The Relationship Between Growth Hormone Release and Sleep Patterns

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Growth hormone is released from the anterior pituitary during the first hours of sleep, particularly when not eating for two hours before sleep and maintaining regular bedtimes. Variable bedtimes, especially going to sleep much later than usual, can cause a missed growth hormone pulse that typically occurs in the first two to three hours of sleep. It's not necessary to stress about sleeping at the exact same time every night, as there is a plus or minus 30-minute window. Occasional late nights or disrupted sleep won't have a severe impact.

In this episode, I explain the biology of hair, hair growth, why hair growth slows and what causes hair to stop growing and/or “fall out.” I discuss the essential role of hair stem cells and other supporting biological factors for healthy hair growth. Then I describe various approaches (mechanical and chemical) to slow hair loss by increasing blood flow to hair stem cells, including minoxidil, tadalafil, PRP, microneedling, Botox and ketoconazole treatments. I also discuss how age-related hormone changes cause hair loss and explain the effectiveness of treatments such as caffeine, saw palmetto, growth hormone, finasteride and dutasteride. For all hair growth options, I describe potential side effects, how soon to expect results and the amount of hair regrowth to expect and I highlight effective combination treatments for hair regrowth even in hair “dead” (bald) zones. For many listeners, thinning, brittle hair, or pattern baldness are a source of anxiety and stress. This episode explains the mechanisms underlying hair regrowth tools and the science behind them so that you can evaluate potential treatments and associated side-effect profiles and select the best one(s) for you.

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