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When we were young, our parents used to measure our heights every year by making us stand close to the wall, and as we grew older, the inches kept on increasing. This happened simply because of a hormone in our pituitary gland called the growth hormone. It is a type of peptide protein that is released into the blood for the development and strengthening of the body.
This hormone is synthesised by the pituitary cells called somatotrophs, which secrete almost one to two milligrams of the hormone each day. The growth hormone or GH influences our metabolism and body structure, builds our bones and muscles and helps maintain our tissues and organs throughout our lives. In adulthood, it helps to maintain blood sugar levels, as well as increases metabolism.
Growth delay is usually an instance where a child isn’t showing growth that resembles the normal age for children at that age. This delay could occur due to an underlying condition of health. In rare cases, treatment started at an early stage can help a child achieve a normal or near-normal growth in height.
The growth hormone’s level boosts up during preadolescence and peaks during puberty. However, the natural amount of heightening and strengthening fluctuates day-to-day, as it is mainly influenced by our physical movement and the nourishing nutrients received.
Types of Growth Hormone
Growth Hormones has been classified into two types, which are:
- Somatropin: It is a man-made growth hormone used to treat growth failure as well as build up muscles in humans. It is synthesised using recombinant DNA technology. It is also referred to as Humatrope.
- Somatotropin: It is the human growth hormone that is mostly produced by animals in nature. It is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth and cell regeneration.
Functions and Uses of the Growth Hormone
The main function of the growth hormone is that it encourages growth or development in children and adolescents. It helps maintain, build, and repair healthy tissues of the brain and many other organs. It is used in the medicinal field to help adults who are suffering from growth disorders.
Recently, studies have shown that growth hormone can help in decreasing body fat whilst increasing muscle mass percentage and bone density. Also, the skin tone and texture are improved substantially.
Additionally, the energy levels of a person can consequently jump up. Due to these benefits, the hormone is used widely by athletes and weightlifters and many more sports competitors. Low GH levels decrease the quality of life while increasing the risk of diseases and that in turn makes us gain fat.
However, many of the functions and uses of growth hormones are still unknown.
Lack of Growth Hormone
The reduced secretion of the growth hormone, either from the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland, causes insufficiency in the body. Both the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland are part of the brain, and therefore, when they secrete less growth hormone, it causes pituitary dwarfism.
The absence of this hormone can result in the poor development of children. While in adults, it results in an increased risk of heart diseases, weak muscles and bones, weight gain, anxiety and depression, poor memory, less bone density and more fatigue and cramps. Lack of growth hormone could also be a birth condition due to genetics or hindered development of the pituitary gland.
Common causes of growth hormone deficiency in adults are brain injury, tumour growth or damage to the pituitary gland.
Treatment of Growth Hormone Deficiency
Physicians and endocrinologists have come up with treatments that follow a purely science-driven approach. The respective hormone can be improved for both children as well as adults.
To diagnose the lack of GH in a child, the individual’s doctor needs to look for symptoms like:
- Certain variations in growth and no change at a certain point.
- Different disorders, like kidney disease or thyroid hormone.
- Genetic conditions.
- Family history.
To get accurate results, a person should perform blood tests, MRI, CT scan, and X-ray. This will help to determine the exact cause and how the hormone sufficiency could improve with time.
The treatment of growth hormone deficiency is usually done by injecting the synthetic version of the hormone. Treatments are mostly lengthy and can well reach into the late puberty stage. Starting the treatment at an early phase of growth hormone deficiency can increase the chances of a person attaining a height that is normal according to the genetics of the person.
Conclusion
Growth hormone is synthesised by the pituitary cells called somatotrophs, which secrete almost one to two milligrams of hormone each day. The hormone influences our metabolism and body structure, builds our bones and muscles and helps maintain our tissues and organs throughout life. In adulthood, it helps to maintain blood sugar levels, as well as increases metabolism. The growth hormone’s level boosts up during preadolescence and peaks during puberty. However, the natural amount of heightening and strengthening fluctuates day to day.
