As we get older, our bodies change. We grow taller and heavier. In time, most of us grow to be as tall as our parents. Lots of different things help us grow: eating healthy foods, sleeping well, and getting exercise.
Growth hormone, which is produced in the brain, is the special messenger that tells the different parts of your body to grow - your bones, your muscles, and your organs.
No matter what we do, some of us still grow faster than others. Usually, that's nothing to worry about. But if you or your parents think you should be growing faster, ask your doctor about it.
Your doctor can usually tell if you are growing at the right speed for you. If not, some tests are done to find a a cause for slow growth.
The doctor will probably ask you and your parents some questions - how long you sleep, what you eat, and how you're doing in school. Then, the doctor will probably check your weight and height and plot them on a growth chart for your age.
The doctor may also want to do some tests. One test is an X ray of your hand and wrist so the doctor can see your bones. It doesn't hurt at all! The X ray shows the doctor whether your bones are growing the way they should.
Another test is called a "stim test" which is short for Growth Hormone Stimulation Test. A stim test can help the doctor tell if your body is making as much growth hormone as it needs.
Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (AGHD)
Fact:
More than 50,000 adults in the United States are growth hormone deficient, and 6,000 new cases are reported each year. Some may have been growth deficient as children, others become growth hormone deficient as adults.
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