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Certain symptoms that are too often ignored indicate the presence of a real pathology. To no longer ignore your body and consult a doctor, an endocrinologist gives you a checklist of signs not to neglect.
Heart beating quickly, itching, being too hot or too cold… These symptoms seem banal and yet they should prompt you to consult a doctor. At least that’s the view of Dr. Rasa Kazlauskaite, an endocrinologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. For the magazine Timeshe lists these benign signs in our body, which are in reality the expression of certain pathologies.
A heart that beats quickly
When you notice that your heart is beating fast, you may have the reflex (or not) to make an appointment with a cardiologist. But according to the expert, it’s an endocrinologist you might need. Indeed, this can be a sign of hyperthyroidism, that is to say excessive functioning of the thyroid gland.
Itchy groin
If you feel itchy in this part of your anatomy and this is accompanied by a feeling of increased thirst, beware! “Often, these patients consult for a sexually transmitted infectionwhen in reality it is an infection caused by yeast, due to diabetes” says Dr. Kazlauskaite.
An unusual feeling of anxiety
If you don’t have an anxious temperament, but suddenly you do, it’s important to ask yourself the right questions. Indeed, an overactive thyroid can cause “significant mood changes” and severe anxiety, recalls the specialist. She regularly sees patients who describe being nervous all the time — and she sometimes even notices that their hands are shaking. “If you are someone who has always been calm, and then all of a sudden you are continually anxious, it may be wise to evaluate for possible hyperthyroidism“. This may be associated with unexplained changes in your weight, problems sleeping, or frequent diarrhea.
A hump between the shoulders
This is called a buffalo hump, caused by rapid weight gain. This may be linked to too high a cortisol level in the blood, which causes Cushing’s syndrome, which is very common in women. “In addition to a hump between your shoulders, you may also notice that you have dark pink or purple stretch marks on your stomach, thighs, or breasts, and that your upper body is larger than your arms and legs. legs, quite thin” adds the specialist.
Sudden fractures
Dr. Kazlauskaite pays particular attention to fragility fractures, which are fractures caused by minor trauma, or without any cause. There are underlying causes of this bone fragility: a significant vitamin D deficiency or diabetes, for example, can increase the risk of fracture.
Being too hot or cold
Again, if you experience these types of changes, it may have something to do with your thyroid. “This is one of the symptoms that people ignore“, she said. “They just think they are changing and feeling warmer than usual. In reality, this could indicate hyperthyroidism, especially when combined with other symptoms.” explains the expert again. Conversely, people who feel cold, even in a warm room, could suffer from hypothyroidism.
A modification of the eyebrows
Another classic sign of hypothyroidism is losing the outer third of one’s eyebrows, which is sometimes called the “Queen Anne sign” after an ancient portrait. This change is subtle, but if you notice it, don’t hesitate to talk to a doctor.
Have a narrower field of vision
If you suddenly have difficulty with your peripheral vision, feeling like you’re staring into a tunnel, unable to see anything other than what’s straight in front of you – you could have a pituitary tumor. It is a benign tumor, located in the brain.
Have high blood pressure
High blood pressure is possibly caused by an endocrine problem. This may be linked to the presence of an adrenal gland tumor, also called pheochromocytoma. High cortisol levels can also cause hypertension.
Poor sports performance
Due to low testosterone levels, some men lose muscle mass and reduce their athletic performance. “Despite their training they see no improvement: we call this exercise intolerance” indicates the expert. This low testosterone level can weaken libido, impact sleep and mood. All of this is “generally treated successfully when implementing replacement therapy”.
Having a discharge of milk from the breast
This can happen to women, but also to men, although it is rare. While this is completely normal in breastfeeding women, leaking breast milk can indicate the presence of breast cancer. But not only remembers Dr. Kazlauskaite. “It may be a benign tumor in the pituitary gland, particularly if associated with irregular menstrual periods,” she concludes.
Slide: 10 tips for taking care of your thyroid