The thyroid is a small formation at the base of the neck with an important role in the energy metabolism of cells. Diseases of the thyroid gland appear when the cells of the thyroid gland tend to work fast or slow and occur adjacent symptoms in the body. Most thyroid conditions are not age, though, older people suffer from serious illnesses and even more difficult because of the tendency to diagnose other diseases connected.
UncontrolledDiabetes, poor nutrition, liver problems, heart failure and cancer, some of the conditions to harden the diagnosis of thyroid diseases in older persons. Also heparin and drugs for epilepsy, Parkinson's, arthritis, and aspirin can produce changes in thyroid tests even with a normal functioning gland. The symptoms of thyroid dysfunction caused by various factors that are often taken from signs of age and are often overviewed.
Although hyperthyroidism canalso occur at any age, hypothyroidism is more common in older people. It represents an under-active state occurred with a lower secretion and release of thyroid hormones. The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism include dry skin and coarse hair, feeling cold, loss of eyebrows and lethargy. Older persons may also present neurological symptoms such as shaking and psychological effects, such as depression. Other diseases and signs of aging canmake the diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction even more difficult.
The standard treatment of hypothyroidism is the administration of a synthetic hormone thyroxine or levothyroxine that things should get back to normal. The healing usually takes 6-8 weeks before any symptoms appear for an improvement, but the treatment of hypothyroidism is life. Regular tests are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the drugs.
Hyperthyroidism is also known as goiter the opposite conditionand develops normally with changes in the eye area. The tissue of the gland is overactive or going to a swelling of the gland. In geographical points such as Germany or Eastern Europe hyperthyroidism is primarily caused by lack of iodine in drinking water.
Most frequent symptoms of excessive working of the thyroid weight loss and anorexia are fluttering of the whole body, heart failure, sweating, staring eyes, depression, lethargy and confusion. TheAccurate diagnosis is by blood tests for hormone levels, but the doctors have to be carefully separated from a thyroid condition or other diseases caused by various drugs.
The endocrinologist will initially recommend to clean up drugs to the thyroid function normally but the treatment is for a lifetime. Surgical removal of the thyroid or destroy the glandular tissue by radioactive iodine is a part of the available options. Both methods are relativelyRisk-free; Iodine may occasionally cause pain, tenderness, or swelling of the thyroid. The operation is on appeal in the case of a very large goiter.
Thyroid cancer is more common in older people but can occur at any age in the form of glandular nodules. The treatment will consist of surgery, chemotherapy and external radiation therapy.