What is thyroid?
The thyroid is a gland at the base of your neck. It controls the flow and production of hormones that control significant parts of your metabolism, such as heart and calorie burn rates. What we generally refer to as thyroid is one of two types of issues with the gland. The two types of thyroid issues are hyper- and hypo- thyroidism:
Hyperthyroidism –
Hyperthyroidism is when your thyroid is making too much of the hormones that your body needs to maintain a healthy metabolism. Hypothyroidism can be very tough to notice because most of its symptoms are things that most would dismiss as standard irregularities in their body. Some of these symptoms include:
- Trembling in fingers and hands
- Lower heat tolerance
- Anxiety, nervousness, and irritability
- Irritated eyes or vision issues
- Losing significant amounts of weight unintentionally.
- swollen/large thyroid
Hypothyroidism –
Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, stems from your thyroid’s lack of production. This also severely harms your metabolism by essentially slowing it down. This type of hypothyroidism affects everyone differently, so it’s best to watch closely and get a blood test if you think you might have a thyroid issue. Some of the more common symptoms for hypothyroidism are:
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- Gaining significant amounts of weight unintentionally
- Weaker/more easily fatigued muscles
- Forgetfulness
- dry/thinning/coarse hair
- Unusually dry skin (more so than your natural skin type)
Because there are so many different symptoms, how do I know if I have thyroid issues are not?
The best way to know if you have hypo- or hyper- thyroidism is by taking a thyroid blood test.
How is thyroidism treated?
Thyroid issues are usually treated by hormonal supplements (oral most of the time). These supplements will help balance your hormone levels and bring them back to normal. Some more permanent treatments involve surgery and radioactive iodine. The best place to start when you have any questions at all about thyroid is your primary care physician. If you’re looking for a primary care physician in Plano, Irving, or Frisco, call us at 214-666-6259 or schedule an appointment in the contact tab above the post.
Author Jai Sammpath