Thyroid
The thyroid is an organ located in the neck, close to a person’s windpipe. It’s responsible for producing certain hormones that the human body needs in order to regulate metabolism, heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, and an array of other functions.
Thyroid glands produce several hormones including Thyroxine and Triiodothyronine, both of which are used to regulate the body’s energy usage. Calcitonin is another thyroid-produced hormone and it influences how much calcium bone cells produce.
Thyroid Health Conditions
A healthy thyroid adequately maintains various bodily processes, but when a health condition negatively affects thyroid functions, several issues can occur.
The nature of a thyroid condition depends on whether it causes the thyroid to produce too much or too little of the hormones needed for the body to remain balanced.
An overactive thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone which causes the body to use the available energy too quickly. This is called hyperthyroidism. An underactive thyroid produces too little thyroid hormone, which prevents the body from accessing the energy it needs. This is called hypothyroidism.
Both of these issues cause a specific form of thyroid disorder, but they can also be related to other thyroid conditions. Several disorders affecting the thyroid exist, but some of the most common include:
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Postpartum Thyroiditis
Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy
Thyroid Masses
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Symptoms of Thyroid Issues
The symptoms a person may experience when living with a thyroid disorder depend significantly on the unique elements of the condition. Hyperthyroid disorders and hypothyroid disorders can produce vastly different symptoms.
Symptoms of Hyperthyroid Disorders:
Heat sensitivity
Mood Swings
Irritability
Hyperactivity
Muscle Weakness
Excessive Fatigue
Trouble Sleeping
Diarrhea
Irregular Heartbeat
Symptoms of Hypothyroid Disorders:
Fatigue
Constipation
Depression
Muscle Aches/Cramps
Cold Sensitivity
Weight Gain
Feeling Slow and Sluggish
What Causes Thyroid Conditions?
A number of health conditions can cause or contribute to thyroid disorders. Often, conditions that decrease the number of hormones the thyroid gland produces can include inflammation of the thyroid, autoimmune disorders that attack the thyroid gland, iodine deficiencies, and genetic conditions that stunt the overall function of the thyroid.
Conditions that may lead to the overproduction of thyroid hormones include Graves’ Disease, thyroid masses or nodules, inflammation of the thyroid gland, or excessive iodine in the body.
Thyroid Disorder Risks
A thyroid disorder can affect both men and women, with some conditions being present at birth while others develop with age. Women are more prone to thyroid disorders than men, but these conditions are still relatively common. Roughly 20 million people in the US are living with some form of thyroid condition.
An individual may be more at risk of developing a thyroid condition if:
Thyroid Disease Is Present in the Individual’s Family History
The Individual Has an Existing Medical Condition (such as Diabetes, Lupus, or Rheumatoid Arthritis)
The Individual Takes Medications With High Iodine Content
The Individual is 60 or Older
The Individual Has Had Thyroid Cancer or a Thyroid Operation in the Past
Thyroid Healthcare Applications
Several thyroid treatment options exist today, and depending on the individual’s unique condition, one health application might be more appropriate than another.
First, diagnosing the condition is paramount. To do so, a medical provider orders a selection of blood tests and examinations so that he or she can determine the cause of the problem and how it affects the patient.
Patients with an overactive thyroid gland might choose to take anti-thyroid medications to prevent the thyroid from producing hormones in excess. Beta-blockers might also be prescribed to help the patient manage the symptoms and side effects that a thyroid condition induces.
In more severe cases, radioactive iodine treatment or thyroid surgery might be necessary. Both of these procedures are designed to reduce thyroid production, but surgery is usually a more permanent, last-resort option.
Individuals who have underactive thyroid glands may benefit from taking thyroid replacement medication, which utilizes synthetic hormones to supply the body with the numbers it needs. This medication usually reduces the severity of symptoms and side effects and allows patients with hypothyroidism to live relatively normal lives.
A thyroid disorder can be difficult to manage, but there are several approaches that patients can take under the guidance of an experienced medical professional. Doctors and patients can work together to monitor the characteristics of thyroid conditions and over time, develop the best possible treatment approach for the individual’s needs. Usually, after a period of adjustment, taking thyroid medications will enable an individual with a thyroid condition to live a full and balanced life.
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