Human Growth Hormone
Human growth hormone (HGH) is a naturally occurring hormone that stimulates growth and cell production. HGH sparks growth in adolescents while regulating height, body composition, body fluids, muscle, organ and bone growth, sugar and fat metabolism and potentially heart function.
HGH is also an active ingredient in many prescription drugs approved by the FDA for specific uses including treating short stature of unknown cause, poor growth due to a number of medical causes, HGH deficiency and muscle-wasting diseases.
However, many people are using HGH for unapproved reasons. Some use it to build muscle and improve athletic performance, but its effect on athletic performance is unknown. And since the human body’s HGH levels naturally decrease with age, others use HGH products to try to reverse age-related bodily deterioration. But these claims are also unproven.
HGH is considered an illegal drug if used for these reasons and without a doctor’s prescription.
Side Effects of HGH
Most of the HGH being used by our youth is coming from the same underground market as anabolic steroids. Increased availability, combined with young people looking to get an edge, results in heavy usage by our youth. Did you know that 11% of high school students admitted using HGH, which equates to around 2 million kids? The need for education has never been higher.