Who are at the high risk of adult growth hormone deficiency?
1. Those who suffer a severe head injury in their lifetime. 2. Those exposed to radiation and radiotherapy. 3. Those with pituitary tumour and having undergone surgery. 4. Women experiencing difficulty in delivery requiring blood transfusion. 5. Somatopause (lack of sleep) and advancing age (generally more than 60 years old). Chandigarh, July 12 Anxiety, depression, increased body fat around waist or loss of libido are symptoms indicating adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD). Though unheard of among adults, the deficiency of the growth hormone even today is considered a deficiency prevdent among children. This despite the fact that the department of endocrinology at the PGI alone receives around 15 cases of AGHD every month, which includes only those patients who are diagnosed with the deficiency after the surgery of the pituitary tumour. Awareness among both the patients and the doctors about AGHD is less though its prevalence is quite high, said Dr Anil Bhansali, Head of Department
