“I get cold a lot in winter, and I get tired.” Is there a problem with the thyroid gland?

Haidak Medical Reporter Lee Ju-hyeonㅣSource: Haidak

The thyroid gland is involved in metabolism in our body, regulates body temperature, and is a very important endocrine organ. If there is an abnormality in this thyroid gland, the balance of thyroid hormones secreted by the thyroid gland is broken, and various symptoms appear due to changes in hormones.

Especially in the winter, if you get a lot of cold, get tired, and gain weight even though there is no change in food intake, you should think carefully about whether there is a problem with the thyroid at least once. Hypothyroidism is a disease in which thyroid hormones are not produced well by various causes in the thyroid gland, resulting in metabolic symptoms due to a decrease or deficiency in the concentration of thyroid hormones in the body.

HypothyroidismㅣSource: Getty Image Bank

A congenital cause of hypothyroidism is a decrease in secretion due to inflammation, etc., and an acquired cause can occur when thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine treatment is performed.
Typical symptoms of hypothyroidism are ▲ fatigue easily ▲ weight gain despite eating less food ▲ changes in voice, such as hoarseness ▲ being unusually cold compared to other people. In addition to this, the behavior is slow, the speech is slurred, and the thyroid gland is enlarged, accompanied by symptoms that can be felt in the neck. In particular, in the case of women, changes in the menstrual cycle, accompanied by excessive menstruation, and increased levels of prolactin hormone in the blood may cause lactation, so it is desirable to be examined.

Hypothyroidism is often mistaken for a common winter sore throat, because it progresses very slowly over a long period of time and is not easily recognized. Therefore, it is good to remember the symptoms well and visit the hospital when symptoms appear.
Hypothyroidism can be treated relatively simply by taking thyroid hormone preparations. Since the treatment is simple, it is often not thought of as a disease. If left untreated, it can lead to serious diseases such as heart-related diseases or unconsciousness, so it is important to find a hospital and receive medical treatment as soon as possible when symptoms appear.

Written = Director Lee Joo-hyun (surgeon), medical reporter at Haidak

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