Samstag, 28. Juli 2007

True HGH Doctors Are Endocrinologists

True HGH doctors (human growth hormone doctors) are endocrinologists, also known as internal medicine specialists. These medical professionals have specialized in the study of endocrine glands in the body that produce hormones and other substances. The pituitary gland, which produces human growth hormone, is one of these glands. No one understands the function of the pituitary gland, the production of HGH, and the implications of abnormalities in growth hormone secretion better than an endocrinologist.

HGH therapy is appropriate and recommended in specific situations. The most obvious of these is growth hormone deficiency, a condition most obvious in children who experience arrested growth. Adults with growth hormone deficiency suffer from a more subtle group of symptoms: the hormone regulates fat and carbohydrate metabolism, blood sugar levels, fat deposition, muscle strength, emotional health and energy levels. When medical tests confirm an HGH deficiency, HGH doctors can provide hormone replacement therapy by injection.

It’s no surprise that thoughtful physicians and consumers have noticed that many of the typical signs of aging - increased body fat, muscle loss, weakness, declining energy levels, declining mental status and even an increased risk of abnormal blood sugar levels - correlate with symptoms of HGH deficiency. The association has lead to the investigation of HGH therapy not only for age-related illnesses but also for anti aging in general. The lack of solid supporting evidence and the difficulty of providing injected hormone therapy, in turn, have resulted in a split between endocrinologists and other medical specialists calling themselves HGH doctors.

The first issue is that medical trials, while they have shown positive effects of HGH therapy, have not provided evidence that hormone supplementation prolongs life or alleviates disease any better than other standard treatments. Nor have they proven that long term growth hormone injections are safe. There remain only a handful of medical conditions for which growth hormone injections are approved, and aging is not one of them. Anti aging HGH doctors continue to interpret the evidence as being supportive of hormone replacement for anti aging, and some even provide hormone injections for this purpose (expensive and, again, not an approved use for the therapy).

Another group of HGH doctors, made up of physicians, naturopaths, homeopaths, and other health care professionals have tackled the problems of HGH treatment by attempting to provide hormone replacement without injections. Products available on the market include dietary supplements that are supposed to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce more natural HGH, and supplements meant to actually mimic the action of HGH in the body, producing the same beneficial effect. While these products may do as they claim, at least in some people, and be as safe as any vitamin, mineral, or dietary supplement, the bottom line is that scientific evidence doesn’t (or at least doesn’t yet) support this type of HGH therapy for human anti aging. For now, the consumer must decide for herself or himself whether the published studies and testimonials support HGH supplements sufficiently to try them.




Research On Human Growth Hormone

In the past, research on human growth hormone, or HGH research, has revealed a lot about the hormone and what its functions are in the human body. We now know that human growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland, that it regulates growth in children and young adults, and that the levels produced in humans drop off quickly after growth is complete. Both too little and too much of the hormone cause significant health problems in humans of any age. Scientists have also learned how to produce the hormone artificially in the laboratory.

HGH studies on the role of the hormone in later life are more recent and more controversial than the work on childhood abnormalities. It seems that, in adults, this essential hormone is responsible for the maintenance of bone density, lean body mass, and muscle strength. It regulates fat storage and blood sugar. Various scientific papers reporting on the results of HGH research have been interpreted as evidence that human growth hormone holds the key to longevity, possibly even lasting youth. The majority of this work looked at treating elderly people with age related health problems, rather than healthy aging people seeking anti-aging therapy. Results are inconclusive: growth hormone therapy can make us look younger, but it may not be the proverbial fountain of youth.

Amidst all the claims being made for human growth hormone, it’s important to uncover the HGH facts, the things we really do know about the effects of hormone supplementation. First, HGH studies have shown that it doesn’t enter the bloodstream when it is ingested: in order to get any effect from therapeutic growth hormone, it has to be injected. Injections do bring results - younger looking skin, leaner body mass and sometimes increased bone density. HGH research has also shown, however, that undesirable side effects are very common.

Unpopular HGH facts include the information that when human hormone therapy has been used on elderly patients, HGH studies have not documented significant improvement in age-related health problems. Mental and emotional functioning doesn’t improve and most marked physical changes are primarily cosmetic. HGH research in mice suggests that increased levels of the hormone may actually shorten lifespan. Added to this, hormone injections are prohibitively expensive and have to be prescribed by a medical doctor.

Few large, long term, properly conducted HGH studies have been done on the relative benefits and risks of therapy with this hormone. We simply don’t know what the long term effects of using the treatment might be. From the HGH facts that are known, however, it seems clear that the majority of the real benefits can be realized by other established methods with none of the risk. Exercise produces leaner body mass. Other hormone treatment can increase bone density. A quality vitamin and mineral supplement will provide nutrients and antioxidants that from part of a healthy anti aging routine. Discuss HGH research and other alternatives with your doctor if you are considering trying this type of hormone therapy.