It seems like so many people today are having thyroid problems. The thyroid gland is located at the front of your neck and it lies in front of the larynx. It produces thyroid hormones which are responsible for controlling the bodies metabolism and energy levels. Thyroid disorders are detected by TSH blood tests to determine thyroid hormone levels. A separate test should be given to determine the presence of antibodies in the bloodstream which point to an autoimmune disorder. Other tests include radioactive iodine uptake tests, ultrasound, and fine needle aspiration. I strongly recommend finding a doctor that will order the right tests for you. Your doctor must order a "free T4" test which has replaced an older test called a "total T4" or "TT4" test. In order to make certain that you are being tested correctly, I would suggest seeing an Endocrinologist. They specialize in treating the endocrine glands and their disorders.
A few years ago I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease. This is a common auto-immune disorder. One in ten woman are likely to develop it in their lifetime. It occurs less commonly in men. It is a condition where the thyroid gland becomes inflamed and over time hypothyroidism can develop. HYPOthyroidism is an underactive thyroid gland caused by a lack of thyroid hormone. Symptoms include digestive changes, weight gain, fatigue, dry skin and hair, brittle fingernails, high cholesterol, menstrual changes, muscular pain, constipation, numbness, stunted growth in children, poor memory and concentration, voice changes, depression, cold intolerance, and cardiovascular changes. By contrast, HYPERthyroidism occurs when too much of the thyroid hormone is produced. The most common cause of this is an autoimmune disorder known as Graves disease. About 1% of the population is affected. The symptoms associated are anxiety, sleeplessness, restlessness, diarrhea, easy bruising, finer, softer hair, possible hair loss, heat intolerance, heart palpitations, infertility, sexual dysfunction, tremors, weight loss, and finer silkier skin. Both conditions can cause muscle weakness, exhaustion, eye problems, and an enlarged thyroid gland. Depending on the severity of the disorder, these symptoms can range from mild to severe. I experienced most of the above symptoms of an underactive thyroid and the method of treatment is to take thyroid hormone replacement. An overactive thyroid is treated much differently. Treatment is aimed at stopping the thyroid gland from over functioning. Radioactive iodine is usually given to destroy the overactive portion of the thyroid gland or a thyroidectomy may be performed to remove it. Often times, thyroid hormone replacement still becomes necessary.
Thyroid nodules are also fairly common. One in 15 women and one in sixty men have them. A very small percentage of them develop into cancer. Only about 10% of thyroid patients are diagnosed with thyroid cancer. This type of cancer is considered about 95% treatable and it is usually very slow growing. It is possible to have it go undiagnosed for years and then be successfully treated by having the gland removed. My grandfather had thyroid cancer in his 50's and lived to be 73 years old. Thyroid problems run strong in my family and this is often the case with many people who have thyroid disorders. My sister was diagnosed with Graves Disease a few years ago. I have several friends who have thyroid problems of one kind or another. Therefore I really wanted to do a page on this subject and try to give you as much information as possible. I have done a lot of research on the thyroid gland ever since my thyroid problems began. I was diagnosed shortly after I had my hysterectomy. Although I probably had a genetic predisposition, I have heard that when ovaries are removed the thyroid gland can work overtime to compensate for the hormone loss. I have read that any hormone imbalance can cause pressure on the thyroid gland. For this reason, it is a good idea to do periodic testing of your thyroid gland. This is especially true as we get older. Men as well as women are diagnosed with thyroid problems and it often goes undetected. I hope that you will consider testing your thyroid gland if you ever experience any of the above symptoms. It is easily treated and people shouldn't have to suffer with these symptoms. Along with the following links, I would also like to recommend an excellent book to you. It offers extensive information on this subject. You can find it either online or at any Borders or Barnes and Noble bookstore.
