What is HGH

What is HGH? Literally, the acronym refers to human growth hormone, a hormone produced by the human pituitary gland. The pituitary, also called the hypophysis, is a small pea-sized gland located in the head, below the brain and above the oral cavity. The front portion, called the anterior pituitary, produces human growth hormone and a number of other hormones that regulate body functions. While many hormones act on specific body tissues, growth hormone acts on the whole body, especially during childhood and adolescence. In later life, the production of growth hormone is reduced and the major functions of the hormone are directed at more specific processes.

The benefits of HGH for healthy life are best illustrated by the inevitable results of deficiency or overproduction of this hormone. What is HGH deficiency? In children, insufficient growth hormone results in dwarfism - small but symmetrical body size. In addition there may be other signs of arrested growth: immature facial development, slow appearance of adult teeth, delayed puberty, and small genitals in males. In adults, a deficiency of growth hormone typically causes weight gain, muscle loss, thin dry skin, and emotional disturbance.

What is HGH overproduction? In children it causes gigantism - abnormally large, but proportionate size. Individuals that have suffered from overproduction of HGH from birth generally have decreased life expectancy. In adults, overproduction of the hormone results in acromegaly, an overgrowth of bones, predominantly in the face, hands and feet. Because the hormone also acts on metabolic processes in the body, too much growth hormone can result in other medical problems, such as diabetes.

What is HGH anti aging therapy? Some medical professionals believe that many of the body changes we experience as we age are the result of a natural decrease in HGH production that occurs after full growth has been attained. This suggests that we might be able to delay or avoid some of these signs of aging by either restoring production of the hormone by the pituitary or artificially raising hormone levels in the blood. The benefits of HGH treatment for affected children, to restore normal growth, are well documented, but the evidence is not so clear-cut for hormone deficient or aging adults.

Human growth hormone can be produced synthetically; therefore, it is readily available though quite expensive. To explore the benefits of HGH supplementation, researchers have done clinical trials on deficient adults and on seniors with age related health problems. The hormone must be injected, which makes this therapy both more costly and more difficult to administer than many other drugs. Moreover, though clinical trials have shown a reduction in body fat and an increase in lean muscle, along with more youthful looking skin, it’s not clear that these positive changes exceed what can be attained by other methods. Some researchers question the long term safety of growth hormone therapy.

What is HGH for anti aging if it isn't injected hormone? It's usually dietary supplements aimed at increasing the amount of HGH produced by the pituitary gland or intended to have effects similar to those of HGH on body processes. Ultimately, these products hope to restore good health, with normal levels of growth hormone, and the optimal conditions for delaying the onset of age related symptoms. There is considerable debate about the effectiveness of these supplements. Regardless, adequate rest and regular exercise are helpful because the pituitary naturally releases the most growth hormone after exercise and during sleep. Combined with a healthy lifestyle, anti aging HGH products are presently the safest and most practical and affordable way to seek the suggested benefits of HGH for anti aging.

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. You can learn more about HGH on the AntiAging Information site.