- According to the WHO, 60% of patients with hypothyroidism are unaware of their condition.
- Most of the symptoms it generates are easily confused with other diseases.
- Self-examination of the neck and the TSH test in the blood are the first steps for the timely detection of this condition.
Hypothyroidism is known as an impostor problem. The reason is because it generates symptoms that can be confused with other conditions. The list goes from anxiety and depression to constant cold, constipation and weight gain for no apparent reason. It is also responsible for dermatological problems such as hair loss, dry skin, and brittle nails. So how do you detect a multifaceted disease like this?
Can you imagine one day feeling very tired, without energy, without your body responding to you “it’s as if you had sleep paralysis, but without being asleep, I remember that I couldn’t even move my hands to change the television channel with the remote control.” remote, I felt that my life was going in slow motion,” comments Mariana M, a patient who was diagnosed with hypothyroidism more than a year ago.
Red flags: the most common symptoms
Weight gain, menstrual disorders, sleep disorders (not sleeping well, sleeping during the day and not at night), hair loss, dry skin, cold intolerance, depression and brittle nails, among others. Not all symptoms mean hypothyroidismbut the sum of them can be a sign that something is not right in the body.
I have already been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and now how do I live?
With discipline. Keep in mind that it is a lifelong disease that requires controlled treatment that must be taken daily on an empty stomach, only with water and without mixing with other medications.
“Controlled hypothyroidism in a person is a person who has nothing. The only difference is that they take a daily tablet” is the message sent by Dr. Valeria Taylor, Endocrinologist and Master in Public Health from HAW Hamburg Germany.
Unlike other diseases, the hypothyroidism It does not require a specific diet, or stop eating certain foods or consume others to improve. High intensity physical exercise can be done if the disease is controlled. Always, in the face of any chronic condition, the recommendation is to lead life as healthily as possible.
Did I understand correctly?, pills for life
That’s right, patients with hypothyroidism they must make the habit of taking their pill every day right after they get up.
“It is documented that once the patient starts with a medication, they must continue with it, if a change is made in the prescription, it will be reflected in an imbalance in their thyroid causing discomfort and other damage.”
Hypothyroidism does not come alone
Being a chronic-degenerative disease, triggers another series of diseases such as: obesity since it changes the metabolism; accelerates the evolution of diabetes faster due to slow metabolism; hypertension. In patients with depression and anxiety, it is difficult to control, on some occasions these psychiatric illnesses are caused by thyroid malfunction and with effective treatment, they disappear or are controlled. Lastly, fibromyalgia is closely associated with hypothyroidism.
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