People heed about thyroid gland and that our metabolism takes a hit if it isn’t functioning well. However, do we really know what that means?
The thyroid is a small brownish-red, ductless, butterfly-shaped gland in the neck and just above the collarbone. It is a projection of which forms the Adam’s apple in humans. It has two side lobes, connected by a bridge (isthmus) in the middle.
When thyroid is in its normal size, you can’t feel it. It secretes several hormones, collectively called thyroid hormones. The main hormone is thyroxin, also called T4. These thyroid hormones act throughout the body, influencing metabolism, growth and development, and body temperature. It is rich with blood vessels. Throughout infancy and childhood, adequate thyroid hormone is crucial for brain development. Nerves that are vital for voice excellence also pass through the thyroid.
Thyroid hormones maintain how fast your body burns fats and carbohydrates, control your body temperature, influence your heart rate, and help regulate your body’s production of proteins.
This gland can go wrong in different ways. Thyroid disorders can start from a small, risk-free goiter (enlarged gland) that needs no treatment to life-threatening cancer. The most common thyroid problems include abnormal production of thyroid hormones, and too much thyroid hormone results in a condition known as hyperthyroidism. Insufficient hormone production leads to hypothyroidism.
These are the common terms we hear about thyroid diseases, “hyperthyroidism” and “hypothyroidism”. These two can easily confuse you but they are totally different circumstances.
Hyperthyroidism
When your thyroid gland produces too much of its hormones, this condition will occur. It will make you feel nervous, shaky, agitated and irritable. This kind of situation can make you even sweat more, causes your heart to beat faster, and make your hands and fingers tremble.
Further symptoms include difficulty sleeping, fatigue, muscle weakness, lighter and less frequent menstrual cycles. You may also experience increased appetite, and unexplained sudden weight loss.
The initial symptoms of hyperthyroidism can be mistaken for other things, such as too much stress or too little sleep. Hyperthyroidism can interrupt your bones’ uptake of calcium and cause brittle bones (osteoporosis).
Paying attention to these symptoms and taking initiative is important, because if left untreated, hyperthyroidism can lead to some severe health conditions.
Hypothyroidism
When your thyroid gland is not making enough hormones to keep your body up and running at normal speed, hypothyroidism occurs. More likely to experience this condition are women, especially those older than 60.
Symptoms may take a number of years to emerge and initial symptoms, such as fatigue and weight gain, can be barely noticed. But as your metabolism continues to slow down, more serious symptoms can occur. You may experience constipation, dry skin, aches and stiffness, muscle weakness and depression. Your face can become puffy, your hair may thin, your heart rate may decrease, and your memory could become impaired.
A person who has hypothyroidism may suffer from an increased sensitivity to cold. Your cholesterol levels may rise, plus joints could become painful and swollen. And menstrual periods can become heavier or irregular. Constant stimulation of your thyroid gland to produce more hormones can also cause it to become enlarged, it is called a goiter.
You may be at high risk for hypothyroidism if you have an autoimmune disorder or if you have previously been treated for hyperthyroidism. If all or a large portion of your thyroid has been removed can also cause hypothyroidism.
There are certain drugs such as lithium that can cause this condition, that’s why always, asks your physician about the effects of the medication that you are taking.
In every food that you eat, it can affect your thyroid gland. They can slow down how fast your body absorbs it. Foods like soy beans, spinach, kale, salt, organ meats and sea foods that are rich in protein can help your thyroid, but put in mind that too much of these foods can also ruin your thyroid. Take medicine on an empty stomach, preferably in the morning
The good news is that hypothyroidism can be tested and diagnosed with a thyroid function test, and safely and effectively treated with a synthetic thyroid hormone. With this medication you will start to feel less tired in one to two weeks, your cholesterol levels will steadily diminish, and you will begin losing the added weight.
Although the effects can be unpleasant and uncomfortable, most thyroid problems can be managed well if properly diagnosed and treated. That’s why it’s very important to watch out for these symptoms and never undervalue them. If you are experiencing unexplained fatigue, or any of the said symptoms, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor. Draphny Olasiman
Reference:
https://www.webmd.com/women/picture-of-the-thyroid
Thyroid Diseases. MedLine Plus. Retrieved Jan 30.
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/thyroiddiseases.html