The Truth About Thyroid
The thyroid gland can be difficult to understand. You may be aware that you have a thyroid gland, but you may be unsure of its actual purpose. According to www.WebMD.com, the thyroid gland is what influences the majority of all metabolic processes by producing hormones. If your thyroid is not producing the necessary amount of hormones, problems can occur. Thyroid problems can be easily managed, but they can also become life threatening if not treated.
What are the causes?
Hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland produces too many hormones. Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, occurs when your thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. Both conditions can occur in a number of different ways, all of which affect the amount of hormones that are being produced.
What symptoms should I look for?
According to www.Hormone.org, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism share some particular symptoms, but differ on others. Fatigue and irregular menstrual cycles are symptoms of both types of thyroid disease. Weight loss, increased sweating, vision problems, trembling hands, rapid heartbeat and muscle weakness are symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Weight gain, mental depression, dry skin and hair and sluggishness are symptoms of hypothyroidism.
What are treatments for thyroid disease?
To diagnose thyroid problems, doctors will look at the levels of thyroid hormones in your blood. When treating hyperthyroidism, you want to decrease the amount of hormones being produced. However, you want to increase the amount of hormones produced when treating hypothyroidism. Treating hyperthyroidism may require radioactive iodide treatment, antithyroid medication or surgery. Treating hypothyroidism may require taking a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone in order to replace the hormones that are not produced. While conventional treatment will often be required to treat thyroid problems, herbal remedies and specialized exercises can be used to relieve symptoms.
Amanda Blue is an intern for KC Parent Magazine. She is a sophomore at the University of Kansas where she is studying journalism.