What is considered as low HGH level – Symptoms You Need to Know
Low HGH levels occur when the pituitary gland – more specifically the somatotropic cells in the anterior portion of the gland – no longer puts out enough growth hormone (somatotropin, GH) to keep up with the demands of the body. This can be determined by having a doctor who is a hormone replacement specialist run some blood tests to check the HGH growth hormone levels in the body for a deficiency.
A compounding problem arises when not enough GH reaches the liver, where insulin-like growth factor 1 will be secreted based on how much somatotropin is received here. The ensuing shortage in both of these vital hormones will create widespread metabolic issues throughout the adult body.
Adult onset low growth hormone can occur for a number of reasons, including:
- Damage to the pituitary gland from injury, radiation (cancer treatment), or surgery
- Autoimmune disease
- Interference to the pituitary gland blood supply
- Unknown or unspecified reasons
It is believed by many in the scientific and medical communities that growth hormone levels decline with age. This process often begins in one’s early thirties and continues to decrease at a slow rate with each passing year. Although some people do believe that this natural process is beneficial to the body as a whole, there are times when the decline becomes so severe that negative effects begin to affect how a person is living his or her life. That is when medical intervention with HGH therapy is useful for reversing these symptoms.
How to Define That You Have Low HGH Levels
Defining low human growth hormone levels in the body is not difficult when you know what to look for in regards to physiological, physical, mental, and emotional changes. GH has a part in all of these areas, and a decline can usually be recognized in many different ways – varying from one person to the next.
At the lower end of the severity spectrum, these changes can be mildly annoying. On the extreme end, the changes taking place can interfere with an individual’s ability to function in the professional world. Socializing can become a thing of the past as quality of life declines dramatically.
Common signs that HGH levels might need to be raised include:
- Feelings of energy drain, fatigue, lethargy, reduced stamina
- A higher level of fat retention, particularly belly fat
- Decreased muscle bulk and lean body mass – resulting in loss of physical strength
- Difficulty maintaining focus and mental performance, including memory
- Joint pains and decreased bone density leading to osteoporosis
- Higher level of bad LDL cholesterol
- Excessive wrinkles and sagging skin
- Changes in texture of hair – thinning, loss
- Lack of drive and motivation
- Feelings of depression and worries over the future, mood swings
These are not the only symptoms associated with Low HGH, but they are the most common warning signs that adults will notice if growth hormone levels have decreased to a point where widespread breakdown is occurring.
Symptoms of Low HGH
The actual symptoms of low HGH levels do not come on suddenly – it is a gradual process that happens over the course of many years, or even decades. During the first thirty years of a person’s life, a plentiful supply of growth hormone is being secreted into the body from the pituitary gland. After that point, HGH levels start to decline, on average, of 10 to 15 percent per decade. Daily living creates quite a bit of wear and tear on the body, and GH is required to repair any damage and keep everything in working order.
The process that we view as “aging” is actually how the body is responding to the damage and repair cycle. There are multiple manifestations of aging, and not all of them are associated with growth hormone decline. Even if the level of HGH was kept at the point it was at when a person was in his or her twenties, age-related changes would continue, only at a much lower extent.
The symptoms listed in the guidelines below are only generalities. Each person’s body will be unique in how and when it manifests these changes. Lifestyle habits can also exert a tremendous influence on how much growth hormone a person produces in later years. Sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress are all factors in this process.
Here are the low HGH symptoms that can occur during the different decades of one’s life:
Symptoms Over 30
- A slight decline in energy – not as easy to stay up as late as in the past
- Early signs of crow’s feet or laugh lines
- Some gradual hair thinning, a few gray hairs
- Increased exercise needed to maintain muscle tone
- Possible gain of a few extra pounds, typically in the abdominal region
- Forgetting phone or key placement, laughing over these short lapses
- Slight decrease in sexual desire or performance
Symptoms Over 40
- Increased decline in energy and stamina
- Changes in skin texture – increased appearance of wrinkles and cellulite
- Possible hair loss and increased thinning, some graying
- Exercise no longer producing desired muscle growth, slight loss of strength
- Increased waist circumference
- Occasionally forgetting why one entered room, grasping for words or memories at times
- Increasingly worried about reduced feelings of desire, decreased endurance, less pleasure
- Possible need for reading glasses
- Warnings of high cholesterol or future risks of osteoporosis
- Physical stiffness and joint pains
- Worries over physical changes causing mental distress or anguish
- Occasional sleep disturbances
Symptoms Over 50
- Feelings of fatigue and lack of endurance
- Increased wrinkles and sagging skin, loss of collagen
- Hair texture becoming increasingly brittle and thin, further graying
- Significant loss of lean muscle mass and strength
- Higher level of fat retention
- More frequent memory lapses, poor focus, inability to compute math problems mentally at the same speed as in the past
- Men – erectile dysfunction, women – vaginal dryness, both – loss of desire, arousal, and pleasure
- Trouble with night vision and overall eyesight weakening, warning of early formation of cataracts
- High cholesterol and possible heart health concerns
- Menopause in women, andropause in men
- Decreased bone density, early osteopenia or osteoporosis
- Depression, mood swings
- Insomnia, sleep issues
- Decreased drive and motivation, reduced performance at work
- Temperature sensitivity
- Frequent colds and slow recuperation times
- Body taking longer to heal from injury
- Internal organs are not performing at maximum output due to shrinkage
Symptoms Over 60
- Feelings of exhaustion and little to no stamina
- Excessive changes in skin texture – sagging, wrinkles, age spots
- Extreme hair loss, graying, thinning
- Increased loss of muscle tone, inability to work out and get desired results
- Increased weight gain, possible risk of obesity and diabetes
- Further memory loss, cognitive impairment, decreased concentration
- Inability to perform in the bedroom, loss of all sexual desire
- Decreased eyesight
- Higher LDL levels, possible cardiac risks
- Increased risk of bone fractures
- Depression, social isolation, changes in mood and outlook
- Need for sleep aid, getting only 4 to 5 hours each night, insomnia
- Loss of drive and motivation, lack of productivity
- Increased temperature sensitivity
- Reduced immune system functions and longer recovery times
- Possible internal organ impairment due to shrinkage
- Brittle nails
The earlier any of these warning signs appears in life, the greater the need to seek out blood testing and treatment from a licensed hormone replacement therapy doctor.
At National HRT, our specialists provide free consultations to adults concerned that they might be dealing with symptoms of low HGH levels in their bodies. Please contact us with any questions, to learn more, or to schedule blood testing.
National HRT Staff
Please note that the information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.