Hormone is essential for the body’s growth but the excess secretion of it proves counter productive. When the human body secretes excessive amount of Growth hormone, a disorder named Acromegaly takes place. This phenomenon is called an adenoma and commonly it is known as gigantism. As a result of this disease there is immense growth and the person often assumes a gigantic stature.

Why does Acromegaly happen?

The pituitary gland in the brain is responsible for hormone secretion. The Growth Hormone is also produced by this gland. It acts as the stimulant behind the growth and development of cartilage, bone and muscles. In some cases, the gland generates too much of GH. It is regarded as a kind of non-cancerous pituitary tumor. However, in most of the cases, the reason behind this tumor formation can not be resolved.

Since the pituitary gland stays below the human brain, the growth of the tumor puts pressure on the brain. Some delicate and sensitive brain tissues such as the optic nerve are severely affected. This eventually leads to headaches and may also influence eyesight. Other effects of this disorder include carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and hypertension. Apart from these, the nearby pituitary tissues are also stressed because of the swell. As a result, some other hormones are also affected and it may lead to breast discharge and menstruation in women. The male patients may suffer from diminished testosterone secretion leading to impotence. Usually, the pituitary tumors take place in one’s matured years.

Acromegaly Symptoms

In Acromegaly, the bones of the face, feet and the hands keep growing. If this situation happens at one’s puberty, it results in huge growth known as gigantism. It makes the hands of the affected person to resemble a spade. The facial bones grow and the shape of the face is altered as a result. The jaw of the afflicted person gets bigger, and the teeth spacing becomes more prominent. The facial skin also becomes oily and crude. The size of the tongue also gets bigger.

The parts of the body that do not have bones such as the skin, becomes inflated. This effectively causes weight gain and skin thickening. Other noticeable symptoms include profuse sweating, deep voice, lack of sensation in the feet and the hands. This enlargement may not be immediately perceptible and sometimes people need years to realize the phenomenon of excessive growth. It may have severe consequences like chronic heart failure and diabetes.

Treatments for Acromegaly

After the blood tests and scan reports indicate the presence of Acromegaly, treatments can start. The possible treatments include surgery to eliminate the tumor as well as radiotherapy to eradicate the tumor cells. Apart from these, medicines can be prescribed to reduce the generation of the Growth Hormone. The overgrown bones cannot be reduced but the enlarged soft tissues will reduce after the treatment.  

Points to Remember

After the surgery is done an Acromegaly patient needs to be cautious about his health. Even if the surgery works and the hormone level depletes to normalcy, monitoring of the patient is a crucial thing. The hormone levels do not become absolutely normal and chances of reoccurrence can not be ruled out. In some cases, the patients might need extra attention followed by medicines. The heart condition of the patient also needs to be monitored. To sum up there is no complete cure for this disease ; however with proper treatment it can be combated to an extent.