Growth Hormone is a natural hormone your pituitary gland releases that promotes growth in children, helps maintain normal body structure in adults and plays a role in metabolism in both children and adults. Growth hormone is produced by our brain’s pituitary gland and governs our height, bone length and muscle growth.
How Growth Hormone deficiency in children?
Growth hormone levels increase during childhood and peak during puberty. In this phase of development, growth hormone promotes the growth of bone and cartilage. Throughout life, growth hormone regulates the fat, muscle, tissue and bone in our bodies, and other aspects of our metabolism such as insulin action and blood sugar levels. Growth hormone levels naturally reduce from middle age onwards.
A lack of Growth Hormone in children results in poor growth. The main sign of Growth Hormone deficiency in children is slow height growth each year after a child’s third birthday. This means they grow less than about 1.4 inches in height a year.
Can Growth Hormone make you taller?
Human growth hormone increases vertical growth in children. However, once your growth plates have fused, Growth Hormone cannot make you taller. Instead, after you’ve reached your final height, Growth Hormone helps adults and elderlies maintain their body’s structure and has other important effects on your metabolism.
When does Growth Hormone secret?
The body produces growth hormone while sleeping. There is secretion in the first hour after a deep sleep between 11 pm and 3 am. If you do not sleep well or sleep late, especially after midnight, your body will not produce growth hormones. The proper sleep duration is different for children of different ages, for example, preschool children should sleep at least 10-13 hours, school-aged children at least 9-10 hours, and during adolescence should sleep at least. 8-9 hours