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Acromegaly 101

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For your skeletal muscles to grow, the growth hormone (GH) is released. If it’s produced excessively though, a condition called acromegaly is caused. With acromegaly, there’s an overgrowth of tissue.

It’s a rare condition, only found in three to four people per a million annually. Young adults are most affected and if left untreated, it could lead to other serious conditions like diabetes, heart disease and even death. What causes it?The pituitary gland has a small benign tumour called an adenoma that’s found in the middle of the head, just below the brain. If this tumour makes too much GH then acromegaly is the result. 

Common symptoms include:

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