It’s estimated that 20 million individuals have some form of thyroid disease in the United States. Some examples include Grave’s disease, Hashimoto’s disease, thyroiditis, and goiter.
Left untreated, they can lead to various complications, including eye problems, heart problems, and nerve damage, among other issues.
The good news is that most of them can be managed with medical treatment and/or surgery.
Do you have a family history of thyroid problems? Want to know what signs to look for? Because that’s what we’ll be going over below.
Keep reading to learn more!
Signs You May Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism occurs when the body creates too much thyroid hormone (thyroxine and triiodothyronine). The most common cause is Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies trigger the overproduction of hormones.
Other causes include excess iodine, thyroiditis, and benign tumors of the thyroid or pituitary gland.
Over time, the excess hormones can cause an increase in blood pressure, which can lead to an elevated heart rate (over 80 beats per minute at rest). Not only that, but it can also speed up the body’s metabolism, and that can result in weight loss.
Other common symptoms include an enlarged thyroid gland, muscle weakness, increased appetite, sensitivity to heat, irregular menstrual periods, and trouble sleeping thyroid surgeon melbourne
In addition to that, it can also cause mood changes. For example, you may experience anxiety, depression, irritability, or nervousness.
Depending on the severity of symptoms, your doctor may recommend medications or surgery.
Signs You May Have Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones. More often than not, it’s caused by an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which occurs when the immune system attacks the thyroid and causes chronic inflammation.
While symptoms vary from person to person, most people will experience weight gain and fatigue, especially in the early stages. Other signs include a puffy face, slowed heart rate, dry skin, hoarseness, thinning hair, constipation, depression, joint pain, and muscle weakness.
Rarely, if your hormone levels drop too low, it can also lead to anemia, heart failure, confusion, and coma.
Having said all that, hypothyroidism is very treatable with medications. As long as you take it as prescribed, your thyroid hormone levels will return to adequate levels.
For example, your doctor may prescribe Tirosint—the brand name of levothyroxine. For those who are worried about costs, you may be able to get a Tirosint discount if you get it from an online pharmacy.
Identifying Thyroid Problems
There are two main types of thyroid problems, both of which can affect your health and wellbeing. If you’re experiencing symptoms, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider. They’ll be able to provide you with a proper treatment plan.
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