What are the symptoms of Acromegaly?
Early symptoms may involve tiredness and sleep disturbance together with sweating, and swelling of the hands and feet. People may notice a change in ring or shoe size, particularly an increase in foot width. Headaches may also occur.
Gradually, bone changes alter the patient’s facial features with the brow and lower jaw protruding. The nasal bones enlarge and teeth may be spaced out in the lower jaw. An overgrowth of bone and cartilage can lead to arthritis and when tissue thickens it may trap nerves, causing carpal tunnel syndrome which results in weakness, numbness or pain in the hands. Organs in the body, such as the heart may enlarge.
Symptoms include;
- Increased shoe size, gloves, hats, shirt collar, over months or years
- Headaches
- Joint pains
- Facial pain – changes to bite as the jaw moves forward and/or spacing of the lower jaw teeth may change
- Sweating
- Increased weight
- Mood swings
- Tongue grows
- Speech differences i.e. deeper voice, with possible lisping sound
- Sleep apnoea (snoring with episodes of interrupted catching of breath)
