Your endocrine system is an incredibly sophisticated communication platform that produces and delivers hormones throughout your body. These tiny “chemical messengers” influence everything from your appetite and growth to your sleep patterns and mood.
Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck that controls your metabolism, or how your body utilizes energy. Just like the story of Goldilocks and the three bears, if your thyroid isn’t performing “just right,” it can cause your health to go awry.
Fortunately, our caring team at One Health Medical Center offers excellent care for patients who are experiencing thyroid problems.
In recognition of Thyroid Awareness Month this January, Dr. Mingliarti Tjahjana and Kendra Blythe, NP, are here to give you news you can use about your thyroid — including how it supports your health, common warning signs it may not be working as it should, and treatment solutions to restore optimal well-being.
There are two ways your thyroid gland can malfunction — it can become underactive and sluggish (hypothyroidism), or overactive and hyper-performing (hyperthyroidism). Both of these conditions can cause a host of unpleasant symptoms.
You’re at higher risk for thyroid disease if you:
If you’ve been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, you’re not alone: About 20 million Americans live with some form of thyroid disease. Unfortunately, an estimated three in five people (60%) with thyroid disease don’t yet know they have it.
Take notice if you experience any of these five signs of thyroid disease.
If you’re living with hyperthyroidism, you’ll see unexpected weight loss and difficulty gaining weight, while hypothyroidism causes easy weight gain and makes it hard to lose weight.
If you feel fatigued and tired most of the time, you may have hypothyroidism. A sluggish thyroid can also contribute to a low, depressed mood. With a revved up thyroid, you’ll have energy to spare, trouble sleeping, and increased feelings of agitation and anxiety.
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause irregular periods, but having an overactive thyroid can also cause your period to stop all together (amenorrhea).
Are you perspiring a lot, even when it’s not that hot? This can point to an overactive thyroid. If you often experience intense sensitivity to cold temps, your thyroid may be underactive.
Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can cause hair loss, but hypothyroidism leads to dry skin and hair as well. Chronic skin rashes can also arise with hyperthyroidism.
Fortunately, there is. When you see us about suspected thyroid disease, we perform a series of diagnostic tests to determine if you’re living with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism — and to find the underlying cause of the problem.
If you have hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone replacement therapy can get your body back into balance. We track your treatment to ensure your dosage is appropriate and you attain full symptom relief.
To slow down an overactive thyroid, we typically recommend antithyroid medication and on occasion, beta blockers, both of which help put the brakes on thyroid hormone production. Another treatment route we may advise is radioactive iodine therapy, which weakens the cells that are responsible for an overactive thyroid.
Some patients don’t find success with these hyperthyroidism treatments however. The next line of treatment is thyroid surgery, where a portion of the thyroid is removed to get excessive thyroid hormone production under control.
Don’t dismiss possible warning signs of thyroid disease — especially if you’re experiencing several. While thyroid symptoms are “non-specific,” meaning they can easily be attributed to other issues, taken all together, they’re a strong indication of thyroid dysfunction.
It’s very important to seek treatment if you’re having thyroid-related symptoms. Why? Because untreated thyroid disease can lead to other serious conditions.
Those with untreated hyperthyroidism are at increased risk for atrial fibrillation, stroke, and osteoporosis. Hypothyroidism heightens your chances of being diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, heart disease, infertility, and mood disorders.
It doesn’t have to be this way: We’re here to investigate your symptoms, treat your thyroid issues, protect your health, and help you restore a better quality of life. To learn more, call or click online to schedule a visit at One Health Medical Care in Reston, Virginia, today.
