The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, regulates the body’s metabolism, energy levels, and overall well-being. Understanding thyroid health is especially important for seniors since thyroid difficulties become more common as they age and can resemble other age-related diseases, making them more difficult to identify. With the help of loved ones and senior home care providers, seniors gain valuable knowledge about thyroid issues and the confidence to talk with their medical team about any concerns they might have.
Common Thyroid Conditions
There are two primary thyroid conditions: hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Both illnesses are curable, but proper diagnosis and therapy are required to avoid consequences. Senior home care and loved ones can help seniors learn the signs to look for and ensure they talk with their doctor to get the proper care they need.
Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces inadequate hormones. Symptoms include weariness, weight gain, dry skin, constipation, depression, and sensitivity to cold. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system destroys the thyroid, is a common cause.
Hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism is characterized by an overactive thyroid that produces an excessive amount of hormones. Symptoms include weight loss, increased appetite, quick heartbeat, irritability, heat sensitivity, and tremors. The most common cause is Graves’ disease, another autoimmune illness.
Why Does Thyroid Health Matter for Seniors?
Thyroid dysfunction can be misdiagnosed as natural aging or another medical condition. Fatigue, weight fluctuations, and memory issues, for example, can also be signs of depression or dementia. Additionally, unmanaged thyroid abnormalities can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as impact bone health and cognitive decline, all of which are already widespread among seniors.
Diagnosing Thyroid Issues
After learning more about common thyroid issues, it’s important that seniors understand diagnosing. First, there is generally not just one method of diagnosis, but rather a mix of things. For instance, blood tests can reveal thyroid function by measuring TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), T3, and T4. Also, a doctor may check for thyroid enlargement or nodules during a physical exam. Finally, ultrasounds or radioactive iodine uptake tests might also be used. Because symptoms in seniors might be modest, routine thyroid exams are frequently recommended for anyone over 60, particularly women.
Treatment Options
If seniors are diagnosed, there are a couple of treatment options that are typically put in place. For hypothyroidism, treatment generally consists of daily thyroid hormone replacement treatment, such as levothyroxine, which restores hormone levels. Depending on the degree and underlying reason, hyperthyroidism treatment options may include antithyroid medications, radioactive iodine therapy, and surgery. It’s important to understand that both therapies require continuous follow-up to ensure efficacy and avoid problems.
Self-Care and Lifestyle Tips
Along with helping seniors gain information and be on the lookout for symptoms, senior home care can also help them make lifestyle changes to ensure their best health, including the following:
Focus on a Balanced Diet: A balanced diet should include adequate amounts of iodine, selenium, and zinc while avoiding excessive iodine.
Regular Checkups: Seniors need to make and maintain regular doctor appointments to monitor thyroid health.
Medication Adherence: Seniors need to take their medications as prescribed.
Thyroid health is an important part of aging successfully. Senior home care can help seniors become aware and remain proactive regarding this issue, which can lead to a better quality of life.
Sources: https://www.silversneakers.com/blog/thyroid-disorders-what-older-adults-should-know/
https://www.healthinaging.org/a-z-topic/thyroid-problems/symptoms
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/hypothyroidism-symptoms-and-signs-in-an-older-person
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Home Care Services in Rahway NJ, please contact the caring staff at Helping Hands Homecare today. Call (908) 418-4299
Helping Hands Homecare provides Senior Home Care Services throughout Northern and Central New Jersey, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside, Short Hills, Millburn, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Kenilworth, Chatham, Madison, Metuchen, and surrounding areas.
After graduating from Seton Hall University with a BS in finance Helping Hands Homecare’s Owner / President, Robert D’Arienzo, went to work on Wall St. for six years. However, after Robert’s grandmother became ill with stomach cancer Robert and his family needed to find assistance in the home for her. After many trials and tribulations Robert could see that there was a great need for quality home care services here in NJ and loved the idea of being able to assist other families who were going through what his family went through with his beloved grandmother.
Thus, Robert had found his passion. After almost a year of preparation Robert opened Helping Hands Homecare in 2003. Robert wanted Helping Hands Homecare to focus on providing the highest quality of caregivers, exceptional customer service, and providing a service that familys could depend on in their time of need. Since then Helping Hands has assisted hundreds of individuals with the simplest of needs to more complex cases while preserving those standards set out many years ago.
Robert is a Google Verified Author
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