Thyroid

What is a thyroid?

Your thyroid is a gland that sits at the base of your neck. This little gland is in charge of your metabolism. But, it also can impact a variety of bodily functions such as your mood, weight, and energy levels.

When you have a thyroid disorder, your thyroid will start underproducing or overproducing hormones which may result in a variety of symptoms.

What are common thyroid disorders?

There are many different types of thyroid disorders. Common disorders include:

• Grave’s Disease
• Hypothyroidism
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Goiters
• Thyroid cancer

What are the symptoms of a thyroid condition?

Some symptoms of thyroid conditions are relatively minor but may worsen over time if left untreated.

Thyroid condition symptoms include:

• Weight gain or weight loss
• Fatigue
• Increased sweating
• Dry skin
• Painful joints
• Hoarseness
• Constipation

How is a thyroid disorder diagnosed?

Two of the hormones your thyroid produces are T3 and T4. Elevated levels of T3 and T4 are indicative of a thyroid condition. Your practitioner at Evia Medical Center performs blood tests to ascertain your hormone levels and diagnose your thyroid condition. Then, a custom treatment plan is created to manage your symptoms.

How are thyroid conditions treated?

The Evia Medical Center team manages thyroid conditions with synthetic thyroid hormones. These synthetic hormones will help restore balance in the thyroid. For example, if you have hyperthyroidism, you’ll use a hormone therapy that slows down your thyroid hormone production.

Your Evia Medical Center practitioner tailors the number of hormones you take to your specific needs. This means it may take a few weeks to get you on the proper dosage.

Who is at risk for developing a thyroid disorder?

People of all ages -- from infants to adults -- are at risk of developing a thyroid disorder. However, there are specific factors that can increase your risk, including:

• Being female
• Being over the age of 60
• Pregnancy
• A family history of thyroid problems
• Have an autoimmune disease like type 1 Diabetes

If you experience sudden weight gain, constipation, or constant fatigue, you may have a thyroid disorder. Contact the Evia Medical Center team to schedule an evaluation and blood test today.