Acromegaly is a rare condition where the body produces too much growth hormone. It is usually diagnosed in adults aged 30 to 50. If it starts before puberty, it is known as “gigantism”.

It is usually caused by a non-cancerous tumour in the pituitary gland in the brain. There are a range of symptoms which usually develop slowly.

Early symptoms include: swollen hands and feet (you might notice a change in ring or shoe size as an adult), tiredness and difficulty sleeping, facial features becoming larger, and numbness or weakness in hands.

Late symptoms include: abnormally large hands and feet, large prominent facial features, skin changes, deepening of your voice, joint pain, weakness, headaches, blurred vision and changes in sexual function.

Treatment to reduce growth hormone production and treat any other hormone abnormalities is usually successful. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to reduce the risk of developing complications like; diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis and bowel cancer.