Growth Hormone Tips

The thyroid gland is situated at the base of the throat. This butterfly-shaped gland secretes hormones which affect almost all parts of the body – particularly your heart. The thyroid hormone has an influence on how your heart beats, your blood pressure and the level of your cholesterol. This is why thyroid problems can lead to heart disease. Alternatively if you are already suffering from heart disease, then it can make things worse.

When there are thyroid problems, symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain and constipation are seen. When it comes to thyroid hormones there are two disorders – hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism and the heart

Hypothyroidism occurs when the level of thyroid hormones in the body is less than normal. Low thyroid hormone levels can slow the heart rate. Also, the arteries in the heart can lose their elasticity; the body can then raise blood pressure as a means to ensure blood circulation isn’t affected. .

Hyperthyroidism and the heart

When there is excessive thyroid hormone in the body, it too can harm the heart. Hyperthyroidism is less common relatively, affecting less than 1% of the global population.

Symptoms of this problem are heat intolerance, inability to sleep, weight loss and excessive sweating. Hyperthyroidism can also result in quicker and more forceful heartbeats. It can also disturb the rhythm of the heart. Atrial fibrillation – a condition where the rhythm in the heart’s upper chambers is disturbed is often caused by too much thyroid hormone in the body.

Your blood pressure too can increase due to hyperthyroidism. If your arteries are stiff, then rise in blood pressure and forceful heartbeats can lead to pain in the chest.

Thus, you need to ensure that your thyroid glands are functioning normally to keep your heart healthy.

Are you aware of the function of appetite hormones in your body? Appetite hormones or hunger hormones are the hormones which are responsible for making you feel hungry, and also account for a decreased appetite, which is common for all of us at times.

Leptin and Ghrelin are the two primary appetite hormones, which are produced in your body.

About Ghrelin
Ghrelin is your body’s appetite increasing hormone, which gets released in the stomach. It is responsible for signaling hunger to your brain. It is said that the ghrelin levels in your body play an important role in how quickly you feel hungry after having a meal. Usually, the ghrelin levels increase before you eat. This signifies that you are hungry. They go down for almost three hours after your meal. It is believed that ghrelin plays a more important role in the regulation of your body weight, which is a much more complex procedure.

About Leptin
Among the two appetite hormones, leptin accounts for being the appetite suppressing hormone. It is considered to play a more important role than ghrelin in maintaining the energy balance of your body. It is also believed that leptin is responsible for the regulation of ghrelin. Leptin helps in signaling the brain that your body has enough energy in the form of body fat. It is considered that the more fat you have, the more amount of leptin is present in your blood. However, the level varies based on factors such as when you took your last meal, and your sleeping patterns.

How to control your hunger hormones?
There are certain ways by which you can control your appetite hormones. It can be done primarily by avoiding food items that contain high fat. When you eat, messages are transmitted to several parts of your body, indicating that you have had enough. While consuming fatty food, this system does not send messages as effectively. Consuming fat makes you consume more calories, which in turn lets you store fat and gain fat.

It has been proven that either a diet which is rich in good carbohydrates or a diet which is high in protein, suppresses your ghrelin production more effectively than a high fat diet. It is important for you to get proper sleep for controlling your appetite hormones. Studies prove that sleep deprivation is associated with an increase in your ghrelin levels, appetite, and hunger, compared to people who get 10 hours sleep on a regular basis.

Similar to menopause in women which pertains to hormonal imbalances; men experience andropause that is characterized by irregularities in the hormonal levels. Several bodily functions are managed by hormones that can be described as chemical compounds. Some hormones that regulate the body functions in the male population are estrogen, insulin, cortisol, testosterone, and thyroid-related hormones. A hormonal imbalance in men is a part of the aging process.

Research studies indicate that there is a fall of nearly one percent in a male’s hormonal levels every year after they cross the age of 30 years. In men, different hormones control the physical male attributes such as sex organs, facial hair, and the testes. Also, the chemicals are responsible for the release of sperm in the testes and have a bearing on the man’s sexual libido. Male hormones are, also, known for restoring bone health, uplifting the mood, and boosting mental agility.

