More common than diabetes or heart disease, thyroid disease affects as many as 30 million Americans – and half of those have yet to be diagnosed. Thyroid disease may be present for years before being detected as symptoms can be mild and vague. Untreated thyroid disease may lead to elevated cholesterol levels and subsequent heart disease, as well as infertility and osteoporosis.

As part of Thyroid Awareness Month, we are spotlighting the importance of this tiny, but important gland and the symptoms and risk factors of thyroid diseases.

Thyroid Importance

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the base of the neck just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid gland releases hormones into the bloodstream that affect the rate of cellular metabolism throughout the body, including the most important organs: heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin. Therefore, ensuring that the thyroid gland is healthy and functioning properly is important to the body's overall well-being.

The thyroid doesn’t entirely act on its own. Your pituitary gland releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) which stimulates the thyroid to release its hormones. TSH levels in your bloodstream rise or fall depending on whether enough (or too much) thyroid hormone is produced to meet your body’s needs.

Hypothyroidism

When your thyroid produces less than the normal amount of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), the result is a slowing down of your metabolism. Although hypothyroidism may be temporary, it is usually a permanent condition. Among those with thyroid dysfunction, most have hypothyroidism. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• Pervasive fatigue
• Drowsiness
• Forgetfulness
• Difficulty with learning
• Dry, brittle hair and nails
• Dry, itchy skin
• Puffy face
• Constipation
• Sore muscles
• Weight gain and fluid retention
• Heavy and/or irregular menstrual flow
• Increased frequency of miscarriages
• Increased sensitivity to many medications

Hyperthyroidism

When your body is exposed to excessive amounts of thyroid hormones due to an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), symptoms can range from mild to life threatening. As hyperthyroidism progresses, a goiter (enlargement of the thyroid) is usually present along with some of the following symptoms:

• Fast heart rate, often more than 100 beats per minute
• Becoming anxious, irritable, argumentative
• Trembling hands
• Weight loss, despite eating the same amount or even more than usual
• Intolerance of warm temperatures and increased likelihood to perspire
• Loss of scalp hair
• Tendency of fingernails to separate from the nail bed
• Muscle weakness, especially of the upper arms and thighs
• Loose and frequent bowel movements
• Smooth skin
• Change in menstrual pattern
• Increased likelihood for miscarriage
• Prominent "stare" of the eyes
• Protrusion of the eyes, with or without double vision (in patients with Graves’ disease)
• Irregular heart rhythm, especially in patients older than 60 years of age
• Accelerated loss of calcium from bones, which increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures

Causes and Risk Factors

There are several causes of thyroid disorders including medications, congenital defects, pregnancy, damage to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, Graves Disease, and autoimmune thyroiditis.

Risk factors include:

• Being female
• Over 50 years of age
• Family history of thyroid disorders
• Personal or family history of autoimmune disorders
• Current or former smoker

Diagnosis and Treatment

Thyroid symptoms can develop so slowly that many patients do not realize they have a problem. So it’s important to make sure that your annual check-up includes a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone or Thyrotropin Test (TSH test). An abnormal level of TSH in the blood is the most accurate indicator of primary (non-pituitary) hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Production of this pituitary hormone increases when the thyroid gland under-produces thyroid hormone. Conversely, TSH levels decrease when the thyroid is overactive.

If preliminary test results are abnormal, more specific thyroid tests are usually conducted to identify the specific cause of problem.

Depending on the type and degree of dysfunction, treatment many include drug therapy, radioactive iodine treatment, or surgical removal of the thyroid. Learn more about endocrine health here.

Sources:

Empower Your Health

Endocrine Web

WebMD