{"id":9952,"date":"2019-08-13T06:22:33","date_gmt":"2019-08-13T06:22:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=9952"},"modified":"2021-04-25T18:47:42","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T18:47:42","slug":"16-known-symptoms-of-acromegaly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/16-known-symptoms-of-acromegaly\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Known Symptoms of Acromegaly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Acromegaly is a health condition that affects approximately 6 in every 100, 000 people. The condition isn\u2019t as rare as you would expect when seen at a glance, and it\u2019s normally one that\u2019s seen develop later on in life, although acromegaly can also be present at birth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The condition is caused by the overproduction of growth hormones, which is usually in turn caused by a benign tumor (called an adenoma) present on the pituitary gland or some other parts of the body. Some outward signs of the condition include the enlargement of the jaw, hands, and feet, and the condition also has other inward symptoms and signs that can include an enlarged heart and other organs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have acromegaly, the condition has to be managed with the help of a doctor \u2013 and can sometimes even be stopped with the removal of the tumors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 known symptoms of acromegaly that you should know about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Pain in the Bones<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This can be a difficult symptom to describe for anyone who isn\u2019t suffering from it, and it\u2019s usually missed in this way when a doctor or carer has no idea what a patient is really describing \u2013 or they mistake it for something else. Pain <\/a>felt in the bones can feel like the bones are cramping, and it can be likened to an icky feeling that\u2019s distinctly \u201cdeeper\u201d than a muscle cramp or pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be one of the symptoms that signal acromegaly, to begin with, but it can also be a symptom that sticks around for years as the growth hormone physically affects the bones. This can become worse with time and can become more painful as the condition progresses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The symptom can be symptomatically treated with the application of heat, cold and bracing to the bones in order to lessen the pain that\u2019s experienced as a result of acromegaly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Chronic Joint Pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Acromegaly is a condition that affects the body\u2019s ability to produce growth hormones and causes the overproduction of certain hormones throughout the body \u2013 which in turn will cause the body to lose its ability to tell when it\u2019s time for somebody parts to stop growing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In cases of acromegaly, it\u2019s not uncommon for the body parts to grow large enough for the joints to eventually become unable to support the weight. This can lead to a lot of chronic pain in the joints, which can be lifelong, although treated as a symptom with some adaptations, the right medication <\/a>and sometimes necessary bracing of the joints.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any changes in pain should be reported to a medical professional as soon as they happen: Joint pain can be a sign of arthritis and was left untreated for a long time, a condition that can sometimes occur together with acromegaly and can get worse with time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Overall Discomfort<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Overall discomfort <\/a>is one of the symptoms that can be associated with acromegaly, but it can also be associated with a thousand other different medical conditions \u2013 and it can be one of the hardest symptoms to define or describe when experienced by a patient.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is it on this list? Because it can also be one of the most useful symptoms. General discomfort is felt everywhere from the skin to the bones, and this sometimes acts as a simple gut feeling for someone that they have to get themselves to a doctor \u2013 and this is important because it could be the doctor\u2019s appointment that tells you how to treat a medical condition you might not have known you had before you made the appointment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are experiencing any kind of pain or general discomfort that you aren\u2019t used to together with some of the other symptoms on this list, see your doctor as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. An Irregular Heartbeat<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An irregular heartbeat <\/a>is always a symptom that means you should make an appointment to have it checked out, and sometimes it can be a symptom that people diagnosed with acromegaly will experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The overproduction of growth hormones in the body doesn\u2019t just enlarge body parts like the jaw, hands, and feet; but will also affect other internal organs such as the heart and lungs, which become larger with time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you experience an irregular heartbeat and you aren\u2019t sure what the cause could be, the right thing to do is a doctor\u2019s appointment. If you have already been diagnosed with acromegaly and you feel any changes in your heart health, you should also see your doctor \u2013 a regular heart check-up could save your life in both cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Especially if you know that you have a heart condition or one that can affect your heart, taking care of it becomes something you should think about every single day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Changes in the Voice<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Acromegaly will cause changes in different parts of the body, and will often cause parts like the jaw, hands, and feet to become larger \u2013 but this isn\u2019t the only change, and the same applies to the vocal folds. A person with acromegaly will generally develop a deep bass-by voice due to the effect the growth hormones <\/a>have on the development of the voice \u2013 and this can even become gradually deeper as the condition progresses.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this symptom itself isn\u2019t a dangerous one, it can be an uncomfortable one for some; it might be a little reassuring to know that it\u2019s a good diagnostic symptom, too, and might make the condition easier to spot for professionals in cases where they happen during puberty instead of being diagnosed later on in life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deeper voice is one of the characteristic symptoms, and often the first one that people imagine when thinking of some famous acromegaly sufferers like Andre the Giant or Big Show, both professional wrestlers in their time.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Appetite Changes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Changes in appetite <\/a>isn\u2019t a symptom that can be considered in any way unique to acromegaly, but it\u2019s one that will almost certainly be experienced by a lot of people who have the condition \u2013 and it\u2019s worth checking out if you experience it as a symptom whether or not you experience it together with any of the other ones that are mentioned in this article.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This symptom can go both ways, and in some diagnosed cases of acromegaly it will turn out to be a highly increased appetite instead of a reduced one due to the fact that the body naturally needs more to sustain itself \u2013 and certain growth hormones can either stimulate or extinguish a natural appetite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This symptom can be symptomatically treated, but only with the help of the right diet offering enough of the right nutrients \u2013 and usually with the assistance of a diet professional who can design a customized diet right for the individual patient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Headaches<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Acromegaly is commonly caused by an adenoma \u2013 or type of tumor <\/a>\u2013 located on (or near) the pituitary gland. Sometimes these adenomas can be located elsewhere in the body, where they place additional pressure on the ocular nerves and areas of the brain. This can differ with each individual case depending on where the added pressure is located.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of this added pressure on the brain, headaches can be considered one of the most symptoms of acromegaly. It\u2019s something that a lot of sufferers will experience, and might even serve as a precursor symptom before any of the other symptoms begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certainly, experiencing any kind of chronic headaches should be a serious symptom that should always mean you should make an appointment with your doctor. Even where the cause of your headaches don\u2019t indicate something serious, it\u2019s always better to get clarity \u2013 and get the right treatment for the right condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. An Increased Cancer Risk<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most cases of acromegaly are caused by adenomas, which are non-cancerous tumors \u2013 but this doesn\u2019t mean that non-cancerous is synonymous with harmless, and it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that sufferers with acromegaly can stop worrying about cancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are diagnosed with acromegaly, one of the symptoms is an automatically increased cancer <\/a>risk. This can become an even worse risk because of lifestyle factors, or because of other factors like history of cancer in your family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone diagnosed with acromegaly should be aware of the increased cancer risk as well as the fact that they should be taking special care of their health due to the condition. In some cases, it can be treated \u2013 and in other cases, it can be managed \u2013 with the help of the right treatments, adaptations, and qualified medical professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regular appointments and scans can help to establish the risk factors, and aid in early treatment if it becomes a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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