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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