In short, where the overall health of the males is concerned, hormones play a major role. As a male, if you are suffering from hormonal imbalance, the possibility of ailing from weight gain, tiredness mood imbalances, hot flashes, and hair loss remains high. However, you can control the hormonal imbalance by making some changes to your diet and lifestyle. Natural cures are favored by a significant percentage of the population because they do not give birth to ill-effects, are inexpensive treatment methods, and serve as effective cures. Some home remedies for hormone-linked imbalances in men are studied in the following details.

1. Body Exertion: It is imperative for you to take measures to lose weight when ailing from hormonal imbalance because the fat quantity in your body affects the testosterone levels. The higher the amount of fat, greater is the drop in the testosterone levels. This is because fats have a role to play in the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. For this reason, you are advised to follow a regular exercise regime as part of your fat loss efforts. Additionally, you can benefit via exercises because they help to enhance the mood and improves sleep patterns.
2. Calcium Intake: The intake of calcium-rich foods is recommended if a male suffers from hormonal imbalance. This helps reduce the susceptibility of suffering from bone-linked diseases. Males should note that as a result of low testosterone levels, your bones could become weak; and calcium is needed for their strengthening. Therefore, they can benefit by adding calcium sources to their diet. Cheese, the dark green-colored variety of vegetables, milk, broccoli, almonds, kale, and soybeans can help to keep the body nourished with calcium.
3. Body Detoxification: As a part of their hormonal imbalance recovery measures, males should, also, consider detoxifying the body to get rid of the inner toxic waste. This, in turn, improves the body’s ability to counter disorders and improves the overall well-being. Some foods that are recommended for detoxifying the body include the cruciferous vegetables such as kale, cabbages, collards, and broccoli. Also, other foods such as apple, ginger, milk thistle herb, banana, pomegranate, rosemary, grapes, avocado, cherries, and oranges can be added to the dietary regime for their detoxification benefits. Moreover, there are several detoxification courses that are deemed effective and you can ask your nutritionist for more details on the same.

On a concluding note, you must know that stress-relieving techniques are worth practicing for bringing about a healthy balance between the hormonal levels. Meditation techniques, deep breathing, and yoga poses are ideal for reducing stress in the body and men with hormonal imbalance sure should consider practicing these methods.

Growth hormone or somatropin is responsible for cell growth as well as reproduction. But insufficient somatropin production by the pituitary gland may result in lack in height. It is mostly caused by a serious brain injury, any prevalent medical condition or might occur as a birth defect.

Types:

1. Congenital GHD - This form of GHD appears from at the time of birth itself.
2. Acquired GHD- GHD can be acquired during later life as a result of trauma, infection, tumor growth within the brain or radiation therapy.
3. Idiopathic GHD- Idiopathic GHD is the third, and comparatively worst kind of GHD since it has no treatment.

GHD is mostly permanent, but can also be transient. Read on to know how to detect whether you or your child is suffering from growth hormone deficiency (GHD).

Symptoms:
Childhood onset:

1. Restricted height- Compared to other children of your child's age, he/she may be of shorter height, which is a rather conclusive sign to detect somatropin deficiency.
2. Chubby and comparatively younger appearance- Your child may have a proportionate body, but if he/she is unnaturally chubby and has a baby-face compared to other children, he/she may be suffering from GHD.
3. Late puberty- Your child's puberty maybe later than usual or even not appear at all, depending upon the gravity of the GHD.
4. Hypoglycemia and exaggerated jaundice- Low blood sugar is amongst the most primary manifestations of GHD, along with extended duration of jaundice.
5. Micro-penis- Micro penis condition is one of the incident signs of GHD, which later escalates to growth deficit as the infant gets older.

Adult onset:

1. Fatigue- Adults with GHD may experience extreme tiredness throughout the day, with reduced muscle strength.
2. Osteoporosis- Osteoporosis, along with bodily deformities, is a common sign in adults with GHD.
3. Lipid abnormalities- A test of your lipid profile may reveal abnormalities in LDL cholesterol, insulin resistance, and impaired cardiac functions.

