It is common for someone to go see their physician with a complaint of fatigue, weight gain, and as a result depression. Any individual who presents with these symptoms will more then likely be screened for thyroid disease with a basic laboratory blood test.
Millions and millions of individuals worldwide are affected by thyroid disease. The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland located in the center of your neck in front of your trachea (windpipe). Its main function is to use hormones to regulate the heart rate, temperature balance, metabolism, muscle strength and energy level.
Risk Factors for Thyroid Disease
Some of the main risks factors for thyroid disease include:
* Women > risk then men
* Age > 50 years
* A personal or family history of thyroid and/or autoimmune disease increases risk.
* Being pregnant or within the first year after childbirth
* Current or former smoker
* Radiation exposure, through radiation to neck area, or exposure to nuclear facility or accident, i.e., Chernobyl
* Recent exposure to iodine via contrast dye or surgical antiseptic
* Recent neck trauma, biopsy, injection or surgery
* High stress life events
There are three main types of thyroid disease. These types may be classified as hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, or autoimmune disease and are diagnosed by performing laboratory tests.
Hypothyroid Disease
The main symptoms for hypothyroid disease include not only weight gain, depression and fatigue but also constipation, decreased blood pressure, body aches and fluid retention. Patients diagnosed with hypothyroid disease are typically given medication to help offset the imbalance. Individuals with hypothyroidism will also receive routine blood tests to continuously check hormone levels to make sure that they are in the normal range.
Hyperthyroid Disease
Hyperthyroidism presents differently then its counterpart. The body tends to act as if it is in overdrive when it has too much thyroid stimulating hormone. Very fast weight loss can occur due to the increase in metabolism. There may also be symptoms such as diarrhea, increased heart rate, anxiety, bulging eyes and visual disturbances. Patients also complain of feeling “on edge” and “jittery”. Screening for hyperthyroidism also includes performing a laboratory blood test and if positive sometimes a thyroid ultrasound is included.
Autoimmune Disease
Hashimoto and Graves disease round out the Autoimmune Diseases that relate to the thyroid. Hashimotos disease resembles that of hypothyroidism while Graves disease presents similarly to hyperthyroidism. The autoimmune diseases are trickier to diagnosis because the presenting symptoms can be confusing. Thyroid autoimmune disease is characterized by a two week back and forth cycling of symptoms of hyperthyroidism then hypothyroidism thus making it difficult to formulate a diagnosis diagnose.
If you suspect that you have one of the symptoms for thyroid disease, check with your physician for further evaluation and testing.
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