People have a thyroid, but not everyone understands its importance. Thyroid Health Awareness Month informs people about the thyroid’s role and how to know if the thyroid isn’t working as effectively.
The thyroid gland helps your body produce hormones. Specifically, the hormones help tell the different cells in the body how much energy to use, which helps your metabolism.
When it’s producing too much, it can lead to hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a condition caused by the production of too little hormone. Both need to be diagnosed by a medical professional and treated accordingly.
Symptoms of Thyroid Issues
Hyperthyroidism causes the body’s cells to use energy too quickly. Symptoms include a rapid heartbeat, anxiety, and weight loss. Insomnia, muscle weakness, vision issues, and eye irritation are also common. Nodules, tumors, or goiters growing on the gland are likely causes of hyperthyroidism. A diet that contains too much iodine is another common cause.
Hypothyroidism causes energy to not be used by the cells as quickly as it should. Weight gain, lethargy, and inability to regulate the body’s internal temperature in cold weather are some of the common symptoms. Others include decreased memory retention, dry hair, hair loss, and vocal changes with the voice being hoarse sounding. One of the leading causes of hypothyroidism is inflammation.
Women are more likely to develop thyroid disease. It’s especially common in women over the age of 60. This puts your mom at the biggest risk of developing a thyroid condition. Diabetes also increases your risk.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Blood tests are the easiest way to check thyroid function. A blood sample is taken to check the hormone levels in the blood. Your mom’s doctor may order a scan, often an ultrasound, of the thyroid to check its size and shape and to look for growths.
If tests are positive, your mom’s doctor will recommend a treatment and management plan. Hyperthyroidism is usually treated with medications that slow or stop the production of hormones are one option. Beta blockers can be used to slow a rapid heartbeat. For hypothyroidism, medications to replace the missing hormones are used.
Sometimes, a doctor will recommend that the thyroid be removed during surgery. If this is the case, make sure your mom is supported while she heals. The incision may be made in the front of her neck or her armpit. With both surgeries, you may want to arrange to have home health care nurses stop by for bandage changes.
She will also need the help of caregivers. She needs a couple of weeks to heal from the surgery. She won’t be able to lift items that weigh more than 15 pounds. She will need people to carry her laundry basket, carry in groceries and packages, and do strenuous activities like changing sheets, vacuuming the stairs, and taking out the trash.
Caregivers can help her with all of them temporarily. Call a home care agency and ask about respite care services while your mom recovers.
If you are considering caregivers in Park Slope, NY, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts At Home of NYC today at 212-201-6139.
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