormone, commonly known by its abbreviated name 'HGH', stimulates growth and cell production in the human body. It is secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain. HGH or hGH is a complex hormone that 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. Human 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 Human Growth Hormone (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 of Human Growth Hormone
Human growth hormone facts are listed below:

• Many people think human growth hormone has anti-aging properties. People have reported high energy levels, increased muscle mass and less body fat after a HGH therapy.The hormone makes the skin look younger and decreases wrinkles. Thus, these facts add fuel to the notion that human growth 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 that contain human growth hormones that helps increase body mass, give extra strength and endurance power to athletes. Use of such steroids is banned by many sporting committees and groups.
• The mind and body are benefited immensely by the use of human growth hormone. It also helps improve vision, memory and makes the immune system stronger.
• Human growth hormone promotes tissue repair, cell regeneration in the bones and helps in combating infections and diseases.
• HGH stimulates protein anabolism, triglyceride breakdown and serves to maintain the blood glucose and insulin levels.
• The first synthetic human growth hormone injection was produced in 1986. This human growth hormone injection gave good anti-aging results.
• It helps promote good moods and increase youthful feelings in people in their mid-thirties and early-forties.
• Children suffering from deformed height, kidney failure, syndrome of Prader-Willi, Turner's Syndrome are treated with human growth hormone injections or pills. Muscle degeneration associated with HIV/AIDS can also be treated with HGH under medical guidance.

Negative Facts of Human Growth Hormone

• Use of human growth hormone drugs may lead to soft tissue swelling, joint pain, carpel tunnel syndrome, breast enlargement in men and diabetes.
• Other side effects of HGH 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 acromeglia, that is, abnormal growth of the bone.
• If human growth hormone drug is not used as prescribed, it leads to extended belly in bodybuilders. It may also cause joint pain.

These were some of the human growth hormone facts. Whether HGH really contains anti-aging properties is still debatable. Most of the time, the 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 human growth hormone injections. If you have any query regarding a human growth hormone consult your doctor.

By Batul Nafisa Baxamusa Published: 8/13/2009