Tests to determine GHD:

1. Physical test- A chart is drawn to determine the proportion of height and weight with respect to your age to detect anomalies.
2. Hand X-ray- A hand X-ray can determine whether the age of bones are at par with your age.
3. MRI-MRI scan can determine the health of your brain and pituitary gland.
4. Test for other hormones- Growth Hormone may not be solely responsible for your health condition, so it is important to determine if other hormone levels are all normal.

Treatment:

1. Hormone supplements- Hormone supplements like corticosteroids (hydrocortisone or prednisone), Levothyroxine (levoxyl, synthroid, etc), and others work to replenish the deficiency of pituitary hormones.
2. Growth hormone injection- GH is injected beneath your skin, to cure GDH. This is a long-term treatment and requires constant monitoring.

Growth hormone, or somatropin, is responsible for cell growth as well as reproduction. But insufficient somatropin production by the pituitary gland may result in lack in height. It is mostly caused by a serious brain injury, any prevalent medical condition or might occur as a birth defect.

Types 

- Congenital GHD - This form of GHD appears from at the time of birth itself.
- Acquired GHD - GHD can be acquired during later life as a result of trauma, infection, tumor growth within the brain or radiation therapy.
- Idiopathic GHD - Idiopathic GHD is the third, and comparatively worst kind of GHD since it has no treatment.

GHD is mostly permanent, but can also be transient.

Read on to know how to detect whether you or your child is suffering from growth hormone deficiency (GHD).

Symptoms 

I) Childhood onset 

-      Restricted height- Compared to other children of your child's age, he/she maybe of shorter height, which is a rather conclusive sign to detect somatropin deficiency.
-      Chubby and comparatively younger appearance- Your child may have a proportionate body, but if he/she is unnaturally chubby and has a baby-face compared to other children, he/she may be suffering from GHD.
-      Late puberty- Your child's puberty maybe later than usual or even not appear at all, depending upon the gravity of the GHD.
-      Hypoglycemia and exaggerated jaundice- Low blood sugar is amongst the most primary manifestations of GHD, along with extended duration of jaundice.
-      Micro-penis- Micro penis condition is one of the incident signs of GHD, which later escalates to growth deficit as the infant gets older.

II ) Adult onset

-      Fatigue- Adults with GHD may experience extreme tiredness throughout the day, with reduced muscle strength.
-      Osteoporosis- Osteoporosis, along with bodily deformities, is a common sign in adults with GHD.
-      Lipid abnormalities- A test of your lipid profile may reveal abnormalities in LDL cholesterol, insulin resistance, and impaired cardiac functions.

Tests to determine GHD

-      Physical test- A chart is drawn to determine the proportion of height and weight with respect to your age to detect anomalies.
-      Hand X-ray- A hand X-ray can determine whether the age of bones are at par with your age.
-      MRI-MRI scan can determine the health of your brain and pituitary gland.
-      Test for other hormones- Growth Hormone may not be solely responsible for your health condition, so it is important to determine if other hormone levels are all normal.

Treatment

-      Hormone supplements- Hormone supplements like corticothyroids (hydrocortisone or prednisone), Levothyroxine (levoxyl, synthroid, etc), and others work to replenish the deficiency of pituitary hormones.
-      Growth hormone injection- GH is injected beneath your skin, to cure GDH. This is a long-term treatment and requires constant monitoring.

Growth hormone or somatropin is responsible for cell growth as well as reproduction. But insufficient somatropin production by the pituitary gland may result in lack in height. It is mostly caused by a serious brain injury, any prevalent medical condition or might occur as a birth defect.

Types:

1. Congenital GHD - This form of GHD appears from at the time of birth itself.
2. Acquired GHD- GHD can be acquired during later life as a result of trauma,infection, tumor growth within the brain or radiation therapy.
3. Idiopathic GHD- Idiopathic GHD is the third, and comparatively worst kind of GHD since it has no treatment.

