Thyroid Dysfunction
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland, found inside the neck near the “Adam’s apple.” The hormones produced by the thyroid, commonly called T3 and T4, control the metabolism; in other words, they coordinate how the body breaks down food and determine whether food energy is either used immediately or stored for future use. Related to the thyroid gland is the pituitary gland, located at the brain’s base. The pituitary produces a hormone that stimulates the thyroid, telling the thyroid when to produce more of its own hormones when needed by the body.
Disruptions in the normal function of the thyroid are often the result of thyroid-specific diseases. These diseases affect the amount of thyroid hormone is produced. Common forms of thyroid disorder include:
- Hyperthyroidism, in which an overactive thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, speeding up the body’s metabolism, and causing symptoms such as increased heart rate, weight loss, feelings of anxiety or irritability, sleeping difficulties/fatigue, weakness, irregular menstrual cycles, diarrhea and trembling hands. Other symptoms involve the eyes, including puffiness, irritation, dryness, vision problems or sensitivity to light.
- Hypothyroidism, in which thyroid function is slowed down, producing too few thyroid hormones and causing sluggishness in many of the body’s functions, resulting in lower oxygen consumption and body heat production. Symptoms include dry skin, weight gain, dry hair or hair loss, constipation, puffy skin, intolerance to cold, fatigue and irregular menstrual cycles. Severe hypothyroidism is called myxedema, a condition in which a severe injury or exposure to cold, infection or certain medications, may trigger heart failure, seizures or mexedema coma.
- Grave’s disease, the most common form of hyperthyroidism, causes the body’s own immune system to produce antibodies that attack the thyroid gland and cause it to produce too many hormones. This is largely an inherited disease, and its more noticeable symptoms can include swelling behind the eyes, resulting in increased tear production and/or bulging of the eyes.
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, the most common form of hypothyroidism, is similar to Grave’s disease in that it is an autoimmune condition caused by the body’s production of antibodies that attack the thyroid. However, this disease caused a reduction in thyroid hormone production.
- Thyroid Nodules are small lumps that can develop on the thyroid. The can be either solid (a result of thyroid tissue growth) or fluid-filled (a cyst). While most nodules are harmless, some can be cancerous, so it is important to have any nodules looked at by medical professionals. It is estimated that almost half of the U.S. population have tiny nodules at some point in their lives. Nodules that produce too much thyroid hormone or become too large can cause neck discomfort and can interefere with breathing or swallowing.
- Thyroiditis, an inflammation or swelling of the thyroid gland, can be related to either hyper- or hypothyroidism. While it can be painful, it does not always cause pain, and it can be the result of autoimmune activity, an infection or exposure to toxins or chemicals. A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid that is visible.
- Thyroid cancer, while not common, is still diagnosed in about 25,000 new cases each year. There are four main types of thyroid cancer, and women are more often affected than men.
Please see your doctor if you have symptoms of any thyroid disorder. To protect your thyroid’s health (or to help in the recovery from a thyroid condition), you should eat a balanced diet and get healthy amounts of sleep and exercise. Here at Immune Recovery and Wellness, we also offer many complementary and alternative methods that promote thyroid functionality and assist in the recovery process.