HGH Deficiency Signs and Symptoms in Adults
Human growth hormone, also known as somatotropin, undergoes a gradual decline in adults starting in the late twenties to early thirties. It is rare to have HGH deficiency signs and symptoms that early in life. We most often see men and women experiencing adverse effects of this hormonal decrease well into the forties and beyond.
Recognizing the signs of HGH deficiency is often misleading, especially for a layperson or physician with little knowledge of how somatotropin impacts the adult body.
One reason why diagnosing HGH deficiency is difficult is that its symptoms mimic those of many other health conditions. A doctor presented with fatigue and weight gain may search for anemia, diabetes, leukemia, or write it off as depression. Add low libido and memory loss, and you have the classic signs of “aging.” Being told to get used to it is not what anyone wants to hear. Nor do you want to be directed to take vitamins, exercise, eat healthier, or get more sleep. Although, these are all beneficial measures to take.
What you, and your family physician, may not know is that these are also adult growth hormone deficiency signs and symptoms. When you know how to recognize the effects of low HGH levels, you can seek the proper help to correct the problem.
In the coming sections, we will discuss how to recognize the symptoms associated with human growth hormone decline, as well as what to do once you become aware of these changes.
Physical Symptoms of HGH Deficiency
HGH deficiency symptoms in adults often vary from one person to the next. The reason for that is the vast array of ways that growth hormone influences the body. HGH receptor cells can be found throughout the brain, on organs such as the liver, and on tissues all through the body. When HGH enters the bloodstream in pulsatile bursts, it races along until it reaches these receptors to deliver its message.
When not enough HGH is available to react with all the body’s receptors cells, those that do not receive the signal will show signs of the deficiency. Which cells go without the HGH stimulus can vary from one person to the next. That is why your HGH deficiency signs and symptoms may differ from someone else.
On a physical note, HGH decline can affect you in ways you can see as well as those that you cannot tell. However, your body and health will begin to suffer as much as your appearance.
The most common physical symptoms of HGH deficiency include:
- Weight gain – since HGH stimulates the metabolism, it will slow down, and you will likely accumulate excess fat, especially in the abdominal region. That is why many adults gain weight in their middle-aged years.
- Poor cell reproduction – HGH and another hormone it regulates called insulin growth factor 1 stimulate cell regeneration. These cells are crucial to replace the ones that die off each day throughout the body. Lack of an abundance of new cells can lead to organ shrinkage and decreased functions.
- Hair loss or thinning – your hair strands are made up of cells. HGH deficiency causes the hair strands to become thinner and fall out sooner. Decreased pigment cells lead to loss of color.
- Reduced bone density – osteoporosis risk increases when not enough new bone cells are available to replace those resorbed by the body. Brittle bones become susceptible to fractures.
- Sagging skin and wrinkles – aging skin becomes thinner due to lack of collagen and elastin that also require an abundant supply of new cells each day. Age spots, wrinkles, dryness, cellulite, and sagging are common with HGH deficiency.
- Loss of sexual interest and function – erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, low libido, and decreased orgasm intensity are all signs of HGH deficiency.
- Poor sleep – when HGH levels are low, cortisol (the stress hormone) levels are high. Cortisol can keep you on high alert and make it difficult to fall asleep at night. Lack of sleep equates to decreased energy during the day.
- Fatigue – between lack of sleep and sluggish metabolism, energy levels plummet.
- Decreased muscle mass – muscle loss due to reduced cell production also impacts overall strength. Proper muscle tone is necessary to protect the skeletal system from damage.
- Heart problems – HGH deficiency contributes to high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In turn, the risk of atherosclerosis increases, which can lead to stroke or heart attack. HGH decline also decreases cardiac output and exercise capacity.
- Temperature sensitivity – hormonal imbalance can cause increased sensitivity to changes in hot and cold temperatures.
These are the most common physical symptoms of HGH deficiency in adults. Reduced glucose uptake in the tissues, blurry night vision, and brittle nails are other possible symptoms.
Mental and Emotional Symptoms of HGH Deficiency
Because the brain is also home to a densely located supply of HGH receptors, mental and emotional changes often accompany growth hormone deficiency.
The most common HGH deficiency signs and symptoms associated with the brain include:
- Depression and/or anxiety – it is understandable that you would feel depressed after reading all the symptoms of HGH decline in the previous section. However, the impact of HGH on your emotional state goes deeper. When cellular receptors in the brain do not receive enough growth hormone, you can become depressed, irritable, anxious, stressed, and even angry.
- Mood swings – as with depression above, low HGH levels can cause your mood to vary from one moment to the next.
- Trouble concentrating – shortened attention spans as you age are a sign of low HGH levels.
- Memory loss – from forgetting why you entered a room to having trouble remembering facts and other memories, HGH decline can lead to mental fogginess and decreased functions.
- Decreased cognitive functions – impaired learning ability (rereading the same sentences over and over), poor mental calculations, and reduced brain functions are HGH deficiency symptoms in adults.
How Do You Know If Your Symptoms Are Caused by HGH Deficiency?
There is only one way to tell if your symptoms are growth hormone deficiency signs – blood analysis. When you contact a hormone specialist, you will begin with a consultation to discuss your symptoms and overall health.
The next step is comprehensive blood testing and physical examination. You will also complete a full medical history questionnaire that may shed some light on the changes in your well-being.
Upon review of the results from these steps, the hormone specialist can then determine if your concerns are HGH deficiency signs and symptoms. If so, you can then begin treatment to restore hormonal balance and reverse these unwanted effects.
For a free, confidential consultation with a medical advisor, please contact our hormone clinic today.