Thyroid Awareness Month
How to Recognize Common Thyroid Disorders
January is Thyroid Awareness Month — did you know this small gland can have a huge impact on your health? Affecting numerous parts of the body, the thyroid gland plays an important role in your health, ensuring various systems are functioning properly. So, what happens when something is wrong with your thyroid gland and how does your body react? Learn more about some of the most common thyroid disorders and the warning signs you should watch for.
What Is the Thyroid Gland?
The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck that produces hormones controlling how your body spends energy. The hormones produced by the thyroid gland — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — affect the body in a variety of ways, including regulating breathing and heartbeat, how the body digests and spends calories, and even moods. The thyroid also impacts metabolism, which is measured by the amount of energy the body spends over a given time by raising or lowering the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR); if BMR is high, more calories are burned and more weight is lost, but if BMR is low, fewer calories are burned and more weight is gained.
Common Thyroid Disorders
The two most common thyroid disorders are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism, also known as an overactive thyroid, is when the thyroid gland produces more hormones than the body needs. Hyperthyroidism may be caused by any of the following:
- Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and prompts it to produce too much hormone. This is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
- Thyroid nodules, or growths on the thyroid gland.
- Thyroiditis, or inflammation of the thyroid gland.
- Ingesting too much iodine.
- Too much thyroid medicine.
According to the National Library of Medicine, hyperthyroidism symptoms can include the following:
- Nervousness or irritability
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Low heat tolerance
- Trouble sleeping
- Tremors, usually in the hands
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Mood swings
- Goiters, or enlarged thyroid glands that may cause the neck to look swollen
Conversely, hypothyroidism, also known as an underactive thyroid gland, is when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones to meet the body’s needs. Hypothyroidism may be caused by:
- Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder like Graves’ disease in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. Unlike Graves’ disease, however, this prevents the thyroid gland from producing enough hormones. Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.
- Congenital hypothyroidism (i.e., hypothyroidism that is present at birth).
- Removal of part or all of the thyroid gland.
- Radiation treatment of the thyroid gland.
- Some medicines.
- Pituitary disease or too much iodine, in rare cases.
The National Library of Medicine lists the following as symptoms of hypothyroidism:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Puffy face
- Low cold tolerance
- Joint and muscle pain
- Constipation
- Dry skin
- Dry, thinning hair
- Decreased sweating
- Heavy or irregular menstruation
- Fertility problems in women
- Depression
- Slowed heart rate
- Goiters
Thyroid Treatments
One common form of treating thyroid disorders is thyroid hormone replacement. This is usually prescribed to replace the function of an underactive thyroid gland or one that has been surgically removed, or to prevent the further growth of thyroid tissue for patients with thyroid cancer. Thyroid hormone treatment replicates normal thyroid function with the use of levothyroxine, a compound that is biologically equivalent to thyroxine. Usually prescribed as a tablet, thyroid hormone treatment is also available in gel capsules and liquids.
Some conditions may be managed by surgical intervention, which can mean removing a portion of or the entire thyroid gland. According to the American Thyroid Association, conditions that may necessitate thyroid surgery may include:
- Thyroid cancer
- Thyroid nodules that are suspicious of cancer
- Enlarged thyroid glands or goiters that cause complications with laying down, swallowing, or breathing
- Hyperthyroidism caused by thyroid nodules, Graves’ disease, or toxic multinodular goiters
Treatment for thyroid disorders is available locally — Luke Ellerman, MSN, APRN, A-GNP-C and the Endocrinology team at Culbertson Memorial Hospital are ready to help you. For more information on thyroid treatment, visit the Culbertson Specialty Clinics or call (217) 322-4321, ext. 5271.