What are the symptoms of acromegaly?
What are the symptoms of acromegaly?
Acromegaly affects the body’s bones and tissues and causes them to grow in abnormal ways. In children, acromegaly causes gigantism (unusual growth). When a child or young adult has too much growth hormone in his or her body, gigantism can cause their bones to grow at an increased rate. Some people with gigantism reach 8 feet tall.
Adults with acromegaly do not grow tall, but may have the following symptoms:
- Enlarged or swollen body parts, such as the hands, feet or chest
- Changes in the face, including a prominent jaw, nose or forehead
- Excessive sweating or oily skin
- Numbness or “pins and needles” in the hands
- Joint pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome or spinal cord problems
- Muscle weakness
- Headaches
- Sleep apnea, a condition that causes the body to stop breathing for short bursts of time during sleep
- Changes in vision or voice
Acromegaly symptoms often start slowly and may be difficult to notice at first. Some people only notice their hands have grown in size when their wedding ring feels tight.