GHD is mostly permanent, but can also be transient. Read on to know how to detect whether you or your child is suffering from growth hormone deficiency(GHD).

Symptoms:
Childhood onset

1. Restricted height- Compared to other children of your child's age, he/she may be of shorter height, which is a rather conclusive sign to detect somatropin deficiency.
2. Chubby and comparatively younger appearance- Your child may have a proportionate body, but if he/she is unnaturally chubby and has a baby-face compared to other children, he/she may be suffering from GHD.
3. Late puberty- Your child's puberty maybe later than usual or even not appear at all, depending upon the gravity of the GHD.
4. Hypoglycemia and exaggerated jaundice- Low blood sugar is amongst the most primary manifestations of GHD, along with extended duration of jaundice.
5. Micro-penis- Micro penis condition is one of the incident signs of GHD, which later escalates to growth deficit as the infant gets older.

Adult onset:

1. Fatigue- Adults with GHD may experience extreme tiredness throughout the day, with reduced muscle strength.
2. Osteoporosis- Osteoporosis, along with bodily deformities, is a common sign in adults with GHD.
3. Lipid abnormalities- A test of your lipid profile may reveal abnormalities in LDL cholesterol, insulin resistance, and impaired cardiac functions.

Tests to determine GHD:

1. Physical test- A chart is drawn to determine the proportion of height and weight with respect to your age to detect anomalies.
2. Hand X-ray- A hand X-ray can determine whether the age of bones are at par with your age.
3. MRI-MRI scan can determine the health of your brain and pituitary gland.
4. Test for other hormones- Growth Hormone may not be solely responsible for your health condition, so it is important to determine if other hormone levels are all normal.

Treatment:

1. Hormone supplements- Hormone supplements like corticosteroids (hydrocortisone or prednisone), Levothyroxine (levoxyl, synthroid, etc), and others work to replenish the deficiency of pituitary hormones.
2. Growth hormone injection- GH is injected beneath your skin, to cure GDH. This is a long-term treatment and requires constant monitoring.

Ever wondered how your body releases an egg each month or how the uterus wall thins and thickens at different times of the month? It is the job of your body’s chemical messengers – hormones, which manage the various processes involved in preparing your body for fertilization.

Hormones and Fertility
A subtle balance of different hormones, involved in managing the reproductive organs, enables and maintains fertility. These hormones regulation changes like the discharge of an egg from the ovary and thickening of the uterine wall lining (endometrium). Infertility results if this balance is disrupted.

Roles of hormones in making a woman infertile

Knowing the role of a hormone in making a woman infertile will be easier if you know its role in making the same woman fertile. Here is the role of the five most important hormones that encourage fertility in women-

1. FSH or Follicle-stimulating hormone - The pituitary gland in the brain releases the Follicle-stimulating hormone. The major role of this hormone is to allow a woman to have better control over her menstrual cycle and production of an egg in her ovary. The levels of this hormone designate the proper functioning of the ovary as well as the quality of the produced egg. When there is an imbalance in this hormone, the ovary of the woman will not function properly to produce eggs, thus creating infertility in women.
2. LH or Luteinizing hormone - The pituitary gland releases this hormone. It plays a vital role in stimulating the ovary of a woman to discharge eggs. It instigates the manufacturing of progesterone to prepare the uterus of a woman to accept a fertilized egg. When the level of this hormone is disturbed, it will not stimulate the ovary to release eggs.
3. Estradiol Hormone - This is a vital form of the oestrogen hormone. When the levels of this hormone become irregular, it will reduce the chances of making a woman conceive.
4. Thyroid hormones - This hormone assists greatly in making the ovulation as well as the ovary of a woman to function normally by interacting with the progesterone and oestrogen hormones.
5. Progesterone hormone - This hormone plays an important role in making a fertilized egg to continue as well as to develop in the uterus of a woman. Any imbalance in the level of this hormone will not allow the egg in the uterus to grow.

