Understanding Thyroid Disease in Seniors

Senior Health and Wellbeing  |  November 18, 2024

What Every Senior in Vancouver, BC, Needs to Know About Thyroid Disease

Thyroid Disease in Seniors can affect their quality of life. The golden years can be an exciting time; it is also a time when bodies age and change. As this happens, we become more susceptible to certain health conditions along the way.

What is Thyroid Disease?

Thyroid disease is a condition that affects the body’s ability to maintain a regular metabolic rate.  Many seniors are diagnosed with the disease. This article can provide useful insight into the causes, symptoms, and importance of early detection of thyroid disease.

The Two Types of Thyroid Disease:

Hypothyroidism – The body makes too little thyroid hormone, slowing down the metabolism.

Hyperthyroidism – The body makes too much thyroid hormone, resulting in an accelerated metabolic rate.

Out of the two, hypothyroidism is more common in seniors, though harder to diagnose. This is because the frequency of symptoms decreases with age. As a result, older adults will only have one or two symptoms out of many correlated to hypothyroidism.

The frequency and severity of symptoms depend on how low thyroid hormone levels are. The symptoms can include fatigue, sensitivity to cold, constipation, dry and pale skin, hoarseness, increased cholesterol, unexpected weight gain, stiffness and muscle aches, swelling of joints, and depression.

Thyroid Disease in Seniors – Risk Factors for Developing Hypothyroidism:

• Being a female over 50
• Having a history of autoimmune disease in the family
• Receiving radiation treatment in the upper neck/chest area
• Previously underwent thyroid gland surgery
• Iodine deficiency

Just like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism can present itself in many ways, making it hard to diagnose, as some symptoms can misleadingly be associated with other health conditions. Again, the age factor can contribute to only one or two symptoms showing in the golden years. To make matters worse, some medications can create side effects similar to the symptoms or even conceal the signs of this disease.

With this in mind, common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include sudden weight loss, fast or irregular heartbeat, increased appetite, anxiety, subtle tremors in hands or the tip of the fingers, increased sweating, changes in the menstrual cycle, sensitivity to heat, changes in bowel patterns, enlargement of the thyroid gland, obvious to the touch, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping.

Thyroid Disease in Seniors – Risk Factors for Developing Hyperthyroidism:

• Having a history of hyperthyroidism in the family
• Being diagnosed with Graves’ or Plummer’s disease
• Developing nodules on the thyroid gland, known as a toxic adenoma
• Experiencing swelling or pain in the thyroid gland

Though as we mentioned, this disease can be quite challenging to diagnose in older adults, when recognized in time and treated properly, thyroid disease can be successfully managed.

The Best Senior Home Care Provider in Vancouver, BC, is Comfort Keepers®

Many families prefer Comfort Keepers® when arranging senior home care services for a loved one in or around Vancouver, British Columbia. 

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones, we can help with 24-hour care. Comfort Keepers Vancouver also provides home care services like respite care, overnight care, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care, personal care, and more! 

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver Can Help with Companion Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Personal and empathetic care starts in the heart and allows us to meet our clients’ needs. Comfort Keeper’s philosophy is to elevate the human spirit, and our caregivers ensure your loved one experiences a better quality of life.

Trained caregivers help provide our senior clients with personal home care to help maintain the highest possible quality of life, keeping them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ delivers a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Bring The Best Home Care Assistance for Seniors Right Where You Live with Comfort Keepers®

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver is proud to provide elder care in homes throughout Vancouver, keeping seniors safe in their homes. We provide home care for the seniors of Vancouver and the surrounding areas of Burnaby, Langley, Richmond, Surrey, White Rock, New Westminster, and Abbotsford. Please call (604) 689-8609. 

Personal Care and Senior Homecare in Vancouver, BC

Learn more about our unique service, which offers personal care, companionship care, palliative and end-of-life care. Contact the Comfort Keepers® Vancouver office today.

Accredited and Quality Respite Care Available 24/7 for British Columbia Families

Accreditation Canada has awarded Comfort Keepers® Vancouver with Exemplary Standing. This designation is only achieved after an organization’s policies, procedures, and processes undergo a thorough evaluation by industry experts to ensure they meet or exceed the stringent quality standards set by Accreditation Canada for Home Care companies.

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