Hormones play a vital part in many major body functions including growth. When the kid’s body does not produce enough growth hormones, he may need to use growth hormones treatment.
Though many glands in the body produce hormones, the pituitary gland is considered the master control gland. It controls other glands and is responsible for triggering growth hormones.
The human growth hormone is the one that helps to influence the height of each person. It builds bones and muscles in the body. It is vital in the process of normal human growth development.
There are general factors that cause a lack of growth hormones in children. A common cause for adults is the damage to the pituitary gland.
Let us learn about the role of the growth hormones, why we use it and what are the growth hormones for kids’ side effects. In this article, we will learn all of these and will help parents make better decisions regarding the use of growth hormones to their children.
The role of human growth hormones
Human growth hormones are very important to growth in children’s age. It is also involved in the development of bones, muscle mass and mood.
Actually, the level of growth hormones change throughout the day and physical activities are involved. Exercise and other physical activities can rise the level of growth hormones. Other factors are stress, sleep, and low blood sugar levels can also increase hormone levels.
The amount of growth hormone levels can create major growth problems. Too little of these hormones can cause conditions like dwarfism. Some people think that using human growth hormones injections will help build muscle, slow aging and improve performance. But evidence shows that this treatment is not effective.
Growth hormone deficiency for child
Kids with low levels of growth hormones may not necessarily look smaller at birth. It will be obvious in time when they are smaller than their classmates and grows a little less every year.
Here are some symptoms of growth hormone deficiency:
- Kids with growth hormones deficiency look much younger than kids their age
- They tend to have a chubby body built
- Kids have delayed puberty
- They experience impaired hair growth
- They have short stature
Take note that some kids have this deficiency due to a genetic condition but sometimes the cause is unknown.
Growth hormones for kids side effects and risks:
After treatment with growth hormones, few patients have been reported to have leukemia. It was not confirmed, however, that the growth hormone caused leukemia. Interestingly, patients that do not have enough growth hormones have been reported to have leukemia as well.
Those kids or even adults who do not need growth hormones but have received growth hormones can acquire serious unwanted effects because of too high hormone levels. These effects can include diabetes, hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure and abnormal growth of bones and internal organs.
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Although not all side effects will occur in all patients, some growth hormones for kids’ side effects may need medical attention.
When you have any of these growth hormones for kids side effects, you can check with your doctor as soon as possible:
- Muscle aches
- Ear infection or other ear problems
- Depression of skin at place of injection
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- pounding in the ears
- Slow or fast heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Nervousness
- Hand and feet swelling
- Abdominal pain or bloating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Abnormal or decreased touch sensation
- Discomfort in the joints
- pain in hip or knee
- Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, “pins and needles”, or tingling feelings
Sometimes, some growth hormones for kids’ side effects do not need medical attention. These may go away as the body adjusts with the medicine. The health care specialists may give you suggestions and ways on how to prevent or reduce the side effects.
There are growth hormones for kids’ side effects that usually do not need any medical attention. They may just go away after the body adjusts. Your health care specialists may also tell you preventions and reduction ideas to some of the side effects. If the side effects are increasing, you may be advised to reduce the dosage. If it continues after efforts of reduction, better check with your health care professional for help.
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Risks and side effects are present and possible in using growth hormones treatment for your kids. It is important that parents discuss it with a reliable health care professional and address their concerns so that all issues can be clear. Parents need to weigh if the good effect is worth the possible side effects of the growth hormones. Though there were successful results, parents need to consider as well the growth hormones for kids’ side effects because it may have a huge impact on their overall health even when they grow up.
Parents can find resources to help them decide on this matter. Many articles and studies tackle this issue and parents can research about recent studies and findings of growth hormones. Parents can as well visit a doctor or a medical professional who can explain to them the process of growth hormones treatment. They will be able to explain the benefits, the risks, and the possible side effects. They can also recommend preventions and reduction of possible side effects.
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Parents need also to consider the needs of their children. Do they really need growth hormones? What age can they have the treatment? Can it do them more good than bad? Or are you just creating a problem after it?
These questions should be put to mind to all parents who are considering growth hormones treatment to their kids. If they want to use it believing that it will enhance the kid’s bone development and performance, then-recent study shows that there was no link connecting them. Take note that growth hormones treatment is not used in those benefits.
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- [Guidelines on Bone Health for Kids]
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