JANUARY IS THYROID AWARENESS MONTH. Today we explore some thyroid problems, symptoms, and management. Thyroid disorders are common. Approximately one in eight people will experience abnormal thyroid function at some point. Today we look at thyroid health.
Do you feel too revved up, even at bedtime? Or perhaps your throttle is idling, with associated depression, weight gain, or generalized fatigue. In either case, the problem may be the thyroid gland in your neck.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front part of your neck. Place your fingers on the sides of your Adam’s apple and swallow, and you will feel your thyroid gland sliding under your fingers.
The thyroid creates hormones that regulate how you use energy. The gland controls metabolism, including how you transform food into energy. Thyroid hormones also affect your muscles, bones, heart, and cholesterol.
I saw a woman wearing a sweatshirt with Guess on it. I said, Thyroid problem?- — Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Thyroid health – Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)?
An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) is a condition in which your thyroid creates and releases high thyroid hormone levels. As a result, your metabolism speeds up.
The thyroid is a small and butterfly-shaped gland in front of your next. The gland produces two hormones regulating how cells use energy: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The organ is critical for the following:
- Body temperature regulation
- Heart rate control
- Metabolism (the process of transforming our food into energy that helps our body to function).
If your thyroid makes too much T3, T4, or both, your body systems speed up, and you may experience distress. A timely diagnosis and intervention are important to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
When the thyroid makes too much T3, T4, or both, it speeds upTrusted Source of your body’s systems, causing distress. Timely diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism can relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
Hyperthyroidism is much more common among women.
Hyperthyroidism affects women five to 10 times more often than men and is most common in individuals under 40. The prevalence of the condition in the United States is 1.2 percent.
There are many causes of hyperthyroidism, including Graves’ disease (an autoimmune disorder in which your body attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to spill out too much thyroid hormone), a toxic multinodular goiter, and toxic adenoma (abnormal growths in the thyroid).
A Graves’ disease complication is known as Graves’ eye disease (Graves’ ophthalmopathy). Graves eye disease is associated with::
- Bulging eyes.
- Double vision.
- Vision loss.
- Light sensitivity.
Other causes of hyperthyroidism include subacute thyroiditis, a painful thyroid inflammation that leads to gland enlargement, and the leaking of excess hormones. This condition can cause temporary hyperthyroidism that can last from weeks to months.
While rare, pituitary gland malfunction or thyroid cancer can lead to hyperthyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism symptoms
Hyperthyroidism symptoms may include the following:
- A rapid heartbeat
- Feeling hot
- Weight loss
- Increased appetite
- Anxiety
- Eye problems
Management may include antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, surgery, and drugs known as beta-blockers. Fortunately, most thyroid conditions can be managed after an appropriate diagnosis.
If you have hyperthyroidism symptoms, please see your healthcare provider promptly for an evaluation and management. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), hallmark symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
- Weight loss, but with an increased appetite
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Feeling nervous or irritable
- Feeling fatigued but having trouble sleeping
- Hand tremors, muscle weakness
- Getting easily overheated
- Frequent bowel movements
A thyroid storm, with symptoms such as a high fever and a fast heart rate, should prompt an immediate visit to the nearest hospital.
Other potential complications include these:
- Pregnancy complications. High thyroid hormone levels can harm pregnant women and the fetus. Risks include miscarriage and premature birth. Regular thyroid hormone tests during pregnancy can find problems.
- Osteoporosis. Hyperthyroidism can cause bone weakening. Vitamin D and calcium supplements during and after treatment can help improve bone health. Getting adequate exercise also helps prevent osteoporosis.
- Cancer. Some individuals with hyperthyroidism develop thyroid cancer, called thyroid carcinoma. A 2018 overview reported that thyroid cancer in hyperthyroid patients was more “aggressive.”
If your care provider recommends a low-iodine diet, try to avoid these seafood products and additives:
- Seaweed
- Fish.
- Lobster.
- Crab.
- Prawns
- Sushi.
- Algae and alginate.
- Kelp
- Nori
Other foods have high iodine amounts, including:
- Dairy, including milk and cheese.
- Egg yolks.
- Iodized salt.
Thyroid health – What causes primary hypothyroidism?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism. This autoimmune disease involves your immune system mistakenly attacking your thyroid.
Other causes of primary hypothyroidism include treatment for an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Treatments such as radioactive iodine or removing part or all of the thyroid can cause hypothyroidism. Surgical removal of the thyroid for cancer can be a cause of hypothyroidism, too.
Here are some other possible hypothyroidism causes include:
- inadequate dietary iodine
- a congenital disease
- certain drugs
- viral thyroiditis
Occasionally, a woman develops hypothyroidism after childbirth. According to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the disease is most common in women and people over 60 years old.
Do you feel tired or worn out? This is one of the most common symptoms of an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism. Feeling more sleepy than usual (without a good explanation) can be a sign of hypothyroidism.
Unexpected weight gain is also a common symptom of hypothyroidism. The condition signals the body to eat more, store calories, and burn fewer calories.
Approximately four in 10 individuals with low thyroid hormone levels feel more sensitive to cold than usual. Others will experience muscle or joint weakness or achiness.
Have you experienced unexpected changes in your hair loss rate or pattern? Do you now have more patchy or coarser hair? Hypothyroidism can cause hair coarsening in up to 10 percent of those with hypothyroidism.
Thyroid health: Other hypothyroidism symptoms may include:
- Itchy or dry skin
- Feel depressed or down
- Trouble concentrating or remembering
- Heavy or irregular periods. A medical condition, including hypothyroidism, could cause heavy or irregular periods or irregular cycles worse than usual. It’s best to talk to a gynecologist about them.
- Constipation
Hypothyroidism is common and can cause numerous symptoms (described above). Importantly, none of these problems are unique to hypothyroidism.
If you have several of these symptoms (or they are new, severe, or worsening), please see a healthcare professional. With medicines, hypothyroidism is often manageable — with resultant quality of life improvement.
The information I provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you seek medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. I am not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information in this blog.
Thank you for joining me in this look at thyroid health.
