The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-05-19
Your Health
Early Treatment
of Hypothyroidism
Recommended
nY Il y. RuNpEsEN. ". p.

Recommended
by II. y. RUNDEsEN. NJ. d.
HYPOTHYRoIDISM, or a lack
Of thyroid secretion from the gland
in the neck, is a well-known and
rather common disorder. Never
theless, treatment of this condition
is often delayed until eompliea-
tions, such as heart damage, occur.
Doctor Jacob J. Kohlhas Of
Philadelphia suggests that pa
tients with hypothyroidism are
less sensitive to pain and bodily
discomfort than are normal per-
sons. This happens because their
mental reactions are slow. The pa
tient also gets used to certain
changes that go on in the skin as
well as to loss of hair, constipation
and sleepiness. Other symptoms
which may occur are changes in
the voice, poor appetite and ulcers
or sores on the tongue.
The principal symptoms Of this
condition are puffiness of the face
and eyelids, swelling of the tongue
and voice-box or larynx which pro-
duces a hoarse, slow speech. The
skin is rough and dry. The hair
falls out all over the body. There
are sluggishness of the intestines
and moor memory.
II these symptoms appear, a
basal metabolism test should be
made TO determine the rate at
which the body activities are going
on. This test is made by having the
patient breathe into small tank
and measuring the amount OF
oxygen he uses up in given
period Of time. In the patient with
hypothyroidism, the basal meta
bolism rate is below normal.
Another test for hypothyroidism
is 10 determine the amount of
fatty substance known as choles-
terol in the blood. In hypothyroid-
ism the amount of blood choles-
terol is increased. However, there
are other conditions, such as dia-
betes, blocking of the bile passages
and a high fat diet, which may
cause a rise in the blood eholes-
terol.
If with these tests, and study
of the symptoms, it is still uncer-
tain as to whether or not the pa
tient has hypothyroidism, a test
can be made by giving thyroid ex-
tract in the proper dose. If the
symptoms then improve, it may be
probable that the, difficulty is due
70 Iscx OF my 6rci .ser.5. sso!s emu :
the treatment may then be con-
tinued.
Large doses of thyroid extract
should not be employed. Small
quantities will usually bring about
the desired results. Within week,
the basal metabolism test may re-
turn to normal. However, heart
changes and anemia or lack of
coloring in the blood, which are
often present in the hypothyroid
patient, may not improve for sew
eral months. Obviously, the sooner
treatment is started, the less
permanent damage to the tissues
will have resulted from the hypo-
thyroid condition.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
il DIS penicillin or any other
drug of definite help in treating
early stage tuberculosis Of the
lungs?
Answer: - Penicillin has not
been found of any value in the
treatment of tuberculosis. At the
present time, there are no partic-
ular drugs which have been recon-
mended as specific against tuber-
culous infections.
F.. Sis there cure or help
for Jacksonian epilepsy?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS epilepsy
is condition produced by pressure
on the brain. In many instances, it
is possible by means Of an opera
ton to relieve this type of pres
sure. However, if the condition is
not severe, it would hardly be adj
yisahle IN have a brain operation.