Aging and Disease

Hypothyroidism is a disease caused by the inability of the thyroid gland to produce sufficient thyroid hormones. Severity of this disease varies from case to case and oftentimes, the milder symptoms can be misdiagnosed as a different disease. Extreme cases of hypothyroidism can lead to myxedema. Cases of this disease are often found in women after pregnancy because of the draining of the woman’s mineral stores.

If you have hypothyroidism, you will experience different symptoms, depending on your age. If you are an adult you may experience slower speed in your movement, a hoarse, breaking voice; memory loss; sensitivity to changes in temperature; slow heart rate; poor reflexes; dry puffy skin, especially on the face; hair loss, especially on the eyebrows; depression; weight gain; anemia; constipation; fatigue; tendency to choke or difficulty swallowing; shortness of breath; the need to sleep more; muscle cramps and joint pain; decreased sex drive; brittle finger nails; paleness; irritability; and thin, fragile or absent cuticles.

Women may experience infertility or difficulty in becoming pregnant. Infants experience feeding problems, constipation, and excessive sleep. Symptoms for later toddlers include a protruding abdomen, rough and dry skin, and delayed teething. Children may experience delayed growth and a puffy, bloated appearance. A blood test is necessary to determine and diagnose the disease.

Menieres disease has four symptoms: periodic episodes of vertigo; fluctuating, progressive unilateral or bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus of one or both ears; a sensation of fullness or pressure in both ears. You may notice only one symptom at first that later leads to the others. The vertigo you experience might last for hours or for as long as days. After you experience a tinnitus attack, it can feel better at first but later on become worse. It is believed that Menieres disease is caused by endolymphatic hydrops or excess fluid in the inner ear. Proper clinical testing is necessary, as Merieres disease shares symptoms with a number of other diseases.

Tags: Health, Illness