The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland situated at the front of the base of the neck. It is also part of the endocrine system and releases hormones that affect metabolism, brain development, and bone maintenance. Thyroid disease symptoms help a person deal with the health issue.
Certain thyroid diseases can indeed be cured, like thyroid cancer. In a few cases, a person can indeed restore their thyroid to proper functioning levels with the help of medication, but they do need to regularly maintain thyroid function.
Thyroid Symptoms
Symptoms will indeed differ depending on whether one’s thyroid produces too much or too little of the hormones the body needs.
The general symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
- Fatigue.
- Weight gain.
- Intolerance to cold temperatures.
- Digestive issues like constipation.
- Dry skin.
- Voice changes.
The symptoms of hyperthyroidism are:
- Heart palpitations.
- Anxiety.
- Fatigue.
- Tremors.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Weight loss.
- Intolerance to hot temperatures.
- Sweating.
- Excessive thirst.
Hypothyroidism
- Increased sensitivity to cold.
- Muscle weakness.
- Constipation.
- Weight gain without increasing calorie intake.
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Low mood and increased feelings of depression or sadness.
- Extreme tiredness.
- Pale and dry skin.
- Dry as well as thinning hair.
- A slower heart rate than usual.
- Less sweating than usual.
- Puffiness in the face.
- Hoarse voice.
- Changes to the sex drive (libido).
- Heavier menstrual periods.
- Increased bad cholesterol.
- Pain during sexual intercourse.
- Impaired ability to become aroused.
Thyroid disease causes
There are several causes associated with hypo- and hyperthyroidism-related health issues, like:
Few causes of hypothyroidism include:
- Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid
- Inflammation of one’s thyroid (thyroiditis)
- When all or part of the thyroid is rather surgically removed
- Radiation therapy
- Few medications, like heart, bipolar disorder, and cancer medicines
- Iodine deficiency.
- Pituitary gland disorders, as this gland does play a role in the health of the thyroid
Causes of hyperthyroidism include:
- Graves’ disease.
- Thyroiditis.
- Overactive thyroid nodules.
- Too much iodine in one’s body.
- Using too much thyroid hormone medication.
- Non-cancerous tumors of one’s pituitary gland.
Thyroid disease treatment
Several treatment options are available for people with thyroid disease. Therapies do include medications and natural treatments. Healthcare providers hope to alleviate the symptoms while restoring thyroid hormone levels. If there are growths or nodules, reducing their respective sizes will also be part of the treatment plan.
The therapies healthcare providers choose will depend on the person’s needs and whether they have hypo- or hyperthyroidism. Medications for hypothyroidism do increase the production of thyroid hormones in order to help correct the under-producing gland.
Medications for hyperthyroidism have the opposite effect and also aim to reduce thyroid hormones.
Managing stress levels during treatment, regardless of whether the person has hypo- or hyperthyroidism, is indeed vital, as the stress hormone cortisol can interfere with the functioning of the thyroid, leading to worsened symptoms. Stress management techniques include:
- Exercises like yoga, Pilates, or walking.
- Meditation and mindfulness.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is a form of talk therapy.
- Tai chi.
- Art therapy.
Conclusion
Thyroid causes need to be identified and treated. The patient can discuss the thyroid disorder with a healthcare provider at the first sign of symptoms.
When the thyroid overproduces or underproduces vital hormones, it can lead to a host of different health issues because of how the body relies on these hormones for various functions.
This article discusses types of thyroid disease, their associated symptoms, and what treatment options are available.
