Human growth hormone (HGH), also known as somatotropin, is a key hormone produced in the pituitary gland that plays an important role in growth and development across the lifespan. As we age, HGH levels naturally decline, contributing to changes in body composition, energy levels, bone density, muscle strength, and more. HGH therapy aims to supplement declining levels, helping to alleviate undesirable age-related symptoms.
Declining HGH levels rarely cause an outright deficiency, but more commonly lead to a relative insufficiency with milder symptoms including:
While many factors can cause these symptoms, a blood test can check IGF-1 and HGH levels to assess whether declining hormones may play a role. If significantly low, targeted HGH therapy may help spur developmental processes back into action.
HGH therapy involves supplementing the body’s naturally-produced growth hormone levels with bioidentical growth hormone. For adults with confirmed hormonal deficiencies, including growth hormone, restoring levels to an optimal range with hormone replacement can produce remarkable benefits, helping patients look and feel healthier, more youthful and energetic.
Benefits of HGH therapy include:
While results vary, many dedicated patients start experiencing changes in body composition within the first couple months, with more benefits accumulating over the first year of treatment and beyond.
HGH therapy is administered through subcutaneous injection, with dosing protocols tailored to the individual based on factors like age, hormone levels, and treatment goals. As it stimulates the body’s innate growth mechanisms, HGH therapy is always paired with proper nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle optimization for enhanced benefits. Ongoing blood testing helps ensure ideal hormone balance is achieved and maintained long-term.
Thorough testing is vital before commencing any hormone therapy program. Key baseline tests include:
HGH Serum Test: Directly measures blood concentration of growth hormone to identify clinically low levels.
IGF-1 Test: Checks insulin-like growth factor-1 levels, which indicate functional hormone activity as IGF-1 is stimulated by HGH. Low levels confirm growth hormone deficiency.
Additional Hormone Panel: Assesses testosterone, thyroid, cortisol and other hormone levels, as deficiencies may occur together.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel: Checks glucose, kidney and liver function, electrolyte balance and other key health markers.
Lipid Panel: Measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels to evaluate cardiovascular health.
Complete Blood Count: Checks for anemia and infection.
Prostate Screening: For male patients, screens for prostate cancer risk before starting testosterone therapy.
Baseline testing provides crucial data to determine if hormone deficiencies exist, and tailor treatment protocols accordingly. Ongoing blood tests continue throughout therapy to ensure hormones are balanced within ideal ranges for the patient’s age and gender.
HGH therapy has shown promise for improving bone density and muscle mass in elderly patients. However, the most unexpected benefit is that low-dose HGH treatment increased REM sleep time, leading to patients reporting more vivid dreams and improved quality of sleep. More research is still needed on the cognitive effects of HGH.
HGH therapy programs begins with a thorough patient evaluation, baseline blood tests, and discussion of treatment goals. Customized dosing protocols are then developed which typically include the following:
Subcutaneous Injections: HGH is administered via a small insulin-style needle injected under the skin, usually in the lower abdomen. This allows for precise dosage control and consistent absorption.
Daily Administration: Most programs involve daily application at bedtime when natural HGH production peaks. This helps maintain steady blood levels for better results.
Gradual Dosage Titrations: HGH dosing starts low and is slowly increased while regularly testing hormone blood levels, monitoring for benefits and side effects, until the optimal dosage for the patient is reached.
Long-Term Therapy: As the body’s HGH production continues declining with age, many patients remain on therapy for years to sustain benefits. Patients work closely with their practitioner to re-evaluate their treatment protocol periodically.
While intimidating for some patients at first, most find HGH daily injections simple to self-administer. Detailed instructions are provided for properly preparing and injecting dosage. For long term treatment regimens, the commitment pays dividends in looking and feeling one’s best.
Achieving optimal wellness on HGH therapy requires adopting a fully integrative approach, including:
Nutrition: Providing the body proper fuel and building blocks maximizes results. A balanced, lean protein-rich diet with healthy carbohydrates, fats and micronutrients is essential. Certain dietary supplements may also recommended.
Fitness: Regular resistance and cardiovascular training builds strength and endurance for reshaping the body while on therapy. Both aerobic exercise and strength training are key. Even light activity daily makes a significant difference. We can provide referrals to local gyms and trainers.
Stress Management: Controlling stress is vital to balance hormones and sustain energy levels and immunity on therapy. Practices like yoga, massage and mindfulness meditation can make major impact. We have resources for local practitioners.
Therapeutic Modalities: Other regenerative treatments like pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, photobiomodulation, and Dry Needling can accelerate results by improving cellular function and tissue repair throughout the body.
Lifestyle Adjustments: Making positive changes to sleep patterns, reducing alcohol intake, and incorporating more movement into daily living optimizes treatment success. Small steps make big differences.
We help patients implement a fully personalized treatment plan for their unique needs and goals. This integrative approach is where exceptional wellbeing transformation truly begins.
HGH therapy is most effective when combined with healthy lifestyle choices during treatment. Crown Point offers abundant community resources to help patients actualize optimal wellness, including:
Hormone Testing - Any Lab Test Now - Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Center
Walking Trails & Parks - Lake County Parks System - Crown Point Sportsplex Fitness Trails
Gyms & Training Studios - FXL Crown Point - Orange Theory Fitness - Crown Point Pilates
Healthy Dining - Element Eatery Cafe - Flamingo Bar & Grille - Iron Horse Bar & Grill
Spas & Wellness Centers - Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa - Pure Beauty Skin Studio - Be Well Crown Point Acupuncture
Crown Point provides a supportive environment and community for those looking to improve their health during hormone therapy. We help connect patients to these exceptional local resources for better results.
Hormone levels decline slowly over decades before obvious symptoms manifest in midlife and beyond. This gradual depletion allows the body to compensate and adjust to a new, deficient equilibrium eventually causing breakdown.
Restoring hormones promptly once clinically low levels or deficiency symptoms are identified is key to halting this downward spiral and regaining optimal wellness.
The range of subtle symptoms above like increased abdominal fat, muscular atrophy, low energy and mental fog represent core developmental processes slowing down. Over time accumulated effects lead to more overt age-related decline like cardiovascular disease, weight gain, osteoporosis, joint degeneration, loss of strength, and cognitive issues.
Intervening with appropriate hormone therapy reactivates the body’s innate regenerative and rejuvenative capacity, spurring youthful development patterns back into action. Nutrition and fitness optimizations further drive this transformation. The sooner this treatment process begins, the better the results and returning to a state of exceptional health.
When it comes to hormone therapy, working with an experienced, licensed practitioner that takes an integrative, patient-first approach is essential for safe, effective treatment. At Vitality Renewal Clinic of Crown Point, we provide specialized expertise in hormone replacement and optimization therapies for helping patients look and feel their best at any age.
What sets Vitality Renewal Clinic apart:
Our passion is helping people thrive through providing expert hormone therapy guided by comprehensive testing, integrated with nutrition, fitness and stress resilience principles for amplifying your health and wellness results.
If you’re experiencing any signs of hormone imbalance or decline, contact us today to pursue better health starting from within through precision hormone therapy in Crown Point!
