Acromegaly – What It Is and Why It Matters
If you’ve noticed your hands getting larger or your shoes no longer fitting, you might wonder if something’s off. One possible answer is acromegaly, a condition where the body makes too much growth hormone after puberty. That extra hormone doesn’t make you taller; instead, it thickens bones and soft tissue, especially in the face, hands, and feet.
Most people get acromegaly because of a benign tumor on the pituitary gland – the tiny organ at the base of your brain that controls hormones. The tumor secretes growth hormone nonstop, pushing levels far above normal. Over time, this hormonal overload changes how your body looks and works.
Common Signs You Shouldn't Ignore
Acromegaly creeps in slowly, so many miss the early clues. Look out for:
- Enlarged hands or feet – rings feeling tight, shoe size increasing without a reason.
- Coarse facial features – pronounced jaw (prognathism), deeper voice, enlarged nose.
- Joint pain and stiffness – especially in the knees, hips, and elbows.
- Excessive sweating and oily skin – can lead to acne or skin tags.
- Headaches or vision changes – the tumor may press on nearby nerves.
If you spot a few of these together, it’s worth talking to a doctor. Blood tests measuring insulin‑like growth factor 1 (IGF‑1) and an oral glucose tolerance test can confirm if growth hormone is too high.
Treatment Paths and What to Expect
The goal is to lower growth hormone levels and shrink the tumor. Surgery is often the first move – a skilled neurosurgeon removes as much of the pituitary adenoma as possible through the nose (transsphenoidal surgery). Many patients see hormone levels drop dramatically after a successful operation.
When surgery isn’t enough or can’t be done, medication steps in. Drugs like octreotide and lanreotide are long‑acting somatostatin analogues; they tell the pituitary to calm down. Another option is pegvisomant, a growth‑hormone receptor blocker that stops the hormone from acting on body tissues.
Radiation therapy is a backup for stubborn cases. It slowly reduces tumor size over months or years, so doctors usually pair it with medication until hormone levels normalize.
Living with acromegaly also means managing side effects. Regular eye exams keep vision issues in check, while physiotherapy helps joint pain. Keeping blood sugar stable is important because excess growth hormone can cause insulin resistance.
Remember, early detection makes treatment easier and reduces long‑term complications like heart disease, sleep apnea, or diabetes. If you think you might have acromegaly, schedule an appointment with an endocrinologist – they’ll run the right tests and guide you through the best plan.
RexMD.SU offers more articles on related topics such as pituitary tumors, hormone‑balancing drugs, and managing joint pain. Browse our site to stay informed and take control of your health journey.
