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The thyroid is a gland located in the neck that helps control the body's metabolic rate. Too much thyroid hormone causes the body to race. Too little, and it slows to a crawl. Unchecked, either state can be fatal. Rarely, in some people — usually young, often male — too much thyroid hormone can make circulating potassium levels drop and cause weakness.
甲状腺是位于颈部的腺体，帮助控制身体的新陈代谢率。甲状腺激素过多会导致身体处于亢奋状态。而甲状腺激素过少，身体慢慢变得迟钝。如果放任不管，任何一种状态都可能致命。甲状腺激素过量会使循环钾含量下降，继而导致虚弱，这通常出现在年轻男性身上，但很罕见。
Hassen called the lab. He ordered tests to check the level of thyroid hormone in the sample. It was very high. He called the patient and got no answer, and he had no way to leave a message. He called the number a dozen times over the course of the next few weeks. Finally, maybe accidentally, the patient picked up.
哈森打电话给实验室，要求化验样本中甲状腺激素的含量。结果显示甲状腺激素含量非常高。他随即打电话给那名病人，但没有人接，他也没有办法留言。在接下来的几周里，他给这个号码打了十几次电话。最后，也许是不小心，病人接了电话。
Hassen explained what he'd discovered. He gave the patient the name of an endocrinologist in the area. It turned out the young man had what is known as Graves's disease. This is an autoimmune disease in which the patient's own antibodies induce the thyroid gland to produce too much hormone. It's often treated with radioactive iodine, which kills off some or most of the hormone-producing cells in the gland. This man, instead, chose to take a medicine that interferes with the gland's ability to make thyroid hormone.
哈森解释了他的发现。他告诉了病人当地内分泌科医生的名字。后经证实，这名年轻人得了格雷夫斯病。这是一种自身免疫性疾病，患者自身抗体诱导甲状腺产生过多激素。这种疾病通常用放射性碘来治疗，可以杀死腺体中的一些或大部分产生激素的细胞。但是，这名病人选择服用干扰腺体分泌甲状腺激素能力的药物。
This diagnosis was made almost four years ago. The patient gave up his intensive diet and exercise regimen and is now trying just to stay in shape and eat smarter — and to take his medicine every day. Sometimes when he feels his thighs are tired or weak, he eats a banana or avocado to get the potassium that he thinks his body is craving. He is determined to never relive that kind of helplessness again.
这个诊断在近四年前做出。病人已经放弃了他的强化饮食和锻炼方案，现在只想保持身材，合理饮食，并坚持每天服用药物。有时，当他感觉大腿疲劳或虚弱时，他会吃香蕉或鳄梨来获取他认为身体所渴望的钾。他决心不再经历那种无助感。
译文由可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载。
