What are the symptoms and causes of acromegaly?

Acromegaly is a chronic disease that is marked by enlargement of the bones of the extremities, face, and jaw. Acromegaly is caused by overactivity of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland of an affected person produces an excessive amount of growth hormone during adulthood. The excessive growth hormone causes the bones of the body to increase in size.

The symptoms of acromegaly include: enlarge hands and feet, enlarged nose, protruding of the jaw, thickened lips, deep husky voice due to enlargement of vocal cords, coarse facial features, skin tags, enlarged tongue, pain in joints, limited joint mobility, snoring due to obstruction of the upper airway, vision problems, and headaches, expansion of skull at fontanelle, excessive growth of hair, excessive sweating, and hyperpigmentation.

Acromegaly is a disorder that results from a surplus of growth hormone after the growth plates have closed. The initial symptom is typically enlargement of hands and feet. There may be an overgrowth of the forehead, jaw, and nose.

Other symptoms may include joint pain, thicker skin, deepening of the voice, headaches, and problems with vision. Acromegaly may also cause changes in the shape of the face, such as a protruding lower jaw and brow, enlarged lower jaw and brow, and enlarged nose, thickened lips, and wider spacing between your fatigue and muscle weakness.