Understanding Thyroid Disease in Seniors

Senior Health and Wellbeing  |  November 18, 2024

What Every Senior in Vancouver, BC Needs to Know About Thyroid Disease

Thyroid Disease in Seniors can affect one’s quality of life. The golden years can be an exciting time but, it is also a time that bodies age and change. As this happens we become more susceptible to certain health conditions along the way.

What is Thyroid Disease?

Thyroid disease is a condition that affects the body’s ability to maintain a regular metabolic rate.  Many seniors are diagnosed with the disease. This article can provide useful insight into the causes, symptoms, and importance of early detection of thyroid disease.

The Two Types of Thyroid Disease:

Hypothyroidism – The body makes too little thyroid hormone, slowing down the metabolism.

Hyperthyroidism – The body makes too much thyroid hormone, resulting in an accelerated metabolic rate.

Out of the two, hypothyroidism is more common in seniors, though harder to diagnose. This is because the frequency of symptoms decreases with age. As a result, older adults will only have one or two symptoms out of many correlated to hypothyroidism.

The frequency and severity of symptoms depend on how low thyroid hormone levels are. The symptoms can include fatigue, sensitivity to cold, constipation, dry and pale skin, hoarseness, increased cholesterol, unexpected weight gain, stiffness and muscle aches, swelling of joints, and depression.

Thyroid Disease in Seniors – Risk Factors for Developing HYPOthyroidism:

• Being a female over 50
• Having a history of autoimmune disease in the family
• Receiving radiation treatment in the upper neck/chest area
• Previously undergoing thyroid gland surgery
• Iodine deficiency

Just like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism can present itself in many ways, making it hard to diagnose as some symptoms can misleadingly be associated with other health conditions. And again, the age factor can contribute to only one or two symptoms showing in golden years. To make matters worse, some medications can create side effects similar to the symptoms or even conceal the signs of this disease.

With this in mind, common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include sudden weight loss, fast or irregular heartbeat, increased appetite, anxiety, subtle tremors in hands or the tip of the fingers, increased sweating, changes in the menstrual cycle, sensitivity to heat, changes in bowel patterns, enlargement of the thyroid gland obvious to the touch, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping.

Thyroid Disease in Seniors – Risk Factors for Developing HYPERthyroidism:

• Having a history of hyperthyroidism in the family
• Being diagnosed with Graves or Plummer’s disease
• Developing nodules on the thyroid gland known as toxic adenoma
• Experiencing swelling or pain in the thyroid gland

Though, as we mentioned, this disease can be quite challenging to diagnose in older adults when recognized in time and treated properly, thyroid disease can be successfully managed.

Comfort Keepers® is the Best Senior Home Care Provider in Vancouver, BC

Comfort Keepers® is the preferred choice for senior care for many families in or around Vancouver. 

We offer Respite Care, Overnight Care, Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care, End of Life Care, and more! If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved one we can help!

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver Can Help with Companion Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Keep seniors happy and healthy at home. Comfort Keeper’s trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible. Our Interactive Caregiving™ delivers a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Our philosophy is to elevate the human spirit and our caregivers will be there every step of the way to ensure your loved one has a better quality of life. Personal and empathetic care starts in the heart, allowing us to meet our client’s needs. 

Senior Homecare in Vancouver, BC

Learn more about our unique service which offers personal care, companionship care, palliative care, and end-of-life care by contacting the Comfort Keepers® Vancouver office.

Comfort Keepers® Brings You The Best Home Care Assistance for Seniors Right Where You Live.

We are proud to provide home care throughout Vancouver that keeps seniors safe in their homes. We provide home care for the seniors of Vancouver and the surrounding areas of Burnaby, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Richmond please call (604) 689-8609. 

Quality and Accredited Respite Care for British Columbia Families

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver has been accredited with Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada. Accreditation is an intensive process in which industry experts examine an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures against quality standards. To achieve accredited status, Comfort Keepers® offices met or exceeded the rigorous standards for Home Care companies, as defined by Accreditation Canada. 

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