Acromegaly – Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Acromegaly

New York (USA), June 21, 2013

Acromegaly: Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of acromegaly manifest over a very long period. Acromegaly progresses slowly and symptoms could take even a decade to surface. It is difficult even for close family members to detect these symptoms until they develop fully and are visible clearly.

Acromegaly symptoms can be broadly classified into two groups:

1. Symptoms due to excess secretion of growth hormone or insulin growth factor-I by pituitary gland:

– Swelling of hands and fingers
– Swelling of feet and their fingers
– Thickening of facial features like nose and lips
– Thickening of skin especially of palms and soles
– Excessive sweating
– Swelling of tongue
– Joint pains accompanied by stiffness and swelling
– Spreading out of teeth with wider gaps in between
– Numbness and pain in wrists and hands
– Oily skin or acne
– Swelling of neck
– Protruding lower jaw and brow
– Difficulty in sleeping due to obstructive sleep apnea
– Increased fatigue
– Severe snoring
– Enlargement of extremities due o swelling of soft tissue
– Deepening of voice due to vocal cord enlargement
– Enlarged tongue
– Excessive body odor
– Enlarged chest
– Enlargement of internal organs like heart, liver, kidneys, and spleen
– Skull expansion around forehead
– Protrusion of brow
– Excessive height disproportionate to age, especially in children
– Muscular weakness
– Small skin outgrowths or skin tags

2. Symptoms due to increasing size of tumor

– Persistent and recurring headaches
– Visual imparities
– Partial loss of vision in one or both eyes
– Disruption in production of other hormones
– Changes in menstrual cycles in women
– Impotence in men

Acromegaly often leads to difficult medical conditions in some persons. These medical conditions include diabetes, cardiovascular ailments, hypertension, and increased incidence of colonic polyps leading to adeno-carcinoma of colon. Symptoms in such conditions include:

– Increased thirst
– Irritability
– Increased urination
– Breathlessness
– Bouts of tiredness
– Fainting
– Chest pain
– Weakness and fatigue
– Rapid heart beat
– Inability to exercise

If you notice such symptoms, contact your doctor immediately for a complete and thorough diagnosis.

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