The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland sitting at the front of your neck. It’s somewhat of a powerhouse as in just a few millimeters it actually controls a lot of the vital functions of your body. Among a host of other things, it determines your metabolism, energy levels, and overall process of storing and using nutrients. When the thyroid is off track, it results in thyroid disorders.
Such ailments are quite common, especially among females, and generally take a long time before they announce their presence. This article uncovers the hidden nature of thyroid problems, their corresponds signs, diagnosis and subsequently the best options of thyroid treatment and ways of sustaining thyroid health.
The thyroid gland synthesizes two different hormones — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Serum is the one to control the rate of energy the human body needs. If the gland releases either of these hormones to an extent that is too low or too high, the outcome is a thyroid disorder.
Two million kinds of thyroid diseases live their life in the human body.
Some other thyroid diseases are: goiter (enlarged thyroid), thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer. Although these names may seem scary, most thyroid diseases can be cured with the right thyroid treatment.
Since thyroid hormones are involved in almost every system of the body, the symptoms may be diverse. Most of the time, these symptoms are misunderstood as signs of stress, aging, or other health conditions.
Though the symptoms of thyroid disease are similar to symptoms of other illnesses, it is necessary to visit your doctor and take a simple blood test in order to be sure that it is the thyroid gland that is causing your problems.
There isn’t a single factor that causes thyroid disorders. Often the conditions arise from hereditary, environmental, and lifestyle factors combined.
The largest single cause of these diseases is a malfunctioning immune system. In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the immune cells attack the thyroid gland, causing hypothyroidism. However, in Graves’ disease, the immune system produces more stimulating factors that cause the thyroid to be overactive and hence hyperthyroidism.
Iodine deficiency or iodine excess can also lead to thyroid diseases because iodine is the building block of hormone production. In addition, to some extent, certain medications, changes in pregnancy hormones, and radiation might also contribute to the problem.
If thyroid problems have been passed down from generation to generation in your family, then you might likely be at a greater risk and regular checkups would then be necessary.
In case of persisting symptoms, which are not getting better, your doctor might suggest physical examination and also blood tests for hormone levels.
The most important test is the one that measures TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). When TSH is high, the suspect is hypothyroid, and in case of low TSH, hyperthyroidism is most probably the cause. To help them make a decision, doctors also order tests to measure T3 and T4.
Sometimes, the doctor can only see the thyroid with electronic scanning techniques such as ultrasound or radioactive scanning. Checking the thyroid for swelling, lumps and changes in shape all help in making the diagnosis. Before going for thyroid treatment, it is imperative to have the right diagnosis.
Your treatment will be focused on either an underactive or an overactive thyroid. Most people, with proper medication and follow-ups, live perfectly normal lives.
Usually, physicians recommend levothyroxine to patients. It is a chemically-made T4 hormone that imitates the one in your body. After a period of regulation, it becomes a one-time-a-day, simple medication that takes care of the thyroid.
The patient might be given anti-thyroid drugs, radioiodine therapy, or surgery in the most unusual cases. The doctor selects the most suitable option depending on the patient’s age, ailment, and physical condition.
Without a doubt, medication plays a major role in the management of thyroid disorders. However, the influence of good habits cannot be ignored by any means. Living healthily has lots of benefits. Here’s how to start:
Also, being consistent with medication is very important. Thyroid treatment should be at the same time every day, commonly done before breakfast, and you should confirm with your doctor regularly on hormone levels.
It would definitely be a good decision to see a doctor if symptoms like extreme fatigue, nervousness, and sudden weight changes that happen without any obvious cause have persisted for long enough. Do not disregard even the faintest of symptoms, as thyroid disorders that are not treated can have an impact on your heart, metabolism, and even mood.
Visit a doctor if you experience:
Getting medical advice at an early stage is one of the best things that can happen to your thyroid health.
Being able to keep your hormone levels within the normal range is just the beginning. After that, the real challenge is to maintain good thyroid health in the long run. Moreover, it is not only about the treatment but also about the lifestyle that should be kept the same.
Keeping a record of your symptoms can be extremely helpful when it comes to noticing the changes at an early stage and talking about them during your visits.
Thyroid problems can happen to anyone, but they are totally manageable with knowledge and timely action. Early identification of symptoms of the thyroid, going for a professional diagnosis, and being committed to regular treatment of the thyroid are the main steps on the way to getting well again.
Once you have the right care and you are consistent on a daily basis, dealing with thyroid disorders won’t be so much coping as thriving.
This content was created by AI