Human growth hormone (HGH) is a hormone produced in the pituitary gland that plays an important role in growth and development, especially during childhood and adolescence. However, there are some potential negative effects associated with HGH, particularly when it is used exogenously as a performance-enhancing drug or anti-aging treatment:
- Acromegaly - One of the most serious potential side effects is the development of acromegaly when HGH levels become too high. Acromegaly causes abnormal growth of the hands, feet, and face. Effects include:
- Enlarged hands and feet
- Protruding brow and jaw
- Widened spaces between teeth
- Thickening of skin
- Skin tags
- Diabetes risk - Excess HGH may impair insulin function and raise blood sugar levels, increasing diabetes risk.
- Muscle, joint, and nerve pain - Numerous studies link excess HGH to chronic muscle pain, nerve pain, and joint pain stemming from inflammation and fluid buildup. Athletes taking HGH often report these symptoms.
- Edema - Swelling caused by fluid retention, indicated by symptoms like:
- Stiff, painful joints
- Numbness in the hands
- Tingling sensations
- Carpal tunnel syndrome - Related to edema, carpal tunnel causes numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain in the hand from fluid buildup and swollen tendons in the wrist.
- Fatigue - Potentially stemming from mineral imbalances and spikes/crashes in blood sugar levels.
- Increased breast tissue - Both men and women may experience painful breast tissue growth with HGH misuse.
- masculinization - Women may develop masculine features like excessive body hair, deepened voice, etc.
- Organ enlargement - Mainly impacts the internal organs like the liver, kidneys, heart, etc. Can increase future disease risks.
- Weakened immune system - Studies show HGH therapy can reduce white blood cell counts and immune function. This effect seems most common at very high HGH doses.
- Insulin resistance - The hormone can make the body less sensitive to insulin, resulting in higher blood sugar levels. This effect seems most likely when combined with anabolic steroids.
*Increased risk of mortality - One meta-analysis linked use to a 1.88 times higher risk of mortality from all causes. Researchers indicate more studies are still needed in this area.
The side effects seem most common/severe when HGH is used at very high, non-physiological doses by athletes and bodybuilders or when it is used long-term at moderately high doses for anti-aging purposes. There also seem to be genetic differences in sensitivity where some people are predisposed to side effects at dosages that are well-tolerated in others. As with any hormone therapy, HGH effects can be highly variable between individuals.
In therapeutic settings, side effects can often be minimized by using the lowest effective dose, monitoring health markers, and taking breaks from usage. But more research is still needed to definitively outline the impacts of long-term use for performance enhancement or anti-aging treatment. Anyone considering HGH should carefully weigh potential health risks versus possible benefits alongside their physician. Lifestyle changes like improved nutrition and more exercise may offer comparable anti-aging and performance benefits with less health risks.
I aimed to provide an overview of some of the commonly reported side effects associated with exogenous HGH use and abuse while being mindful of the word count limit. Please let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!