A Short Guide to Thyroid Disease for Victoria’s Seniors
What Every Senior in Victoria, BC, Needs to Know About Thyroid Disease and Seniors
Thyroid Disease for Seniors | There are so many good aspects of living independently throughout the golden years. However, aging also brings certain challenges and many of us often become more susceptible to developing health conditions than when we were younger.
Seniors are particularly prone to developing complications with the thyroid gland, which can lead to some form of thyroid disease when left undetected.
The two most common thyroid conditions are:
#1 – Hypothyroidism:
This is caused by the lack of thyroid hormones in the system and results in a low metabolic rate.
#2 – Hyperthyroidism:
Occurs when the thyroid gland overproduces hormones, which leads to increased metabolism.
The first one, hypothyroidism, is more prevalent in the elderly. It is, however, rather difficult to recognize as the symptoms appear slowly, over many years. Moreover, seniors afflicted by this condition may only have one or two symptoms because the frequency of symptoms decreases with age.
Depending on how low thyroid hormone levels in the organism have become, the symptoms of hypothyroidism can include sluggishness and fatigue, constipation, amplified sensitivity to coldness, dry skin and pale complexion, high cholesterol, brittle nails and hair, sudden weight gain, stiffness and muscle aches, joint swelling, as well as depression.
There are several risk factors for developing hypothyroidism:
- Being female over 50
- Having a member of the immediate family diagnosed with an autoimmune disease
- Recently receiving radiation treatment in the upper torso
- Previously undergoing thyroid gland surgery
- Developing iodine deficiency
The second one, hyperthyroidism, is also challenging to diagnose, especially because certain symptoms can be signs of other health issues too.
Similar to hypothyroidism, seniors with hyperthyroidism may express only one or two symptoms of this disease, including:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Increased appetite
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat rate
- Anxiety
- Increased sensitivity to heat
- Tremors in the hands
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Menstrual and/or bowel changes
- An enlarged thyroid gland
- Difficulty sleeping
With this in mind, the risk factors for developing hyperthyroidism can be linked to:
- Having a history of this disease in the family
- Being diagnosed with Graves of Plummer’s disease
- Experiencing swelling or pain in the thyroid gland, otherwise known as thyroiditis
- Developing toxic adenomas or nodules on the thyroid gland
Nonetheless, when diagnosed and properly treated, thyroid disease can be managed adequately, helping ensure the best quality of life for seniors affected by the condition.
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