Acromegaly – Symptoms and causes
Dr.Kut | Feb 06, 2010 | Comments 1
Excess release of growth hormones in the human body creates malformation of the limbs in people having this kind of unbalance. This disease is normally known as acromegaly and it affects people of all ages. The unusual shape of the hands and feet give the person an unusual appearance.
The human body needs to have very balanced growth hormonal input to be able to develop itself properly. With the help of the pituitary and endocrine glands this balance is possible and we grow proportionately and in timely manner. However, if for some reason this balance gets disturbed, then you will be having growth problems.
When the growth hormones get unbalanced, then this will create excess growth of the bones and the tissues and muscles, especially on the hands and feet. This condition is called gigantism in young people and if it affects elderly people, then it is called acromegaly.
Fortunately, this is not a very common disease and very few people all over the world suffer from acromegaly. However, this disease affects people of all ages and sexes without discrimination.
The pituitary gland plays a very important role in maintain a chemical balance in our bodies. There are different kinds of chemicals and hormones for every system and these hormones are balanced according to the necessity of the systems in a timely manner. This is a very complex mechanism that functions between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland in collaboration with other organs of the body.
The liver is responsible for creation of the IGF or Insulin growth factor in the body. However, for unknown factors, the pituitary gland starts to release more growth hormones than necessary and the levels of IGF in the body also increase creating an imbalance of the growth of the body and the person will look like a gigantic person, as this affects the hands, legs and in many cases the face as well. There are cases where even the teeth and tongue become enlarged and the voice of the person also changes.
The most common symptoms of acromegaly include heavy sweating, high blood pressure, increase in the amount of calcium in the body, and swelling of the thyroid glands. Headaches are also very common in people suffering from acromegaly.
One of the major causes of acromegaly is the Pituitary Adenoma. Pituitary Adenoma is a non-cancerous tumor which affects the pituitary gland. Research has found that this tumor may case for the pituitary to get pressed and for it to lose its normal balance and begin to reproduce hormones in excess. Other major symptoms of acromegaly include lack of sexual drive and menstrual problems in the females suffering from this disease.
Acromegaly is a life threatening disease which needs to be taken care of; otherwise it may prove to be fatal for the patient as it starts to affect the lungs, heart and brain at the same time.
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One of the most common symptoms of acromegaly is enlarged hands and feet. Acromegaly may also cause gradual changes in the shape of your face, such as a protruding lower jaw and brow, an enlarged nose, thickened lips, and wider spacing between your teeth.