Recently HGH abuse has become a hot topic of discussion. People take human growth hormone to have improvement in their athletic performance or even to enhance their physical appeal. For majority of users, taking HGH is not a problem. They face no or very few side effects. But to those who use it abusively, the side effects can be huge.
So, what basically is HGH?
HGH or human growth hormone is a vital hormone in the body that regulates the growth and metabolism. It is released and produced in the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain. HGH helps children to grow tall, reduce body fat and increase muscle mass. In children and adults both, HGH helps to control the metabolism of the body- the process by which cells change the food you eat into energy and make other substances that are required by the body.
If children or adults have too little or too much level of HGH, they may face a lot of health issues. GH deficiency can be treated with HGH naturally and without any side effects. But it has been seen that GH is sometimes used for non-medical purposes as well.
How is HGH abused?
People take GH illegally at times to reverse or stop the effects of aging or even for improving their athletic performance. Some athletes and sports personalities believe that taking HGH alone will not give them the desired results so they take it with anabolic steroids to build muscles, increase strength as well as reduce body fat. Some athletes also take insulin to increase the muscular effects of HGH, which is, in fact, a harmful practice as it lowers down the blood sugar level.
Substance abuse and its link with HGH
A report was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in the year 2003 which showed that substance abuse people are more likely to take HGH and other drugs. HGH itself is not much addictive but the patients can get psychologically or emotionally dependent on it and this is mainly true with those who are already dealing with some sort of substance abuse.
Also, the American Journal of Addiction evaluated a pattern between HGH abuse and substance abuse in weight lifters. They observed that more than 50% athletes whom they surveyed said that they had used street drugs with HGH at some point or the other. The study also found that substance dependence signs are there like tolerance and/or withdrawal effects etc.
What are the risks associated with GH abuse?
People can face harmful effects when they abuse HGH. The short term side effects include swelling in joints, muscle pain and fluid buildup. Also, in case GH is injected with used needles, people may get exposed to AIDS, HIV or even hepatitis. Taking high dose of HGH over a long span of time may contribute to heart issues. GH available illegally may also contain unknown and harmful ingredients. For instance, if people take HGH derived from the human tissue, they risk facing fatal brain condition called as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which is a condition that is similar to mad cow disease.
Pointers to remember
- HGH is safe till the time it is natural and not synthetic.
- HGH must be taken after consulting with your doctor about your GH deficiency or health condition.
- Abusing GH can have severe side effects in the long run.
- If you are worried about HGH deficiency, talk to your doctor at the earlier and seek effective HGH therapy.
- Healthy adults can improve their overall health by incorporating HGH with regular exercise and a balanced diet.
Summary
The abuse of HGH occurs at many places but it is rare. Thus, HGH should always be used under the doctor’s supervision and always remember that more is not better. Addictive people should rethink about their misuse of HGH and try to use it effectively.
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