Heart dysfunction, constipation, and chronic fatigue may occur.
Entered 2024.01.01 10:07 Views 227 Entered 2024.01.01 10:07 Modified 2024.01.01 10:05 Views 227 Vague muscle pain or joint pain is considered one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. [사진=클립아트코리아]
The thyroid gland, located in the front of the neck, makes hormones. If there is a problem with thyroid function, too much hormone is secreted or it is not produced properly. If it is secreted excessively, hyperthyroidism may occur, and if it is not secreted properly, hypothyroidism may occur.
Among these, hypothyroidism occurs more often in women, and the incidence increases with age. Diagnosing hypothyroidism in the elderly is not easy. There may be no symptoms, or even if there are, they may be mistaken for dementia or aging.
We looked into the symptoms that can indicate hypothyroidism in the elderly introduced by ≪Harvard Health Publishing≫, published by Harvard University Medical School in the United States. If you suspect hypothyroidism, it is best to get a blood test first. The sooner it is detected, the easier it is to deal with.
cognitive decline=Elderly people with very low thyroid activity can sometimes be misdiagnosed as dementia patients. Therefore, doctors recommend thyroid tests for elderly people with cognitive impairment. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, it is a good idea to get a thyroid test.
Even though I don’t eat a lot of fatty foods, my cholesterol is too high.=High cholesterol levels in older people may be evidence that the thyroid gland itself is less active. If you take a blood test, there is a high possibility that you have hypothyroidism.
poor heart function=Decreased blood volume, weakened heart muscle contraction, and decreased heart rate are symptoms that appear when thyroid hormone levels are low. When your heart cannot pump blood as effectively as it needs to, you may experience subtle symptoms such as feeling low on energy or walking more slowly. In patients with heart failure (loss of heart function), the pumping function of the heart is reduced and the blood entering the heart cannot be discharged. As a result, fluid seeps into soft tissues, causing swelling in the lungs and ankles.
heavy constipation=Elderly people with hypothyroidism often develop constipation because stool passes through the intestines more slowly.
Joint pain and muscle pain even though I didn’t exercise too much= Vague joint pain is a typical symptom of hypothyroidism. People with hypothyroidism also experience muscle pain, especially in large muscles such as leg muscles.
Never-ending fatigue=If you continue to feel tired and exhausted even though you have not engaged in any particularly strenuous activities, you may suspect hypothyroidism. Fatigue causes lethargy, apathy and leads to depression.
Depressed and even hallucinating=Depression, a symptom commonly seen in young women with hypothyroidism, can also appear in older people. Some older people develop psychosis accompanied by delusions or hallucinations.
Reporter Kwon Soon-il
kstt77@kormedi.com
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2024-01-01 01:08:46
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