The growth hormones are produced by the tiny pituitary gland located near the brain. These hormones are necessary for the proper development of the human body. A growth hormone deficiency can lead to an abnormal growth pattern which can restrict a man or woman’s height to a little more than four feet. Growth hormone deficiency can occur in infancy, childhood or adult life. An early diagnosis can lessen the harmful effects of the disease with GH or growth hormone treatment.
Growth hormone deficiency is also known as hypo pituitary dwarfism. The difficulty of diagnosing the disease lies in the fact that sometimes it does not become active till a child is two years old. The immediate result of this disease can be a micro penis and hypoglycemia. Modern diagnostic tools allow doctors to pinpoint the disease even in the prenatal stage. Short stature and retarded growth are the main symptoms of the disease.
Today an early diagnosis can lead to a treatment of the patient which can result in almost normal growth. Without any treatment people suffering from the disease achieve a height of 4 feet and 8 inches on an average. Women with the same disease reach a height of 4 feet 3 inches. Parents notice the lack of growth when their children are only as tall as those who maybe two years younger.
At this stage Doctors prescribe medicines which instantly speed up the growth of the child. The growth which was earlier only about one inch in comparison with two inches in other children will suddenly jump up to four inches. This means double growth as compared to other children. This remarkable growth is achieved by growth hormone supplements.
Another safe way of treating growth hormone deficiency is through recombinant DNA technology.
In a strange turn around, some children who did not receive growth hormone treatment have now grown up. These adults are seeking growth hormone treatment because they have diminished physical and mental strength, an increase in high cholesterol and a tendency towards having heart problems. These people show positive signs within one month of treatment. The treatment is also becoming popular because the growth hormone formulations are not as expensive as they used to be a few years ago.
Research and medical experience have shown the advantages of growth hormone treatment for infants, children and adults.