Human Growth Hormone is the most popular anti-aging therapy compound of all that we have now. Even though «youth in a vial» is believed to be a mild, generally harmless compound, many people forget about one tiny but crucial thing: HGH side effects.
Unfortunately, there’s no magic pill, and no compound will ever give you a free ride. At least something that intervenes in the hormonal system.
HGH side effects are – luckily – rare, but you still have to be aware of them.
What is HGH
Basics first. HGH – aka Human Growth Hormone – is a synthetic version of a natural growth hormone that your body produces. It’s extremely popular as an anti-aging treatment because of its benefits. HGH can:
- Improve skin condition;
- Speed up recovery time;
- Increase bones density;
- Improve organs health;
- Make you look, and most importantly – FEEL younger.
In general, Growth Hormone therapy is believed to be safe. It’s FDA and Health Canada-approved and proven to be effective. However, some HGH side effects can make it genuinely uncomfortable.
Most Common HGH Side Effects List
Here is what you can expect – and how to counter it.
Heart Issues
HGH makes EVERYTHING grow – including your organs. The heart is not an exception since it’s basically a muscle. Myocardial hypertrophy can result in:
- Chest pain;
- Difficulty breathing (your heart can’t pump enough blood to get enough oxygen around your body);
- Dizziness.
Unfortunately, with no monitoring, it can lead to heart failure.
Does it mean that you should stay away from HGH at all costs? Nope, it doesn’t. Adverse heart effects are IN QUESTION, according to the most recent studies. For example, this study of long-term HGH side effects proves that the therapy is generally safe.
The key to avoiding heart issues because of HGH side effects is monitoring and frequent medical checks. HGH side effects never manifest overnight. If you keep an eye on your heart – you’ll most likely catch any issues early enough to drop the therapy with no consequences.
Joints Pain
Probably the only thing you will feel right ahead if something is wrong. For some people, HGH can even trigger arthritis if the therapy continues after all the red flags.
Surprisingly, for people with osteoarthritis, HGH can be a life savior and reduce pain. How does it work? While we have no definitive answer and a detailed description of the process, several studies – like this experiment with HGH and osteoarthritis – show that HGH effects include pain relief.
While joints are definitely the most «popular» pain site on HGH side effects, other possible areas include:
- Muscles;
- Sides;
- Stomach;
- Nerves (nightmare fuel, even though it’s relatively rare);
- Headaches.
HGH side effects can cause any kind of pain. Even though there’s no way you can avoid it (I bet you’d like to know where you’ll feel pain proactively, but it’s impossible) – there’s just one thing you can do to stop it: stop the HGH cycle. Get to your doc immediately if you feel severe pain even after HGH side effects are gone.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Yes, the nemesis of office workers with cheap mouses can also be an HGH side effect. Carpal tunnel syndrome manifests as:
- Numbness in your fingers;
- Pain in the wrist;
- Tingling in hand;
- Weakness of the hands.
Note that numbness is crucial in identifying carpal tunnel syndrome as an HGH side effect – pain in the wrists can manifest independently.
The effect is defined by the amount of IGF-1 you have, as it’s been proven in this classic study n HGH side effects in older men.
IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) is produced mainly in the liver, and its natural levels decline with age. Aside from special kinds of treatment, you can raise IGF-1 with dietary changes, like introducing more proteins.
Those Weird Tingling Sensations
Honestly, there’s no better way to call it, and it’s the MOST common of HGH side effects. One of the most popular HGH compounds – Somatropin (which also happens to be the substance’s actual name) instruction calls it «abnormal or decreased touch sensation». It means that:
- You feel tickling, «little needles», almost untraceable itchiness all over your body;
- A simple touch can make you feel uncomfortable;
- You can wake up because of a sensation of an army of ants marching all over you.
Seriously, there are way too many metaphors and possible medical terms for it. Unfortunately, the effect is defined by your personal CNS tolerance to the substance, and there’ no way to reduce it (since it’s nearly impossible to trace it). The best way to avoid it will be keeping the dose low.
Other HGH Side Effects
Oh, you thought it was the whole list? Nope, those are just the most common effects. Let’s cover rarer – but still extremely important – HGH side effects:
- Cancer. Put it right here, in the first place. HGH makes ALL tissues grow – including tumors. The only way to avoid the risk is a full-scale screening and medical check before the cycle;
- Puffiness. Call it bloating, water retention, or edema. It’s still there. HGH is not the driest of compounds out there. Reducing salt intake and drinking a lot of water would help to reduce the effect;
- Headaches. Due to elevated BP, you can hear a rave in your temples, get frequent nose bleeds, and sometimes – severe headaches. Countering an elevated BP is a whole different subject, and we strictly recommend studying it before the HGH side effects kick in.
Other HGH side effects from various lists include pretty much everything – from blood in the urine, loss of appetite, and nightmares to thirst, skin color change, and balding. There’s no way to counter them all at once.
That’s why you have just ONE way to fight the HGH side effects: it’s medical supervision and monitoring. Self-prescribed Growth Hormone therapy is, probably, not the best idea: some HGH side effects manifest slowly, and there’s a good chance a professional can catch them early. Proactive caution measures and keeping your doses low is the key to avoiding HGH side effects.