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What Causes Memory Loss, Weight Gain And Dry Skin In An Elderly Person?
Question: A 76-year-old woman presents with weight gain, subjective memory loss, dry skin, and cold intolerance. On examination she is found to have a multinodular goiter. Laboratory findings reveal a low serum T4 and elevated TSH.
What diagnosis would this woman's history, physical, and laboratory tests suggest?
What diagnosis would this woman's history, physical, and laboratory tests suggest?
Brief Answer:
Hypothyroidism and nodular goiter:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking!
The description you made suggests hypothyroidism ( clinically and laboratory) or under active thyroid.
The most cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto thyroiditis and patient with Hashimoto has a higher predisposition for thyroid nodules.
So her diagnosis are; hypothyroidism and multinodular goiter.
Hope the information will help.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Hypothyroidism and nodular goiter:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking!
The description you made suggests hypothyroidism ( clinically and laboratory) or under active thyroid.
The most cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto thyroiditis and patient with Hashimoto has a higher predisposition for thyroid nodules.
So her diagnosis are; hypothyroidism and multinodular goiter.
Hope the information will help.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
can you please explain the possible relationship between the diagnosis and her weight gain, dry skin, cold intolerance, and subjective memory loss.
Also what type of treatment would be indicated?
Thanks for all your help I appreciate it
Also what type of treatment would be indicated?
Thanks for all your help I appreciate it
Brief Answer:
About hypothyroidism;
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back!
The thyroid gland controls how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins, and controls how sensitive the body is to other hormones. It participates in these processes by producing thyroid hormones, the principal ones being triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).
Hormones released from the thyroid regulate the rate of metabolism and the function of many other systems in the body.
The main activity of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 is to boost the basal metabolic rates of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and affect the body temperature too.
That is why a patient with under active thyroid or hypothyroidism has a low metabolism rate manifested with ; low body temperature ( or cold intolerance) weight gain, low heart rate, constipation, dry skin ect.
The contrary happens in over active thyroid, the patient has: rapid heart rate, diarrhea, high temperature, sweating ect.
Regarding to the treatment it consists in taking the hormone orally in order to substitute thyroid function. The dose depends on; TSH level, age, concomitant pathologies ect.
Hope i have been helpful.
Wish her good health.
About hypothyroidism;
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back!
The thyroid gland controls how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins, and controls how sensitive the body is to other hormones. It participates in these processes by producing thyroid hormones, the principal ones being triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).
Hormones released from the thyroid regulate the rate of metabolism and the function of many other systems in the body.
The main activity of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 is to boost the basal metabolic rates of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and affect the body temperature too.
That is why a patient with under active thyroid or hypothyroidism has a low metabolism rate manifested with ; low body temperature ( or cold intolerance) weight gain, low heart rate, constipation, dry skin ect.
The contrary happens in over active thyroid, the patient has: rapid heart rate, diarrhea, high temperature, sweating ect.
Regarding to the treatment it consists in taking the hormone orally in order to substitute thyroid function. The dose depends on; TSH level, age, concomitant pathologies ect.
Hope i have been helpful.
Wish her good health.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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