Tests: You'll get blood checks for levels of T4 and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). After age 70, 25 percent of women may have subclinical or mild hypothyroidism." Why It's Overlooked: "Some people are very sensitive to small changes in thyroid hormones," Farwell says, "even when their numbers aren't low enough to qualify for treatment. The result: decreased endurance and a sluggish mind. If it churns out too little-as may happen in 12 to 15 percent of women at midlife-"all the processes in your body slow down," says Alan Farwell, MD, chairman of patient education and advocacy for the American Thyroid Association. Located at the base of your neck-and barely larger than the knot in a bow tie-the thyroid gland controls your body's metabolic speed by producing the hormones T4 and T3. If she rules those out, ask her to probe deeper for these often overlooked causes. But if you're feeling any new kind of tired, speak up." Your physician should check for the usual suspects, like insomnia, stress, sleep apnea, depression, and diabetes. "A lot of women hesitate to tell their doctors about low energy. "Fatigue that's new or dramatic, prolonged or unexplained can signal a serious medical problem like heart disease or anemia," says Lori Mosca, MD, director of preventive cardiology at New York–Presbyterian Hospital. Whatever your personal energy crisis might be, it's time to act. Climbing stairs feels like summiting Mount Everest. The bounce in your step has become a plod.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |