1 month ago
Q. I person hypothyroidism and return 125mcg of levothyroxine a day. For nan past twelvemonth I've felt perpetually exhausted, nodding disconnected whenever I beryllium down. I person tried taking vitamins to nary avail. Check-ups show my thyroid levels are normal.
Alina Moraru, Manchester.
Dr Martin Scurr replies: Your acquisition — erstwhile humor tests show levels of thyroid hormones person been corrected, yet you proceed to consciousness tired — is not uncommon.
Hypothyroidism is usually caused by nan immune strategy attacking nan thyroid, which is simply a gland astatine nan bottommost of nan neck. As a consequence nan diligent produces excessively small thyroxine hormone
Hypothyroidism is usually caused by nan immune strategy attacking nan thyroid (a butterfly-shaped gland astatine nan bottommost of nan neck). As a consequence nan diligent produces excessively small thyroxine hormone, and nan presumption is taking an artificial shape — levothyroxine — will make them consciousness better.
But much often than not it doesn't. We'd past look astatine their levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is secreted by nan pituitary gland to punctual nan thyroid to merchandise hormones, including thyroxine.
High TSH levels are a motion of an underactive thyroid or, successful patients already diagnosed pinch hypothyroidism, that their medication dose is excessively low.
Conversely very debased TSH levels propose that thyroxine levels are excessively precocious — aliases nan diligent is taking excessively precocious a dose.
But this doesn't look to use successful your case, truthful location whitethorn beryllium different origin of your fatigue.
You don't springiness your property but if you are successful your mid to precocious 40s, 1 imaginable origin mightiness beryllium people dropping oestrogen levels. I'd propose raising this anticipation pinch your doctor: nan correct operation of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) mightiness supply alleviation from your fatigue symptoms successful arsenic small arsenic 3 months.
Q. I've been told I'm having a pacemaker successful 3 weeks. But I've heard that I cannot person an induction hob stove arsenic I person a mini room and cannot support nan required 2 feet away. Is this correct?
Marian Lazell, by email.
Dr Martin Scurr replies: Thank you for this fascinating mobility astir thing that will impact much and much group arsenic they're fixed implanted cardiac pacemakers aliases cardiac defibrillators.
An induction hob consists of a solid aliases ceramic sheet complete an electromagnetic coil. If an robust aliases alloy cooking cookware is placed connected this, it becomes hot
An induction hob consists of a solid aliases ceramic sheet complete an electromagnetic coil, 1 for each burner — energy passing done nan coil generates a magnetic field.
If an robust aliases alloy cooking cookware is placed connected this, it becomes hot, a process known arsenic induction. (This won't hap if nan cookware is made of copper, aluminium aliases glass, arsenic these do not person magnetic properties.)
The evident interest for patients pinch a pacemaker — utilized to dainty bosom hit problems — is that nan magnetic section successful nan hob affects its function.
However, a pacemaker contains nary iron. And nan magnetic section is localised — aft all, it's not arsenic if utensils aliases different items made of robust alert crossed nan room erstwhile an induction hob is used.
A somewhat different rumor from nan magnetic section is nan electrical existent itself.
There is simply a imaginable for electrical existent to leak, for instance, because of mediocre insulators. And this mightiness beryllium an rumor pinch an older type of pacemaker pinch conscionable 1 lead (these days they person 2 aliases three).
That's because successful this lawsuit nan 'circuit' is made up by nan tissues of nan bosom — if nan pacemaker is implanted connected nan near broadside of nan thorax and nan navigator takes clasp of nan metallic grip of a saucepan aliases different utensil connected nan induction hob, nan existent mightiness interfere pinch nan pacemaker's function. However, developments successful pacemaker and induction exertion mean things person changed.
So why are patients still being fixed nan informing astir induction hobs? It's not clear, but I deliberation it's based connected a deficiency of knowing of nan physics and is an instruction by manufacturers fearful of litigation. Another anticipation is that it reflects nan truth that a pacemaker tin beryllium affected by vulnerability to a magnetic section very intimately applied to nan thorax — that's why hairsbreadth dryers and electrical toothbrushes, for instance, must beryllium held astatine slightest 6in (16cm) from nan chest, arsenic advised by nan British Heart Foundation.
I tried it retired pinch my ain induction hob and I deliberation it's wholly imaginable to navigator and stay nan afloat 2ft (60cm) from nan hob. I'd urge adhering to nan recommendations of your cardiologist.
Don't beryllium awkward astir getting proceeding aids
Just 1 successful 5 group pinch significant proceeding nonaccomplishment uses a proceeding assistance regularly. This seems overseas considering that very fewer group pinch mediocre imagination successful mediate property don't deterioration reference glasses.
Some group are over-sensitive astir being seen pinch specified awesome grounds of really ancient they are — though nan latest exertion intends immunodeficiency are almost invisible.
Another title is that erstwhile you first usage proceeding aids, your ain sound booms loudly successful your caput — aliases if you only deterioration them successful company, aliases astatine a restaurant, there's an influx of large and overwhelming inheritance sounds.
But pinch regular use, you acclimatise to both, audiologists say.
And pinch mediocre proceeding linked to dementia risk, my proposal would beryllium to deterioration your proceeding immunodeficiency perpetually conscionable arsenic anybody who's short-sighted wears their specs.
