Patient's question:
My friend's cousin has been unusually hungry without any prior signs in the past year, and his weight has also increased rapidly. My mother is worried that he might have obesity, so she took him to a comprehensive and detailed examination at a hospital in the town. The doctor suspected that my cousin might have acromegaly. What exactly is acromegaly?Doctor's answer:
What are the symptoms of acromegaly, which can be complex and not easily noticeable in the early stages? This condition typically begins in the 20s or 30s, with the earliest manifestations often being thickened bones, a coarse appearance, headaches, fatigue, and lower back pain. Patients frequently report that their shoes, hats, and gloves become too small and need to be replaced frequently. When the symptoms become more pronounced, the classic clinical features of the disease begin to appear. The patient's finger range of motion increases, memory declines, and hands become numb. Female patients may experience menstrual irregularities, amenorrhea, and infertility, while male patients may suffer from reduced sexual function and premature ejaculation.