Acromegaly occurs when your body makes too much growth hormone (GH). Most often, the extra GH comes from a tumor in the pituitary gland.

The pituitary gland is a small gland at the base of the brain. It produces GH, a hormone that your body needs in order to grow and function properly. Your body uses GH to produce another hormone called insulin-like growth factor I, or IGF-I (I-G-F-wun).

When the pituitary gland makes too much GH, your body creates too much IGF-I. And that extra IGF-I can lead to many of the uncomfortable symptoms and health complications of acromegaly.

What problems can acromegaly cause?

You may notice:

• Growth or swelling in hands or feet or an increase in ring or shoe size
• Growth in facial features (like the chin, forehead, or nose)
• Increased spacing of teeth
• Enlarged tongue
• Increased sweating, unpleasant odor
• A tired feeling most of the time

You may also have:

• Headache
• Vision problems
• Thick, oily skin
• Pain in the joints (like the knees or hips)
• Weak muscles
• Tingling (pins-and-needles feeling), numbness (abnormal feeling), or weakness of the hands
• Missing or irregular periods
• Unusual tiredness or exhaustion
• Swelling in the front of the neck, caused by an enlarged thyroid gland
• Voice change (hollow-sounding voice)
• Breathing difficulties during sleep, which can cause snoring/sleep disturbances
• Decreased sex drive
• Skin tags (growths of excess skin)

Print this acromegaly symptoms check list to help you talk to your doctor.