5 Health Checks Before Trying Any HGH Product

Most people researching HGH products focus on the product: which brand, which form, what price. Far fewer stop to ask whether their own body is a good fit for something that aims to raise growth hormone. That question matters more than any label.

In this article, we will go through five health checks worth doing before you try any HGH product, whether it is a supplement, a spray, or a conversation with your doctor about prescription treatment.

1. Know your blood sugar

Growth hormone raises blood sugar and can make the body less sensitive to insulin. Researchers have measured this effect directly in human volunteers ^[1], and Cleveland Clinic lists insulin resistance among the side effects of synthetic HGH ^[2].

If you have diabetes or prediabetes, or have not had your blood sugar checked in the past year, get a simple blood test first. Our article on HGH and diabetes explains why this matters.

2. Review your cancer history

Growth hormone raises IGF-1, a hormone that tells cells to grow. Long-term studies have raised questions about cancer risk in some people treated with growth hormone ^[3], and Mayo Clinic lists a possible increased risk of certain cancers among its concerns ^[4]. If you have had cancer, or have a strong family history, talk to your doctor before using any product that claims to raise growth hormone.

3. Check your medications

Some supplements interact with medications. Ingredients common in HGH formulas, such as L-arginine, can lower blood pressure slightly, and the NIH notes that high doses can cause digestive discomfort ^[5]. If you take blood pressure medicine, diabetes medicine, thyroid medicine, or anything for mood or sleep, show the label to your pharmacist.

4. Look at your sleep first

Your biggest natural growth hormone pulse happens during deep sleep early in the night ^[6]. If you sleep five hours a night or wake up repeatedly, fixing that is likely to do more for your growth hormone than any supplement. Loud snoring and daytime sleepiness can point to sleep apnea, which deserves a medical checkup.

5. Set a baseline you can measure against

Before you start anything new, write down where you are today. Without a baseline, it is almost impossible to tell whether a product is doing anything.

• Weight and waist measurement.
• A few strength numbers from the gym.
• Average hours of sleep for a week.
• Energy and mood on a simple 1 to 10 scale.
• Recent blood work, if you have it.

Questions to ask your doctor

You do not need a long appointment. Bring the product label and ask a few direct questions:

• Is there any reason this product could affect my blood sugar or blood pressure?
• Could it interact with any medication I take?
• Given my personal and family history, is there any reason to avoid products that aim to raise growth hormone or IGF-1?
• Should I get any blood work before I start or after a few months?
• Are my symptoms worth testing for a medical cause?

Most doctors appreciate a patient who asks before starting a supplement rather than after a problem appears.

When to see a doctor instead

If you have symptoms like unusual fatigue, loss of muscle despite training, reduced bone density, or a history of head injury or pituitary problems, ask your doctor about testing. True adult growth hormone deficiency is diagnosed with specific tests and treated under medical supervision ^[7]. A supplement is not the right tool for a medical condition.

The bottom line

These five checks take a little time, but they protect your health and make any results easier to judge. Once you have done them, our HGH supplements guide can help you compare products, and our guide to buying HGH supplements online safely covers the buying process.

This article is for information only and is not medical advice. HGHSpecial does not sell prescription HGH or somatropin. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplement, especially if you have a health condition or take medication.

Sources

1. Hjelholt AJ, et al. Insulin resistance induced by growth hormone is linked to lipolysis and associated with suppressed pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in skeletal muscle. Diabetologia. 2020
2. Cleveland Clinic. HGH (Human Growth Hormone): What It Is, Benefits & Side Effects
3. Swerdlow AJ, et al. Risk of cancer in patients treated with human pituitary growth hormone in the UK, 1959-85: a cohort study. Lancet. 2002
4. Mayo Clinic. Human growth hormone (HGH): Does it slow aging?
5. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance
6. Van Cauter E, Plat L. Interrelationships between growth hormone and sleep. Growth Horm IGF Res. 2000
7. Molitch ME, et al. Evaluation and treatment of adult growth hormone deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011