Growth Hormone

What's

Growth Hormone (GH), also known as somatotropin, is an essential hormone made by your pituitary gland, a small organ located at the base of your brain. This hormone plays a crucial role in your body's growth, development, and cell repair. From the time you're a growing child, GH helps you get taller, and as you get older, it continues to maintain your body's tissues and organs. It also helps in how your body processes food for energy and how it spreads fat. In short, Growth Hormone is an important part of your body's growth and repair system, making sure you develop correctly and stay healthy.

If Your Levels Are High

Elevated growth hormone levels might mean that your body is making more of this hormone than it usually needs. This extra production could be due to various reasons, such as high stress, intense workouts, or taking certain medications like steroids. It could also suggest an underlying issue, like a noncancerous tumor in the pituitary gland called a pituitary adenoma, which often leads to too much growth hormone and can cause health problems. Keep in mind that high growth hormone levels can sometimes be a normal response to specific situations, like physical stress or heavy exercise.

Symptoms of High Levels

Symptoms of high levels of GH could include enlarged hands and feet, facial changes such as a protruding jaw or enlarged nose, joint pain, thickened skin, and excessive sweating.

If Your Levels are Low

Low levels of Growth Hormone (GH) might mean that your pituitary gland, a small organ in your brain, isn't working as well as it should. This can happen for many reasons, like getting older, feeling stressed, not eating well, not getting enough sleep, or taking certain medications. Sometimes, it could also be a sign of a condition called hypopituitarism, where your pituitary gland doesn't make enough hormones. This can affect how your body grows, uses energy, and repairs itself. Remember, things like exercise, a balanced diet, and good sleep can help support healthy hormone levels.

Symptoms of Low Levels

Symptoms of low levels of GH could include fatigue, difficulty with exercise, reduced muscle strength, increased body fat, and changes in mood such as anxiety or depression.

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See References

Test for

Growth Hormone

Growth Hormone by Access Med Labs

Serum

This is a single-marker test measuring growth hormone. Growth hormone can be used to diagnose hypopituitarism, hypothalamic disorder, and acromegaly.

Growth Hormone by Access Labcorp Draw

Serum

This is a single-marker test measuring growth hormone. Growth hormone can be used to diagnose hypopituitarism, hypothalamic disorder, and acromegaly.

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High Levels

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