Most hypothyroidism sufferers use synthetic thyroid hormone replacement medicine to compensate for the body’s inability to produce the hormones it needs to function. And did you know that over 13% of Americans suffer from a thyroid disorder, and many are entirely unaware of their disease? Might you be one of them? Luckily, Pompeyo C Chavez MD offers diagnostic and treatment services that could benefit you.
Thyroid hormone (TH) is produced by the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland situated near the base of the neck. Your body’s ability to operate properly is heavily reliant on TH. An excess or deficiency of this hormone may negatively affect a wide range of bodily functions, from energy to weight to metabolism to mood to cholesterol to bones to the menstrual cycle in women. Knowing the early warning signals of thyroid disease might be a big help in identifying and treating it. The following are the common ones:
If you have a lump or nodule in your thyroid gland
You should call an endocrinology doctor if you see a growth in your thyroid. While most changes are safe (non-harmful), there are times when a more significant shift is taking place. According to the Cleveland Clinic, five percent of thyroid nodules are malignant. Occasionally, thyroid nodules may induce hypothyroidism; however, this is very uncommon.
You have an enlarged thyroid gland or goiter
A goiter is a swelling of the thyroid gland, which may affect the whole gland or only a portion of it. Consult an endocrinologist if you suspect you have one so they can determine the cause and the best course of action. If you have a goiter, you should consult an endocrinologist regardless of whether you have hypothyroidism.
Change in appearance
It would help if you keep an eye out for physical changes such as thinning or brittle hair, itchy, red, and swollen skin, and swelling in the joints and the face or neck. If you have seen changes in your skin’s look combined with one or more of the other causes indicated above, it may be time to get your thyroid tested.
If you are trying to get pregnant
Pregnancy alters your body’s ability to generate and regulate substances, as can diseases of the thyroid gland. Pregnancy may be affected by a thyroid disorder, and vice versa, which necessitates a consultation with a doctor.
If your blood pressure is erratic
Patients with hypothyroidism may have blood levels that fluctuate erratically despite taking their medicine regularly. Thyroid medication absorption and action may be affected by other health conditions and drugs and the blood tests used to diagnose hypothyroidism. An expert may sort out your medical history and develop a treatment plan for stabilizing your blood tests and medication dose.
Anxiety
Many people who suffer from hyperthyroidism are plagued by anxiety. It might lead to them being irrationally furious or having difficulty managing their emotions. If you find yourself unable to get along with the people in your life, it is time to step back and figure out what has happened. The change in your temperament may be due to a sign of a thyroid problem if nothing else can explain it.
Of course, they are not the only signs. Thyroid disorders are often accompanied by one or more of these symptoms. Do not worry if your doctor advises thyroid testing despite the absence of any of these symptoms.
