It's Time to Think about the Thyroid Gland! January is National Thyroid Awareness Month More 25 million Americans have some type of thyroid disorder 60% of people who have thyroid disease dont even know it Women are 8 times more likely to have thyroid problems than men. If you're not feeling right, you could have a thyroid imbalance. Talk to your healthcare professional if you think you have a thyroid problem.

What is the thyroid gland? The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the base of the neck just below the Adam's apple. Although relatively small, the thyroid gland plays a huge role in our body, influencing the function of many of the body’s most important organs, including the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin. Ensuring that the thyroid gland is healthy and functioning properly is vitally important to the body's overall well-being. The thyroid creates two hormones — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — that travel throughout your body to regulate blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, metabolism and how the body reacts to other hormones. The thyroid gland also helps to make calcitonin, which helps regulate calcium in your body.

What are the common thyroid conditions? Several disorders can arise if the thyroid produces too much hormone (hyperthyroidism) or not enough (hypothyroidism). Other thyroid diseases include: Hashimoto’s disease Nodules Thyroid cancer Graves’ disease Thyroid eye disease  Undiagnosed thyroid issues can also place a person at increased risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, infertility and other serious conditions.

What causes thyroid disease? There are many factors that can contribute to the development of various thyroid disorders. Common examples include: Too much thyroid hormone can be produced, resulting in hyperthyroidism If certain glands are underactive, not enough thyroid hormones can lead to hypothyroidism Hashimoto’s disease occurs when the thyroid gland is attacked by immune cells and autoantibodies as if it were a foreign tissue, so it is less able to make thyroid hormone A thyroid nodule can be caused by an overgrowth of normal thyroid tissue, fluid-filled cysts, inflammation (thyroiditis) or a tumor (either benign or cancerous)

What are common thyroid disease symptoms? If the thyroid does not function correctly, it can affect every possible aspect of a person’s life. Some common signs of thyroid disease include:  Unexplained changes in weight Depression, anxiety or feelings of irritability Changes in memory or ability to concentrate Joint or muscle pain or weakness Fatigue or trouble sleeping Fast or irregular heartbeat Irregular menstrual periods Because symptoms of thyroid disease can mirror those of other conditions, make sure to talk with your health care professional, or an endocrinologist, if you think you have a thyroid condition.

How are thyroid problems diagnosed? The first step is to speak with a health care professional about your symptoms. Since many thyroid-related symptoms may mimic those of other conditions, ask your health care professional if a thyroid test is needed to check your thyroid gland. An endocrinologist is a specially trained doctor who is qualified to diagnose and treat hormone-related diseases and conditions, including thyroid cancer and all other diseases related to the thyroid gland.  Because symptoms of thyroid disease can mirror those of other conditions, make sure to talk with your health care professional, or an endocrinologist, if you think you have a thyroid condition.

How are thyroid conditions treated? Prescription medications (and sometimes surgery) are used to adjust thyroid hormone levels. Treatment for thyroid disease varies depending on the specific condition.

Source: American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE).  "All About Thyroid"

Watch the Video: How to Check Your Thyroid