Thyroid disease: What you need to Know

Thyroid gland is a tiny gland yet it has major role in producing hormones that regulate metabolism. Thyroid gland may not work properly by excreting too much or too little amount of hormone and here you will nkow that there is a thing not right.

Some people over age 60 have few classical symptoms of hypothyroidism while others may experience same symptoms as adults. The problem comes when some people have no typical symptoms which make the diagnosis difficult. Any of the following signs and symptoms can indicate hypothyroidism in an older person.

Unexplained high cholesterol. High cholesterol is a major sign in hyppthyroidism disease, sometimes it is misdiagnosed as high cholesterol not thyroid disease. So elevated cholesterol level may warrant thyroid disease.

Heart failure. Low thyroid hormones may lead to reduced blood volume, weak heart contractions and then low pupming effort. Moreover, the ineffective pumping can be due to the back up of blood into veins back to heart and then to lungs which cause congestion with fluid. Heart failure is a serious conditions and it has common symptoms like breathlessness, swelling in the ankles, weakness, and fatigue.

Bowel movement changes. Constipation is a common symptoms amoung older people with hypothyroidism as the stoolls passes more slowly. Few people experience bouts of diarrhea if they have an autoimmune thyroid disease such as Hashimoto's also have celiac disease, another autoimmune condition that can cause diarrhea.

Joint or muscle pain. Vague joint pain is a classic hypothyroidism symptom and many people may have general muscle aches especially in the large muscle groups like in the legs. This symptoms sometimes it is the only symptoms of hypothyroidism is older people.

Psychiatric problems. Clinical depression is a common symptoms for younger people diagnosed with hypothyroidism but it can affect older people.The difference is that in older people it can be the only hypothyroidism symptom. Some older adults also develop psychosis with delusional behavior or hallucinations.

Dementia. Memory loss with depression or psychosis may be linked to hypothyroidism but not always. So make sure to make thyroid disease whever you have these symptoms.

Balance problems. Problems in walking can be developped in people with hypothyroidism as imbalance of hormones may lead to abnormalities in cerebellum the region respnsible for motor movement.

Sources:

https://www.uchealth.org/services/weight-and-metabolism/diseases-and-conditions/3,85211/