What if you swell up with constipation or hair loss? You have to suspect thyroid disease
Dec 23, 2024
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We summarized hypothyroidism with the help of Professor Yoo Hyun-jin of the Department of Endocrine Metabolism at Gangdong Kyunghee University Hospital.
◇ Various systemic symptoms such as fatigue, swelling, constipation, and hair loss
The symptoms of hypothyroidism vary and are often ambiguous.
Fatigue, facial swelling, memory loss, constipation, etc. may occur, but these symptoms often progress slowly and appear, so the patient may not adjust or be aware of the symptoms.
In addition, people who are prone to cold, hair loss, indigestion, weight gain, and voice changes may appear, and in the case of women, excessive menstruation may be accompanied. In some cases, temporary thyroid poisoning due to the destruction of thyroid cells may precede, and sometimes it is found as thyroidoma in the neck area.
◇ If left unattended, the quality of life deteriorates such as high blood pressure, hair loss, depression, infertility, and foot failure
If hypothyroidism is left unattended, the risk of cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure, heart failure, and increased cholesterol may increase. Depression, cognitive decline, swelling, and menstrual irregularities can progress to coma in serious cases. In women, it may lead to infertility, or in men, symptoms such as decreased libido and impotence may appear. The quality of life decreases along with external changes, such as increased dry skin, hair loss, muscle pain, wheezing voice, and cold sensitivity.
◇ hypothyroidism occurring in various age groups
Hyperthyroidism occurs frequently in women and middle-aged people, but age-specific trends show that women gradually increase from their 20s, showing the highest prevalence in their 60s, and men tend to increase relatively later than women.
In the case of people in their 20s and 30s, due to study and work, in the case of people in their 60s, fatigue, concentration, and memory may be chronic due to hormonal changes such as aging and menopause, which are similar to hypothyroidism symptoms and are not easy to distinguish, leading to delays in hospital visits.
◇ Quick diagnosis with blood collection, taking the right medication is the key to treatment
Hyperthyroidism can be identified without difficulty by measuring thyroid hormone levels through blood sampling. Related antibodies can also be identified by blood collection, which can be diagnosed as autoimmune thyroiditis when the thyroid autoantibody is positive. Sometimes additional radiographic scans and thyroid ultrasound are helpful for diagnosis.
In most cases, hypothyroidism is treated by supplementing insufficient thyroid hormone with medicine. Therefore, the treatment itself is simple, but it is important to take the right medication. Thyroid hormone drugs are recommended to keep an empty stomach for at least 30 minutes after taking it on an empty stomach in the morning, and if you miss taking it in the morning, take it before bed after sufficient digestion after dinner.
◇ Professional medical treatment and regular examination are required
In many cases, hypothyroidism requires lifelong thyroid hormone drugs, but in some cases it is temporary depending on the cause of the occurrence, and in some cases, the dose of the drug needs to be gradually adjusted depending on the situation. Therefore, it is important to start correct diagnosis and treatment through specialist treatment.
Once the appropriate amount of thyroid hormone drug required for my body is determined, the period of visiting the hospital can be increased to one to two times a year after that. However, because the amount of thyroid hormone drugs required may change depending on some drugs, accompanying diseases, and weight, regular examinations and treatment are continuously required.
Professor Yoo Hyun-jin said, `If you accurately diagnose hypothyroidism and treat it properly, you can stay healthy without any major problems in your daily life"He emphasized the importance of professional treatment and active participation of patients in treatment.
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