What Diseases Can Cause Acromegaly?
Acromegaly is a common and dangerous disease that not only leads to endocrine and metabolic dysfunction but also induces other diseases. Understanding the causes of acromegaly is crucial. Typically, acromegaly is caused by pituitary tumors, acromegalic conditions, or unhealthy lifestyles. Patients with acromegaly should seek medical attention promptly.
The typical symptoms of acromegaly include enlarged hands and feet, malocclusion, increased hair growth, and enlargement of the nose, lips, and tongue. Acromegaly is also accompanied by endocrine and metabolic disorders with corresponding physiological abnormalities, which may even induce various other diseases. Therefore, clarifying the causes of acromegaly is essential for targeted treatment. This article will elaborate on the causes of acromegaly.
Pituitary tumors are a major cause of acromegaly, resulting from excessive and sustained growth hormone secretion, which leads to endocrine and metabolic disorders. Generally, many patients with acromegaly have a long duration of illness, ranging from 5 to even over 30 years. Clinical manifestations vary among individuals and are closely related to factors such as tumor size and hormone secretion levels. Surgical treatment is generally considered for acromegaly caused by pituitary tumors. To date, the surgical approach commonly used is a minimally invasive transnasal transsphenoidal approach, though there are certain contraindications. If the patient's pituitary tumor is very large and accompanied by coagulation dysfunction, surgery is generally not recommended, and radiation therapy or pituitary radiation therapy may be considered. If these are also unsuitable, pharmacological treatment, such as dopaminergic agonists, can be chosen, but surgery is still the preferred option.
Patients with acromegaly have a genetic predisposition. That is, if one parent has acromegaly, their children are more likely to develop acromegaly than children whose parents do not have it. This is known as genetic predisposition. However, acromegaly is not entirely a genetic disease. Even if a parent has acromegaly, it does not guarantee a 100% chance of inheritance to offspring. Acromegaly is also a relatively uncommon chronic disease.
The occurrence of acromegaly may also be due to unhealthy lifestyles. Long-term smoking and alcohol consumption not only cause gastrointestinal problems but also stimulate cells, affecting hormone balance and potentially leading to disease. To prevent this disease, individuals should regulate their bodies through effective methods, such as exercising more, resting adequately, and maintaining balanced nutrition. If the disease occurs, patients should actively cooperate with doctors' treatment, control it through medications and other methods, and avoid deterioration that affects daily life.
