The doctor called the formation of interdental gaps a likely symptom of a rare disease.

Acromegaly is a disease caused by excessive production of pituitary growth hormone (somatotropin), which can occur due to the development of a benign pituitary tumor, as well as hormonal disorders and genetic causes. Stanislav Chechulina, a general practitioner at the Sberbank Health medical company, told Izvestia about this on August 13.

"In rare cases, acromegaly may be the result of a head injury, taking certain medications," she noted.

Chechulina added that with acromegaly, a characteristic change in appearance occurs: the lips enlarge, interdental spaces appear, and the bones of the facial skeleton grow. The nose, chin and lower jaw become more massive, which leads to a change in bite and the appearance of a characteristic appearance. The brow ridges thicken, and the lower jaw gradually pushes forward.

"In addition to facial changes, the disease is accompanied by an increase in the size of the hands and feet — the fingers thicken and lengthen. Due to the proliferation of cartilage and periarticular tissue, osteoarthritis of large joints develops, which is manifested by pain and limited mobility. Most patients have a postural disorder like kyphoscoliosis, a curvature of the spine," the doctor emphasized.

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Among other characteristic symptoms, the expert named excessive sweating, fluctuations in blood pressure, and skin sensitivity disorders in the form of tingling or burning. If the disease is caused by a tumor of the pituitary gland, constant headaches are added to the symptoms.

Chechulina also pointed out that bone changes in acromegaly are irreversible, while soft tissue edema can be reduced with timely treatment. The doctor recommended seeking medical help at the first suspicious symptoms, using telemedicine services if necessary.

Earlier, on June 16, Viktor Lishin, a general practitioner, a preventologist and an expert on genetic tests, warned about the dangers of chronic sleep deprivation for the brain. Constant lack of sleep leads to a decrease in the volume of key areas of the brain responsible for memory, attention and spatial orientation, the specialist noted.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.