Growth hormones and athletes use

Mental Health

Growth hormones and athletes use

synthetic growth hormones used

human growth hormones used for athletes

growth hormone prohibited in sport

Written By :

introduction

While searching for glory and fame, athletes take into consideration several points such as: exercise more, eat in the right way, sleep enough, take sport drugs and supplements, etc.

Many athletes began to experiment with cocktails of drugs to improve strength and overcome fatigue with little thought given to potential risk.

It is important to be aware of different points regarding the safety, efficiency, side effects, benefits, daily dosage, approval of the product, etc.

What are hormones ?

In a simple way, hormones are chemical messengers, secreted by your endocrine glands throughout the body, and transported in your blood.

Several hormones are used by athletes and sports professionals. In this article, we will take a look at a specific one: Growth Hormone.

To know more about it, please continue reading.

What is growth hormone ?

Your body naturally produces growth hormone, which is made by your pituitary gland and secreted into your bloodstream. It supports healthy body composition, bone health and body growth from childhood to adulthood.

Growth hormone level rises during childhood, peaks during puberty, and declines from middle age onward. Good to know that the level of this hormone fluctuates during the day regarding several factors. For example, sleep and exercise increase your natural human growth hormone (hGH) production.

What are the different roles of growth hormone ?

This hormone acts on many tissues in the body. In children, it acts on many parts of the body to promote growth. Once the growth plates in your bones have fused, human growth hormone no longer increases your height. But it is important to highlight that your body still needs it .

But why ? Please continue reading to know !

What are the complications related to growth hormone deficiency ?

What is synthetic growth hormone ?

Synthetic human growth hormone has been around since the 1980s. The Food and Drug Association (FDA) has approved its use in medicine to treat children with certain growth disorders and adults with other conditions. Two forms of synthetic human growth hormones were developed :

Somatropin

Somatrem

Both synthetic forms have similar chemical structure, biological actions and potencies as the endogenous human growth hormone polypeptide.

The synthetic form is available only by prescription and under the form of injection, just below the skin and into the fat tissue: The stomach, deltoid and thigh are the best places to inject it.

Simply rub the hormone into the fat roll by pinching along the skin. To avoid bruising, you can alternate the locations.

Why are synthetic growth hormones used ?

In adults, growth hormone can also be prescribed to treat:

It’s important to note that you should take a synthetic form of human growth hormone only if your healthcare provider has prescribed it for you.

What are the health impacts of using synthetic growth hormone?

Using human growth hormone without a prescription from a doctor can cause serious health problems. Some people use it to make their muscles grow larger. This is very risky. Too much growth hormone can lead to multiple side effects, for example:
Too much growth
Acromegaly
Swelling of the hands and feet
Organ enlargement
Serious diseases: such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Faster progression of scoliosis in people who have this condition
Hypothyroidism
Pancreatitis
Carpal tunnel syndrome.

Long-term, the use of growth hormone may cause the body to stop producing its own, or to downregulate the growth hormone pathways.

Why are human growth hormones used for athletes ?

Many of us hear about the use of growth hormone injections among athletes. But, why ? Let’s discover together the different suggestions regarding their use.

When bodybuilders have a hard time putting on muscle or keeping off fat, they may start injecting human growth hormone to achieve a more muscular appearance, as it increases fat loss and enhances cosmetic muscle growth: However, most of the increase in muscle mass is actually due to fluid retention, not actual muscle growth.
A study in California found that after receiving daily injections of growth hormone for an average of 20 days, the subjects who received it increased their lean body mass (which reflects muscle mass but can also include fluid mass) by an average of 4.6 pounds. Yes, that's a big gain, but it did not translate into improved performance. In fact, growth hormone did not produce measurable increases in either strength or exercise capacity. And the subjects who got it were more likely to retain fluid and experience fatigue than were the volunteers who got the placebo.
Some sources say that synthetic human growth hormone improves athletic performance, but it is important to highlight that the scientific evidence to prove this is lacking.
In addition, there isn’t much evidence that growth hormone alone can improve speed, agility, and strength, that is why many people tend to use it in combination with anabolic steroids.
For some experts, the strength-enhancing properties of growth hormone among healthy adults have been exaggerated.
Some bodybuilders also take drugs that increase exogenous growth hormone secretion. These drugs include propranolol, vasopressin, clonidine, and levodopa. There is no evidence that these practices enhance muscle hypertrophy.

Is growth hormone prohibited in sport?

Many of us hear about the use of growth hormone injections among athletes. But, why ? Let’s discover together the different suggestions regarding their use.

Growth hormone is banned in sports by the International Olympic Committee and it is in the category of anabolic agents on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list: It is prohibited at all times and for all levels of athletes, including elite, junior, and masters-level athletes.
The FDA (US Food & Drug Administration) has approved recombinant somatropin injections as a treatment for growth hormone deficiency and certain other medical conditions. However, somatropin injections are not approved for bodybuilding, athletic enhancement, sports, or any other non-clinical purpose. Using somatropin for bodybuilding can also present health risks.
Even if you are prescribed growth hormone by a doctor for a specific condition, an approved Therapeutic Use Exemption is required to use growth hormone in sport.

What about dietary supplements that claim to boost growth hormone?

Dietary supplements that claim to contain growth hormone or cause the release of growth hormone should be avoided by athletes. The use of any dietary supplement is at the athletes’ own risk.

Conclusion

Performance enhancement is an enduring goal for sportsmen and sportswomen in search of glory, but attending her maximum level is still considered a nightmare as it is a complex process depending on several points such as muscle strength, energy required to power muscle function, etc.

Growth hormone abuse in sports is widespread in order to enhance strength, performance, etc. despite the lack of scientific studies that confirm their effectiveness.

If you choose to use sport drugs or supplements, it is important to consult a certified professional person to advise you what to choose between the wide range of products.