Acromegaly Symptoms
Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland
produces excess growth hormone (GH). It most commonly affects middle-aged adults
and can result in serious illness and premature death. Once recognized,
acromegaly is treatable in most patients, but because of its slow and often
insidious onset, it frequently is not diagnosed correctly. Symptoms of
Acromegaly Acromegaly is characterized by
an enlarged face and hands. As the face changes shape, the jaw may protrude, the
nose may enlarge, and the lips may thicken and and wider spacing between your
teeth. People with this disorder
often notice that they can no longer put on rings that used to fit, and that
their shoe size has progressively increased.
Because the pituitary tumors that can cause overproduction of growth hormone
can progress so slowly, the early signs of acromegaly may not be readily
apparent for several years.
In addition to enlarged hands and feet and facial changes, acromegaly may
also produce the following symptoms, which can vary from one person to another:
- A deepened, husky voice due to enlarged vocal cords and sinuses
- Severe snoring due to obstruction of the upper airway
- Impaired vision
- Coarse, oily, thickened skin
- Excessive sweating and body odor
- Small outgrowths of skin tissue (skin tags)
- Fatigue and muscle weakness
- Headaches
- Enlarged tongue
- Enlarged liver, heart, kidneys, spleen and other organs
- Increased chest size (barrel chest)
- Pain and limited joint mobility
- Menstrual cycle irregularities in women
- Erectile dysfunction in men
If you have some of the symptoms associated with acromegaly, contact your
doctor for an evaluation. Early diagnosis is important so that the disease can
be treated properly. Your primary care doctor may refer you to an
endocrinologist, a specialist who will be more familiar with recognizing and
treating this disorder. Acromegaly
Symptoms to A
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