Thyroid Disease: What You Need To Know?

The thyroid is the gland that sits right in front of the neck, which is wrapped around the windpipe(trachea) and forms part of the body’s endocrine system. And for those who don’t know, your endocrine system is responsible for the production and distribution of hormones in your body.

The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped organ that regulates hormones T3 and T4. These hormones control energy levels, skin growth, hair and nail growth, body temperature, energy levels, and weight gain.

What Is thyroid disease?

Thyroid disease affects men and women alike. It happens when your thyroid makes the right amount of hormones that keep your body from functioning correctly. However, women are more likely to develop a thyroid disorder, and they notice it in time because the thyroid gland helps regulate their menstrual cycles. A thyroid disease exists when your thyroid produces too much or too little hormones. 

What are the types of thyroid diseases?

Some thyroid diseases include Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Hyperthyroidism occurs when your body produces too much thyroid hormone, while hypothyroidism happens when your body makes too little thyroid hormone. Both conditions must not be treated jokingly but various seriously because they are both serious health conditions that must be reported to your doctor immediately.

Research has shown that hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism impede women’s periods and usually make it difficult for them to get pregnant. Also, individuals with type 1 diabetes, lupus, Turner syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis who have previously treated thyroid or cancer may be at a higher risk of developing thyroid disease.

What are the causes Of thyroid diseases?

• Iodine: Your thyroid uses iodine for the production of hormones. So when iodine becomes deficient, the thyroid defaults to hormone production. On the flip side, when the iodine is in excess, the thyroid makes too many hormones which result in hyperthyroidism.
• Thyroiditis: This simply refers to the swelling of the thyroid gland. It reduces the number of hormones the thyroid produces and can result in a disorder.
• Postpartum thyroiditis is usually a temporary condition common to women after childbirth.
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: Refers to an autoimmune condition where the body’s cells attack and damage the thyroid.
• Nodules: Overactive nodules in the thyroid can cause hyperthyroidism. 
• Graves Disease: Individuals with this condition experience an overactive thyroid gland that usually produces excess hormones.

What are the symptoms of thyroid disease?

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism are usually the opposite of hypothyroidism. 

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include;

1. Weight loss
2. Difficulty sleeping
3. Enlarged thyroid gland
4. Heat sensitivity
5. Vision problems or eye irritation
6. Anxiety, irritability, and nervousness.
7. Irregular menstrual periods

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

1. Fatigue
2. Intolerance to cold temperature
3. Dry and coarse hair
4. Weight gain
5. Forgetfulness
6. Frequent and heavy menstrual periods
7. Coarse hair.

Thyroid diseases can be diagnosed through blood, or imaging tests and physical examination. If you are worried about thyroid disease, you should see your doctor because some of these symptoms can be easily confused with other medical conditions.