It is easy to assume you have a cold if you feel chilled, have muscle aches throughout your body, develop a fever and even experience swelling in your throat. However, these symptoms may also signal thyroid disease. Here is a look at the symptoms and characteristics of thyroid conditions that can easily be mistaken for a cold during seasonal changes.
◇It Seemed Like a Cold... Could It Be Subacute Thyroiditis?
Subacute thyroiditis is a condition in which temporary inflammation develops in the thyroid after a viral infection. Thyroid hormone levels temporarily increase and then decrease, after which thyroid function usually returns to normal. It often develops two to three weeks after a cold or upper respiratory infection, making it easy to mistake for a cold.
Symptoms similar to those of a cold, including fever, muscle aches and generalized body aches, may occur, but pain and swelling in the thyroid area at the front of the neck are characteristic. The pain may also spread toward the jaw or ears. As thyroid hormone levels temporarily rise, heart palpitations or weight loss may occur. During recovery, symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as increased sensitivity to cold and fatigue, may also appear. If cold symptoms persist for more than two weeks or worsen, accompanied by swelling at the front of the neck and severe pain when pressed, it is advisable to seek medical attention.
Subacute thyroiditis usually resolves on its own within two to three months. If the pain is severe, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers may be used, and short-term steroid treatment may also be prescribed if symptoms are severe. If the thyroid feels firm during an examination or differentiation from other diseases is necessary, tests such as ultrasound or fine-needle aspiration may be performed.
◇If You Are Especially Sensitive to Cold and Swollen... Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body's metabolic function declines because the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormone. The most common cause is Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease. It may also develop after thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine treatment, or due to abnormalities in the pituitary gland.
Because symptoms often develop gradually, they can easily be mistaken for simple fatigue or body aches. A person may become especially sensitive to cold, experience severe fatigue, develop swelling in the hands, feet and face, and gain weight even without increasing food intake. Dry skin and hair loss may also occur. Swelling of the vocal cords can cause a hoarse voice, leading the condition to be mistaken for a throat cold.
◇If You Have a Fever and Heart Palpitations... Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which excessive amounts of thyroid hormone are secreted. The most common cause is Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition. As the body's metabolism becomes excessively active, the heart may beat rapidly even at rest, and a person may become more sensitive to heat or sweat more.
Appetite may remain the same or increase while weight decreases, and the hands may tremble or fatigue may develop easily. These symptoms may feel similar to those of a feverish cold. If cold symptoms persist for a long time and are accompanied by heart palpitations, hand tremors or weight loss, it is advisable to undergo thyroid function testing. Graves' disease may cause bulging eyes, a foreign-body sensation in the eyes or double vision, and women may also experience irregular menstrual cycles.
◇If You Feel a Firm Lump in Your Neck... Thyroid Cancer
Early thyroid cancer often causes no symptoms. However, if the cancer progresses and compresses surrounding tissues, symptoms such as a foreign-body sensation or pain in the neck, difficulty swallowing food and a hoarse voice may occur. In rare cases, it may irritate the airway and cause a persistent dry cough. If you feel a firm lump when touching your neck or notice that a previously nonexistent lump is growing, it is important to undergo an accurate examination. Whether thyroid cancer is present is determined through thyroid ultrasound and, when necessary, fine-needle aspiration.
◇Start With Balanced Lifestyle Habits
To prevent thyroid disease, it is important to manage overall health through sufficient sleep, regular exercise and a balanced diet. In particular, it is advisable to avoid rapid weight changes or overly restrictive diets and maintain an appropriate weight.
Iodine is a nutrient necessary for producing thyroid hormones. The recommended daily intake for adults is about 150㎍, increasing to about 220㎍ during pregnancy. However, Koreans often consume sufficient iodine through seaweed and iodine-containing foods, such as laver, wakame and kelp, so those who eat a typical diet generally do not need to take iodine supplements separately. Rather, excessive iodine intake may increase the risk of some thyroid diseases, so caution is advised.
If cold-like symptoms persist for a long time or are accompanied by pain or swelling at the front of the neck, severe palpitations or unexplained weight changes, which are not common with an ordinary cold, do not simply dismiss them as a cold. It is advisable to check whether a thyroid condition may be involved.
