HgH and Muscle Growth
Human growth hormone (HgH) is a hormone in the human body involved in many bodily processes, the most important being development of the skeletal and muscular system throughout an individual's life. Because of its ability to accelerate growth, HgH has been used as a supplement by bodybuilders to expedite muscle gains. Use of HgH can provide gains in muscle mass, but with a host of risks and possibly dangerous side effects.
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Function
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HgH is a hormone created and secreted by the pituitary gland, an area of the brain that is heavily involved in a human's growth cycle from childhood through maturity, according to the Mayo Clinic. Testosterone and HgH work together to increase the body's capacity for muscle growth and fat burning, leading many bodybuilders to use HgH in conjunction with anabolic steroids (which mimic the effects of testosterone), according to BodybuildingWeb.
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Effects
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HgH works in growing human bodies to facilitate growth throughout adolescence, and "regulates tissue growth, cellular repair, energy levels, fat loss, and muscle growth," according to MuscleNet. When used by healthy individuals, HgH improves bone density and muscle gains and promotes fat loss, all of which may help maximize the results of your workouts, although scientific studies on the exact effects are inconclusive.
Benefits
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One major benefit of HgH is that it can help individuals who lack the capacity to produce it themselves achieve a normal rate of development. In a study conducted and published by Fit for Life, individuals who took a steady regimen of HgH gained an average of about 4 percent lean muscle mass, although the study failed to indicate a "positive effect on performance or muscle increase," according to BodybuildingWeb. HgH is often used by older people because of claims that it slows the aging process; this has not been scientifically validated, but it does provide aging individuals with "greater cardio output ... and decreased recovery time from exercise," according to MuscleNet.
Considerations
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HgH is intended to be taken for very specific purposes and has only been scientifically studied for a narrow range of treatments, and bodybuilding is not one of them. It is generally only prescribed to individuals experiencing growth hormone deficiencies, and only under the direction of a trained health care professional. Taking HgH recklessly for muscle gain can result in very unpleasant and potentially dangerous side complications, according to Anti-Aging Info.
Warning
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HgH may be able to provide fleeting benefits and gain, but with the risk of serious side effects including abnormal growth in the jaw and forehead, liver damage and increased risk of cancer, and some studies indicate that it may result in a shortened lifespan, according to BodybuildingWeb. When beginning any fitness regimen or taking any supplements, consult your health care professional to discuss you current health. Doing so will allow you to maximize the benefits of your workouts, and avoid any possible complications before they develop into serious health problems.
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