overview
Person with acromegaly
Illustration shows a person with acromegaly Open the popup dialog
Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that occurs when your pituitary gland makes too much growth hormone in adulthood.
When you have too much growth hormone, your bones get bigger. In childhood, this leads to an increase in height and is known as gigantism. However, no change in size occurs in adulthood. Instead, the increase in bone size is limited to the bones in your hands, feet, and face and is known as acromegaly.
Because acromegaly is rare and physical changes occur slowly over many years, the condition can sometimes take a long time to be recognized. Untreated high levels of growth hormone can affect other parts of your body in addition to your bones. Acromegaly Treatment in Hyderabad
symptoms
A common sign of acromegaly is enlarged hands and feet. For example, you may find that you cannot put on rings that fit you and that your shoe size has gradually increased.
Acromegaly can also cause gradual changes in the shape of the face, such as: B. A protruding mandibular and frontal arches, an enlarged nose, thickened lips, and a larger space between your teeth.
Because acromegaly tends to progress slowly, the first signs may not be apparent for years. Sometimes people notice the physical changes just by comparing the old photos with the newer ones. Acromegaly Treatment in Hyderabad
Overall, the signs and symptoms of acromegaly vary from person to person and can include:
- Enlargement of the hands and feet
- Enlarged facial features including facial bones, lips, nose, and tongue
- Coarse, oily, and thickened skin
- Excessive sweating and body odor
- Small growth of skin tissue (skin tags)
- Tiredness and weakness of your joints or muscles
The reasons
Pituitary gland and hypothalamus
Pituitary and Hypothalamus Open popup dialog
Acromegaly occurs when the pituitary gland makes too much growth hormone (GH) over a long period of time.
The pituitary gland is a small gland at the base of your brain, behind the bridge of your nose. It produces GH and a number of other hormones. GH plays an important role in controlling your physical growth.
When the pituitary releases GH into your bloodstream, your liver releases a hormone called insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) – sometimes called insulin-like growth factor insulin-I or IGF-I. IGF-1 causes your bones and other tissues to grow. Too much GH leads to too much IGF-1, which can cause signs of acromegaly, symptoms, and complications. Acromegaly Treatment in Hyderabad
