Do I Have A Thyroid Problem?

Do you feel strange symptoms lately, like your body is changing in small but frustrating ways? Do you notice a difference in your energy level, mood and weight? Don't just chalk up these symptoms to the stress of your endless to-do list. Instead, add something to that list - make a doctor's appointment. Because you may be among the 20 million Americans who has thyroid disease.

What Does The Thyroid Do?

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck under your voice box. It creates hormones that help regulate your metabolism, body temperature, energy level and heart rate as well as growth in children.

The thyroid plays a crucial role in metabolism and the functioning of the brain, heart and other vital organs - so having a thyroid problem affects how you function daily. That's why it's essential to pay attention to this small gland at the base of your neck.

How Common Is Thyroid Disease?

Thyroid diseases are common, affecting up to an estimated 20 million Americans. Thyroid conditions can range from a small, harmless goiter (an enlarged gland) to cancer that may need to be treated with radioactive iodine or surgery.

Although a simple blood test is all that's needed to find out if you have thyroid disease, up to 60 percent of people go undiagnosed, according to the American Thyroid Association. Because symptoms of thyroid conditions are wide-ranging and vague, they're often mistaken for signs of aging or stress.

“Women are five to eight times more likely than men to develop a thyroid disorder in their lifetime. One in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder,” Stone said.

What Are Common Thyroid Diseases?

"The thyroid, it likes to either move like slow mo or too fast," Stone said. "A good example I like to say is kind of like the Turtle and the Hare, that old children's tale. And that's kind of how sometimes our thyroid likes to work."

Three common types of thyroid diseases are:

Hyperthyroidism

When the thyroid overproduces hormones, it's called hyperthyroidism. An overactive thyroid is often caused by Grave's disease, an autoimmune disorder in which your body mistakenly attacks the thyroid.

Having too much thyroid hormone in your bloodstream can speed up body processes and have wide-ranging effects. The symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

• Nervousness, irritability or anxiety
• Racing heart rate
• Shaky hands
• Difficulty sleeping
• Unexpected weight loss
• Lighter and less frequent menstrual periods
• Feeling hotter than usual and increased sweating

Hyperthyroidism is diagnosed when TSH (or thyroid stimulating hormone) will be very low, but T4 levels, which helps regulate metabolism, heart rate, and other bodily functions will be very high.

"With hyperthyroidism, there's two different treatment options that we can do," Stone said. "The first one that's the most common, is an anti-thyroid medication called methimazole. This one actually, most patients will be on for a couple of years of their life. The other option is actually radioactive iodine. This is used to reduce the T4 production and like restore normal function."

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is when the thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones. Hashimoto's disease - an autoimmune disorder that reduces the thyroid's ability to produce hormones - is frequently the cause of hypothyroidism.

Anyone can develop an underactive thyroid, although women older than 60 years of age are the most frequent patients.

Although the symptoms of hypothyroidism can vary greatly, problems frequently develop slowly and can take years to become bothersome. Initial signs of hypothyroidism are often fatigue and weight gain, but symptoms may start to add up and become more severe as the condition goes untreated for an extended period of time.

The lack of thyroid hormones creates an imbalance that results in general and vague symptoms throughout the body, such as:

• Dry skin
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Constipation
• Unexpected weight gain
• Feeling colder than usual
• Joint or muscle pain or weakness

"If you have hypothyroidism, you will have a really high TSH, but a very low T4," Stone said, "and that's because our pituitary gland is basically sending all of these signals to our thyroid of, 'Come on. Let's put in some work.' When that's happening, our thyroid's not doing its job, so then we actually have to do thyroid replacement therapy.

"The most common medication for it is levothyroxine. And that medication is actually weight-based. So if you're a person that fluctuates on their weight, normally every three months, they just draw the levels of the TSH and T4, just to make sure you're on an appropriate medication for your weight."

Abnormal thyroid growth

Abnormal thyroid growth can affect the functioning of the thyroid gland, too:

• Thyroid nodules are small bumps that grow on the thyroid and are very common. Up to 50 percent of people over the age of 50 have thyroid nodules. Most of the time, the nodules are harmless and don't cause any symptoms. However, in a small number of cases, they can be cancerous, grow large enough to press against the windpipe or lead to hyperthyroidism.
• Goiters occur when the entire thyroid gland becomes enlarged, causing swelling in the neck. This condition is typically due to an iodine deficiency, which is rare in the American diet. But those with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism can also develop a goiter.

Who Is Most At Risk For Thyroid Problems?

A thyroid problem can happen to anyone. But women are five to eight times more likely to develop thyroid disease. Other risk factors of a thyroid condition include:

• Smoking
• Being over the age of 60
• Recent pregnancy
• Past thyroid surgery
• Family history of thyroid disease
• Having an autoimmune disease such as Type 1 diabetes
• Previous treatment with radiation, radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medications

“Most often, thyroid disorders stem from an autoimmune process,” said Stone.

How Can I Maintain Good Thyroid Health?

Follow these tips for good thyroid health:

1. Start by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Eat nutritious foods, including a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole-grain foods.
2. Maintain a healthy weight. Strive to be regularly physically active to improve your overall health.
3. Learn the signs of thyroid cancer. The most common thyroid cancer symptom is a painless lump or swelling in the neck.

Some foods to avoid with thyroid issues:

• Soy
• Kelp
• Root vegetables
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower.

When Should I See A Doctor For My Thyroid?

If you do notice something abnormal, tell your doctor. If you experience signs of a thyroid condition, it's important to talk to your doctor.

Masses in the neck should be evaluated first with a physical exam. Then your doctor can decide whether further testing is needed.

An ultrasound may be done to evaluate thyroid masses, followed by a biopsy, depending on the results.

"If you have a family history of thyroid disorders, autoimmune conditions, or if you've been experiencing any of these symptoms, I hope you take this as your sign to make an appointment with your primary care provider and get your annual blood work done to screen for thyroid disorders," Stone said.

Knowing if you have a thyroid problem is the first step to resolving common thyroid symptoms. Start with a conversation with your doctor today.