Human Growth Hormone: The new Fountain of Youth?

Human Growth Hormone: The New Fountain of Youth?
By: J. Bowler
http://www.ageless-beauty.com

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) has become a very popular, although
expensive, antiaging treatment. Even the skeptics admit that
HGH treatments produce very noticeable results. The question of
the safety of long term use is still up in the air.

Although the use of hormones in the treatment of various
conditions is not new, it seems to always be shrouded in
controversy. For example, hormones have been prescribed to women
undergoing menopause for almost 40 years, but the debate over its
safety and efficacy continues to the present day.

HGH is a protein naturally produced by the pituitary gland. It
stimulates anabolic activity in all areas of the human body.
Basically this means that it helps synthesize simple substances
into the complex material of living tissue.

Studies performed by the National Institute of Aging have
shown that people receiving human growth hormone benefit from a
change in body composition. They develop several pounds of extra
muscle while losing fat.

Patients receiving HGH report a decrease in pain, an increase in
flexibility and a sense of well being they did not have before.
Other antiaging benefits of HGH therapy is that the skin becomes
thicker and more flexible, the immune system is enhanced, stamina
increases, the cholesterol balance is shifted in a positive way,
more calcium is deposited on the bones and glands are restored.

Since this sounds like the legendary fountain of youth, what is
the downside? First is cost. This is meant to be a lifetime
treatment and the cost runs about $6000 a year, generally not
covered by health insurance. The drug is usually injected and a
lot of follow up testing is required.

You can purchase HGH in tablet and spray form, both are much less
expensive, but some experts feel that users would quickly develop
a tolerance to them and that their effectiveness would quickly fall
off. Anecdotally, consumers of these products report the same
positive effects that those who receive the injected form of the
hormone experience.

Some doctors claim that HGH can cause tumor growth, although this
has never been demonstrated in humans, increase fluid retention,
which could be a problem for certain heart patients and can cause
joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. There could also be a problem
with diabetics, since sugar metabolism is affected.

Other doctors admit that without careful monitoring, there can be
problems with excessive bone growth, vocal cord thickening, fluid
retention, arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, but insist there is
absolutely no evidence of an increase in cancer or diabetes in humans.

One thing everyone agrees on is that while human growth hormone may
increase the quality of your life it will not make you live any
longer. There seems to be little dispute about the short term benefits
of the treatment. But the bottom line is that nobody yet knows the long
term effects of HGH as an antiaging solution

So like many things in life, HGH therapy is a gamble.

[This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to
render medical advice. If you are interested in HGH therapy, make sure
to consult a qualified physican.]

By: J. Bowler
http://www.ageless-beauty.com