The thyroid gland plays a pivotal role in the body’s functions. You can almost liken it to a small metabolic thermostat; when it’s off, everything goes wrong. Recognizing the symptoms of thyroid disease is the first step in the treatment process.
What is the Thyroid Gland?
The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck under the skin. It is part of the endocrine system and controls many of the body’s functions by producing hormones. One of the main roles of the thyroid gland is to control the speed of metabolism in the body. Sometimes, that can happen at an active rate or at a slower rate.
An overactive thyroid, for example, produces too many hormones. These can have an adverse effect on the body, causing your metabolism to speed up, which results in restlessness, unexplained weight loss, irritability and mood swings, anxiety, joint pain, and lack of sleep.
An underactive thyroid, on the other hand, doesn’t produce enough hormones. This can have a detrimental effect on the body, which results in symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, low sex drive, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, depression and mood swings, dry skin, brittle nails, and hair loss.
What Causes Thyroid Disease
Many factors can contribute to thyroid disease. For starters, these could include nutritional deficiencies. Iodine, for example, is a key ingredient for thyroid hormone production. In some cases, an iodine deficiency or excess iodine can affect the thyroid’s function.
Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that can affect thyroid function. It supports hormone conversion, immune health, and cellular protection and reduces inflammation. Zinc is another factor that affects immune support and supports thyroid hormone production.
Chronic stress can affect thyroid function. For example, when the body is under prolonged stress, it produces vast amounts of cortisol, a hormone that can, in small, regulated amounts, be helpful to the body; nevertheless, when its levels increase, it can disrupt thyroid function.
Hormonal changes in the body can also affect thyroid function, particularly for women. Estrogen and progesterone levels can significantly impact thyroid function when women are pregnant, for example, or when going through menopause.
How to Get Tested for Thyroid Disease
To find out whether the symptoms you are experiencing are a result of thyroid problems, your doctor might ask you to explain your medical symptoms and conduct a physical exam. In our day and age, there are many ways to find out if you have a thyroid problem. For starters, your doctor might ask you to conduct a blood test.
The blood test can reveal whether you have an overactive or underactive thyroid. These tests can measure hormones such as thyroxine and triiodothyronine, both produced by the thyroid.
Another way to detect thyroid disease is by conducting imaging tests. They could include an ultrasound to look for lumps or goiter. You may also be asked to undergo a nuclear medicine scan to determine whether your nodules are overactive. In most cases, these tests will help assess your symptoms.
Treatment for Thyroid Disease
One of the main goals of treating thyroid disease is to return the body’s hormone levels to a healthy range. In some cases, your doctor might prescribe medications like methimazole and propylthiouracil, both of which stop the thyroid from making hormones.
In other instances, radioactive therapy might be employed; this treatment damages the cells of your thyroid, preventing it from producing excess hormones. Your doctor might prescribe beta blockers; these medications do not affect thyroid function itself, but might help manage symptoms such as a rapid heart rate, for example.
In more serious cases, surgery may be needed to remove part or all of the thyroid. This stops hormone production, but often means lifelong hormone replacement therapy.
David Messiha | Staff Writer
