Living with a thyroid disorder can be a challenge, but with the right diagnosis and treatment, you can lead a healthy life. Thyroid disease awareness is key to understanding the symptoms, causes, and treatments.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the lower front of the neck. It produces hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism, heart rate, and blood pressure. An imbalance in thyroid hormones can lead to an underactive or overactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, which may potentially cause future health issues.
It is important to seek medical attention and have the proper tests done to determine if you have a thyroid disorder. AFC Urgent Care Southington has created a guide to help you understand the symptoms, causes, and treatments of thyroid disease, so that you can take the necessary steps to preventing it and managing your health.
Causes of Thyroid Disease
In order to better understand the causes of thyroid disease, let’s first take a look at the anatomy and physiology of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland that sits in the front of the neck, just below your Adam’s apple.
It produces the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which help regulate metabolism, heart rate, brain function, body temperature and more. The thyroid gland is controlled via the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. When the thyroid gland isn’t functioning as it should, you can develop a thyroid condition. There are many of them.
Symptoms of Thyroid Disease
If you have a thyroid condition, you may not know it yet. The symptoms of thyroid disease can be mild and go unnoticed for years. If you notice any of the following symptoms, it’s worth getting them checked out by a doctor.
There are Two Ways a Thyroid Can Be Functioning Poorly: People with Thyroid disease are either Hyperthyroid, or Hypothyroid.
Hypothyroidism:
With hypothyroidism your thyroid gland can’t make enough hormones to function well. The thyroid gland controls every aspect of your body’s metabolism. In hypothyroidism, the gland’s hormone production slows. This, in turn, slows your metabolism, which can lead to weight gain and other symptoms listed below. Hypothyroidism is common, and affects about 4.6 percent of the U.S. population.
Hyperthyroidism:
As its name suggests, hyperthyroidism occurs when your body makes too much of the thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), and becomes overactive. If you have hyperthyroidism, you may experience a fast heartbeat, increased appetite, anxiety, sensitivity to heat, or sudden weight loss.
Hyperthyroidism most commonly occurs in three ways:
- thyroiditis, or an inflammation of the thyroid
- a thyroid nodule that produces too much T4 hormone
- an autoimmune condition known as Graves’ disease
In hyperthyroidism, an irritation of your thyroid known as thyroiditis allows too much thyroid hormone to enter your blood. This can lead to pain and discomfort. Thyroiditis can also occur as the result of pregnancy. This is usually short-term.
Common Thyroid Disease Symptoms:
Fatigue - Feeling tired and struggling to stay focused and alert throughout the day is a common sign of hypothyroid disease. If you find you’re more lethargic than you used to be, this could be a consequence of a slow thyroid, and poor thyroid health.
Weight gain/loss - If you’re experiencing unexplained weight loss or weight gain, it could be related to thyroid disease. Weight gain occurs when your body has an increased demand for calories. Weight loss happens when your body has a reduced demand for calories.
Hair/skin changes - Hair and skin issues are common with thyroid disease. This can include brittle hair, hair loss, dry skin and acne.
Mood changes - If you’ve noticed a change in your mood and have experienced mood swings, fatigue or changes in your sleeping patterns, these could be a sign of thyroid disease.
Diagnosing Thyroid Disease
Diagnosing a thyroid condition is important in order to receive the right treatment and get your symptoms under control. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your medical history. Luckily for you AFC Urgent Care Southington offers on-site lab testing, and specific blood tests to test you for the level of thyroid hormones in your blood.
Managing Thyroid Disease
If you’ve been diagnosed with a thyroid condition, it’s important to manage it effectively. Managing your thyroid disease can help you get your symptoms under control and feel better. This may include dietary changes, lifestyle changes, medications and/or other treatments. It’s important to be open and honest with your doctor in order to get the right treatment.
AFC Urgent Care Southington Can Check Your Thyroid Level
The best way to know if you have a thyroid issue is to get tested. AFC Urgent Care Southington is open 7 days a week and takes walk-ins and appointments!
You can have a peace of mind and know that AFC in Southington will give you the quality care you need to get your health back on track. If you do end up having a thyroid issue (we hope not!), then we can help point you in the right direction to managing symptoms and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
