Consider common signs of normal aging: hair loss, fatigue, constipation, depression, and forgetfulness. Some people become more sensitive to cold than before, or have a smaller appetite.
Should these symptoms be a cause for concern when it comes to your own health? Maybe, since it could be quite serious, and here’s why:
• A disease that often mimics the signs of aging is thyroid disease. The reason is, with increasing age, changes take place in thyroid hormone secretion, metabolism and action.
• The incidence of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) increases with age. Among those aged 65 years and older, one in 10 men and one in six women have hypothyroidism. By age 75, one in six men and one in five women have the condition. Treatment is available, but here’s what you need to know:
• Your thyroid, a small gland located beneath your Adam’s apple, produces hormones that regulate growth, maturation and the speed of your metabolism. Early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease is crucial. If left untreated it may be associated with increased severity of other illnesses and with a greater risk of death in the elderly.
• The most frequent cause of hypothyroidism in the elderly is autoimmune thyroiditis. Individuals with celiac disease, a disorder of the intestine that is caused by sensitivity to gluten, are also at higher risk of hypothyroidism. n Most of the time, thyroid disease is easily diagnosed and treated. If you are experiencing symptoms of feeling cold, fatigue, or depression, ask your doctor for a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) blood test.
• Hypothyroidism, the most prevalent thyroid disorder, is usually treated with synthetic thyroid hormone called levothyroxine. Regular TSH tests will indicate whether your dose needs adjusting. Experts recommend that you stay on the same medication to avoid small changes in dose that can affect how you feel.
