Thyroid

Problems with Your Thyroid
You may not hear much about thyroid problems, but they're common and affect many people. Having a thyroid problem may mean that your thyroid gland is underactive and doesn't work hard enough. Or, it may mean that your gland is overactive and works too hard. Your thyroid gland may also grow larger or develop lumps.

An Underactive Thyroid
When the thyroid doesn't work hard enough, it's called hypothyroidism. If you have hypothyroidism, your body runs more slowly and you have less energy. You may notice one or more of these symptoms:

• Feeling sluggish and tired
• Getting cold easily
• Gaining weight more easily

An Overactive Thyroid
When the thyroid works too hard, it's called hyperthyroidism. If you have hyperthyroidism, your body runs faster. You may notice one or more of these symptoms:

• Getting hot easily
• Feeling wired and jittery, but also burned out and tired
• Losing weight without dieting

Thyroid Nodules
Your thyroid gland may develop one or more small lumps. These lumps are called nodules. If you have nodules, your thyroid usually continues to work at the right pace. As a result, you may not notice any symptoms, although you may be able to feel the nodule in your neck. Nodules are usually harmless, but occasionally they may be a sign of thyroid cancer.

Common Thyroid Problems

1- Hypothyroidism
When you have hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormone. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In people with this condition, the body's immune system (the system that helps your body fight infection) mistakes the thyroid gland for something it needs to attack. Hypothyroidism may also occur if there's not enough iodine available for the thyroid to make hormone, if there are problems with the pituitary gland, or if the thyroid gland is removed.

Common Symptoms

• Decreased energy level, fatigue
• Feeling cold
• Muscle pain
• Slowed thinking
• Constipation
• Longer of heavier menstrual periods
• Weight gain
• Dry and brittle skin, hair, and nails
• Feeling down or depressed

2- Hyperthyroidism
With hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland produces too much hormone. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease, a problem where the body's immune system overstimulates the thyroid. Graves' disease sometimes causes eye problems that make the eyes look like they're bulging (exopthalmos). A nodule in your thyroid gland can cause hyperthyroidism if the cells in the nodule produce more hormone than the rest of the gland.

Common Symptoms

• Shaking, nervousness, jitters, irritability
• Feeling hot
• A rapid, irregular heartbeat
• Muscle weakness, fatigue
• More frequent bowel movements
• Shorter or lighter menstrual periods
• Weight loss
• Hair loss

3- Nodules
Nodules are lumps of tissue in the thyroid gland. The gland may develop one nodule or many nodules. Usually, the cause of nodules can't be pinpointed, but they may be more common in people who've had therapeutic radiation to the head or neck in childhood for problems such as acne or swollen tonsils. Most of the time, nodules don't affect the production of thyroid hormone and usually cause no symptoms, although sometimes they can be felt from the outside of the neck. Most nodules are benign (noncancerous), but occasionally a nodule may be cancerous.

Blood Tests
Blood tests that measure levels of thyroid hormone and TSH in your blood can help confirm whether your thyroid gland is making too much or too little hormone. Tests that check for immune system problems may also be done. These tests can help your doctor diagnose Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease.

Treating Nodules and Goiter
If you have one or more nodules and no cancer is present, you may take thyroid hormone pills to help keep the nodules from getting larger. Your doctor can monitor any change in the size of nodules by physical exam or by using ultrasound. If a nodule grows very large, interferes with breathing or swallowing, or is cancerous, a thyroidectomy may be performed. Radioiodine ablation may be done after surgery for a cancerous nodule to be sure that all cancerous tissue has been destroyed. A large goiter that doesn't get smaller with other treatment may also be surgically removed. After thyroid surgery, you may need to take thyroid hormone pills to maintain normal thyroid hormone levels.