When you visit your 85-year-old grandmother, you always wonder why she keeps the temperature of her apartment so high. You sweat the entire time you are there while she wears a sweater. In addition, you notice that she seems to have no energy and never wants to go out with you. You know that it is not because she is not getting enough food because she seems to be gaining weight. What is the likely endocrinological problem that she has? Explain why each symptom is occurring, relative to the hormone that is related to the disorder.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Your grandmother has hypothyroidism due to a deficiency of thyroxine, perhaps due to an autoimmune problem. The thyroxine deficiency means that the metabolic rate of the body will be lower than normal. Her cells will be burning fewer calories and producing less heat (byproduct of metabolism). The weight gain is representative of the fewer calories being used by her cells, so the nutrients not being used are being stored as fat. This also relates to her lack of energy. Because her cells are metabolizing slower, they make less heat to be dispersed throughout her body. So, her body temperature is lower, and she is cold all of the time.