The menopause can take three very different routes for women. There are those who sail through it with very few symptoms or problems and don't even notice that their ovaries have stopped producing the hormone. Then there are those for whom it is a matter of a few hot flushes and a couple of night sweats, doesn't last long and not really a bother. This usually marks a relief from the periods. But for some, it is abject misery accompanied by crippling fatigue, absolute exhaustion, hot flushes, vaginal drying, mood swings along with low desire or lack of sexual feelings. These symptoms might persist for more than 7 years.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is considered to be an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms. The other problems linked with menopause can also be influenced by HRT in a positive manner.

HRT is indicated in:

-  Treatment of symptoms of menopause and the risk benefit ratio is apt for the women and they have been informed about the same

-  For women who are around 51 years and are reaching menopause, even though they are asymptomatic

-  In women who are at the risk of osteoporotic fractures and are under 60 years and the non-estrogen treatments cannot be given

-  HRT is not recommended in women who are above 60 years

Benefits of HRT:

The benefits of HRT usually are more than the risk if done in a woman who is under 60 years of age. 
These include:

-  Improvement of the quality of life by relieving muscle pains, and improving sleep

-  The mood swings are controlled and low moods are usually alleviated by HRT. Low moods usually arise due to menopause.

-  It reduces the vasomotor symptoms, usually within four months of the treatment with maximum benefit in three months

-  HRT improves the urogenital symptoms by lowering the vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, urinary frequency and symptoms. 

-  HRT reduces the risk of osteoporosis. HRT is believed to preserve the bone mass density of the skeletal sites thus reducing the chances of vertebral and non vertebral fractures.

-  HRT also reduces the risk of colorectal cancer and cardiovascular diseases

Risks of HRT

The main risks of HRT are stroke, endometrial and breast cancer, thromboembolic disease, pulmonary embolism and gallbladder disease. Though other risks are:

-  It increases the risk of ischemic stroke

-  There is a small risk associated with breast cancer and the risk increases more, if the woman is underweight or overweight, alcohol user, smoker and stops HRT suddenly

-  Estrogen-only HRTs can increase the risk of endometrial cancer. If cyclical progestogen is used for 10 days for 28 cycles then the risk is eliminated.

Hypothyroidism is a condition wherein the body lacks sufficient amount of thyroid hormone. As this hormone is responsible for the process of metabolism in the body, whenever one suffers from hypothyroidism, one will definitely suffer from a slow metabolism. Thyroid Hormone Deficiency, as the disease is commonly known as, is actually more common than people can actually estimate it.

Causes of hypothyroidism
There are basically two causes, which prompt the deficiency of thyroid hormone. The first reason may be the inflammation of the thyroid gland, whereas the second reason may be a result of various medical treatments which a person may undergo. In the first case, a large number of cells of the thyroid gland get damaged or die, as a result of which sufficient hormone is not produced. In the second case, if there is a need to remove a certain portion of the thyroid gland or all of it, the leftover mass may not be able to meet the needs of the body. This will result in the deficiency of the thyroid hormone.

 Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms which indicate that one is suffering from hypothyroidism. Some of them are:

1. A constant feeling of fatigue even after sleeping for 8-10 hours
2. Abnormal weight gain or weight loss
3. Fluctuations in mood
4. Imbalances in hormones, irregular periods, low sex drive or infertility
5. Dry or cracking skin, brittle nails and excessive loss of hair
6. Hands and feet becoming cold and the temperature giving a constant reading below 98.5°F
7. Constipation
8. Pain in muscles or joints
9. Swelling of the neck, snoring or the voice becoming hoarse
10. Having problems in mind like fog issues

Each patient may suffer from many of the above-mentioned symptoms. The number of symptoms in the body is actually a result of the degree to which the hormone is less in the body. Often, any one of the above symptoms may be a result of the suffering. But most of the people affected will have a combination of the above symptoms. Some cases have also shown that the patients, for a long time, have shown no signs at all.

They suffer silently. The occurrence of any one of the above signs should ring a warning bell and one should consult an endocrinologist. If immediate consultation is not taken, the symptoms will gradually progress and life-threatening problems like depression, coma or heart ailments may arise.

Thyroid - Can It Lead To Hormonal Imbalance?