This article was contributed by Kim Hee-jun, a professor at the Ilsan CHA Hospital Thyroid Cancer Center.
◇It Seemed Like a Cold... Could It Be Subacute Thyroiditis?
Subacute thyroiditis is a condition in which temporary inflammation develops in the thyroid after a viral infection. Thyroid hormone levels temporarily increase and then decrease, after which thyroid function usually returns to normal. It often develops two to three weeks after a cold or upper respiratory infection, making it easy to mistake for a cold.
Symptoms similar to those of a cold, including fever, muscle aches and generalized body aches, may occur, but pain and swelling in the thyroid area at the front of the neck are characteristic. The pain may also spread toward the jaw or ears. As thyroid hormone levels temporarily rise, heart palpitations or weight loss may occur. During recovery, symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as increased sensitivity to cold and fatigue, may also appear. If cold symptoms persist for more than two weeks or worsen, accompanied by swelling at the front of the neck and severe pain when pressed, it is advisable to seek medical attention.
Subacute thyroiditis usually resolves on its own within two to three months. If the pain is severe, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers may be used, and short-term steroid treatment may also be prescribed if symptoms are severe. If the thyroid feels firm during an examination or differentiation from other diseases is necessary, tests such as ultrasound or fine-needle aspiration may be performed.
◇If You Are Especially Sensitive to Cold and Swollen... Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body's metabolic function declines because the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormone. The most common cause is Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease. It may also develop after thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine treatment, or due to abnormalities in the pituitary gland.
Because symptoms often develop gradually, they can easily be mistaken for simple fatigue or body aches. A person may become especially sensitive to cold, experience severe fatigue, develop swelling in the hands, feet and face, and gain weight even without increasing food intake. Dry skin and hair loss may also occur. Swelling of the vocal cords can cause a hoarse voice, leading the condition to be mistaken for a throat cold.
◇If You Have a Fever and Heart Palpitations... Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which excessive amounts of thyroid hormone are secreted. The most common cause is Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition. As the body's metabolism becomes excessively active, the heart may beat rapidly even at rest, and a person may become more sensitive to heat or sweat more.
Appetite may remain the same or increase while weight decreases, and the hands may tremble or fatigue may develop easily. These symptoms may feel similar to those of a feverish cold. If cold symptoms persist for a long time and are accompanied by heart palpitations, hand tremors or weight loss, it is advisable to undergo thyroid function testing. Graves' disease may cause bulging eyes, a foreign-body sensation in the eyes or double vision, and women may also experience irregular menstrual cycles.
◇If You Feel a Firm Lump in Your Neck... Thyroid Cancer
Early thyroid cancer often causes no symptoms. However, if the cancer progresses and compresses surrounding tissues, symptoms such as a foreign-body sensation or pain in the neck, difficulty swallowing food and a hoarse voice may occur. In rare cases, it may irritate the airway and cause a persistent dry cough. If you feel a firm lump when touching your neck or notice that a previously nonexistent lump is growing, it is important to undergo an accurate examination. Whether thyroid cancer is present is determined through thyroid ultrasound and, when necessary, fine-needle aspiration.
◇Start With Balanced Lifestyle Habits
To prevent thyroid disease, it is important to manage overall health through sufficient sleep, regular exercise and a balanced diet. In particular, it is advisable to avoid rapid weight changes or overly restrictive diets and maintain an appropriate weight.
Iodine is a nutrient necessary for producing thyroid hormones. The recommended daily intake for adults is about 150㎍, increasing to about 220㎍ during pregnancy. However, Koreans often consume sufficient iodine through seaweed and iodine-containing foods, such as laver, wakame and kelp, so those who eat a typical diet generally do not need to take iodine supplements separately. Rather, excessive iodine intake may increase the risk of some thyroid diseases, so caution is advised.
If cold-like symptoms persist for a long time or are accompanied by pain or swelling at the front of the neck, severe palpitations or unexplained weight changes, which are not common with an ordinary cold, do not simply dismiss them as a cold. It is advisable to check whether a thyroid condition may be involved.
This article was contributed by Kim Hee-jun, a professor at the Ilsan CHA Hospital Thyroid Cancer Center.