What Might Your Elderly Loved One Need to Know About Thyroid Disease?
Do you know about thyroid disease? Unfortunately, many elderly people have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. As your elderly loved one gets older, it is important for them to know about these diseases. If they have one of these conditions, early detection is important. It can help them to get the treatments they need. Keep reading here to learn more about these conditions, so you can share the information with your elderly loved one.
What do you need to know about hypothyroidism?
One of the thyroid diseases is called hypothyroidims. This happens when there aren’t enough thyroid hormones being produced. If someone has this disease, their metabolic rate will be low. Usually, this thyroid disease occurs more often in the elderly than in younger adults. It can be difficult to recognize it because the person’s symptoms may develop slowly. It is important to note that the symptoms of this disease can vary greatly depending on the person’s thyroid hormone levels. With this being said, some of the symptoms you and professional caregivers should look for in your elderly loved one include:
- Sluggishness
Caregiver Broomall, PA: Thyroid Disease
- Fatigue
- Cold sensitivity
- Pale
- Constipation
- Puffy face
- Dry skin
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Brittle nails and hair
- Muscle aches
- Weight gain
- Stiffness and tenderness
- Muscle weakness
- Menstrual changes
- Joint swelling
- Depression
If these symptoms are noticed in your elderly loved one, you or one of the caregivers should take them to the doctor. The doctor can run blood tests and other tests if needed to help determine if your elderly loved one does have hypothyroidsim.
What do you need to know about hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism is another one of the thyroid diseases that your elderly loved one could potentially have. This disease can also be tough to diagnose. The reason for this is because many of the symptoms mimic those of other disease and health issues. With this being said, some of the symptoms that you and caregivers should watch out for in your elderly loved one include:
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Heart is pounding
- Sudden weight loss
- Increased appetite
- Irritability and/or anxiety
- Tremors in fingers and/or hands
- Menstrual changes
- Sweating
- Bowel changes
- Heat sensitivity
- Thyroid gland is enlarged
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Trouble sleeping
If you, one of the caregivers, or your elderly loved one notice these symptoms, you should schedule a doctor’s appointment for your loved one. The doctor can run tests to determine if your elderly loved one has hyperthyroidism.
Conclusion
These are some of the things that your elderly loved one might need to know about thyroid disease. You and the caregivers that your elderly loved one has should know about these things, as well. If any of you notice these symptoms in your elderly loved one, be sure to schedule them a doctor’s appointment.
If you or an aging loved one are considering a Caregiver in Broomall, PA please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3401753/
Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.
"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."
In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.
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