I thought I had a chill cold even in summer, but it turns out...

If I am the only one feeling cold during the hottest days of summer... suspect hypothyroidism

The rainy season has ended, and the heatwave has begun.

 

While everyone around is struggling with the scorching heat during the day, if I am the only one not feeling hot, I wonder if my thyroid function hasn't declined.

You should be suspicious.

 

Professor Jo Kwan-hoon of the Department of Endocrinology at Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University, on the 31st

 

Patients with hypothyroidism often complain of feeling cold and sweating less because they lack thyroid hormones, which are essential for heat and energy production.

 

The thyroid gland is the largest endocrine organ in the human body.

 

The weight is 10 to 15 grams, and this organ, located in the middle of the front of the neck just below the Adam's apple, surrounds the airway in a butterfly shape.

 

The basic function of the thyroid gland is to produce thyroid hormones.

 

Thyroid hormones maintain proper body functions and regulate metabolism.

 

It helps to make the heart beat and move the intestines, as well as maintain an appropriate body temperature.

 

This is called hypothyroidism, a condition where the hormones produced by the thyroid gland are lower than normal or deficient.

 

Patients suffering from this condition are steadily increasing.

 

Last year, 684,529 patients visited domestic medical institutions due to hypothyroidism.

 

It increased by 22.2% from 560,097 in 2018. Female patients are about five times more than male patients.

 

Hypothyroidism is classified as primary or secondary depending on the cause of onset.

 

If there is a problem within the thyroid gland itself leading to decreased hormone secretion, it is called primary. If it occurs due to reduced thyroid-stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland, it is called secondary.

 

Primary cases account for 95%.

 

About 70 to 80% of these are caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a form of chronic thyroiditis.

 

If you have this condition, you may complain of fatigue and weakness.

 

They are sensitive to cold, have decreased appetite, and may experience swelling, weight gain, hair loss, muscle pain, heavy menstruation, and depression.

 

 

Elderly people often do not complain of any particular symptoms.

 

If a disease is suspected and you visit a hospital, thyroid function tests, autoimmune antibody tests, and ultrasound examinations are performed.

 

If it is secondary hypothyroidism, additional tests will be conducted to find out if there are problems in other areas.

 

Treatment is carried out by supplementing the deficient thyroid hormones with medication.

 

If you are taking thyroid hormones, you may need to undergo thyroid function tests every two months initially to adjust the medication dosage.

 

Hypothyroidism is common among young women. Women preparing for pregnancy often hesitate to take hormone medication.

 

Professor Jo said, "Thyroid hormone medication is classified as a safe drug that can be taken during pregnancy without any issues."

 

He said, "There are also research findings that increased thyroid hormone requirements during pregnancy and lower-than-normal maternal thyroid function can impair fetal brain development."

 

If you are planning to conceive, it is advisable to consult an endocrinologist in advance and undergo a thyroid function test.