Side Effects of Abusing HGH
Human growth hormone (HGH), also referred to as anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) medication, produces side effects in users directly related to the amount and the length of time used. Side effects range from those that only effect the appearance of the user to those that are life-threatening. Medical use of HGH generally involves short term correction of hormone imbalance, and the drug is used to combat the wasting away tendencies of AIDS patients. Athletes often abuse HGH drugs to obtain abnormal levels of strength and stamina, and others abuse the drug hoping for an anti-aging or plastic surgery solution in a bottle. Any use of HGH can cause side effects.
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Short-Term Side Effects
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Medical interventions by doctors generally only produce short-term side effects, because medical interventions are short-term treatments. Short-term side effects of HGH include some minor joint pain, water retention and a reversible resistance to insulin. Short-term use of HGH can also cause swelling of the joints. Large doses of HGH used on a short-term basis can cause irritability, and aggression, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Longer-Term Side Effects
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Individuals who abuse HGH drugs experience high blood pressure, chronic joint pain, more serious fluid retention, swelling of the joints and some facial bone growth. More intense mood swings will also develop, producing episodes of rage and sometimes violence. The amount of HGH consumed and the duration of drug use are directly related to how soon longer-term side effects appear, as is the particular physical make-up of the individual who is using the drugs.
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Life-Threatening Effects
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Prolonged use of HGH drugs is linked to both heart attack and liver cancer. HGH causes irregular heartbeat rhythms, deformities of the joints and face, increased risk of diabetes and the malfunction of the pituitary glands.
The liver is forced to work harder when individual's use HGH consistently over time, causing liver stress and eventually liver damage. The pituitary glands also shut down after longterm abuse of HGH, because the body recognizes a high level of growth hormone in the blood and reduces the amount it normally produces naturally. The pituitary glands eventually shut down and stop working efficiently. HGH reportedly leads to suicidal and homicidal tendencies in some individuals by their own reports.
Drug Reactions
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HGH is a drug and a foreign substance within the human body. All foreign substances cause reactions within the body to the drug used or abused. Over time, the body ceases production of some substances related to the drug used and may produce more of others in order to maintain balance within itself. This reaction eventually causes tolerance, a situation in which an individual abusing any substance must increase the amount of the substance used in order to attain the same result originally experienced from its use. Tolerance is the condition that separates HGH abuse or any drug abuse from HGH addiction or any drug addiction.
Prevention/Solution
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Side effects of HGH are best avoided through abstinence from any use of the medication unless prescribed by a licensed physician. If HGH is used, it should be used as prescribed and only on a short-term basis.
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