Every part of the body depends on a healthy thyroid to maintain a balanced metabolism. A malfunctioning thyroid has real and sometimes life-threatening effects on an individual’s overall health. Millions of Americans live with some form of thyroid disease, however, 60 percent are completely unaware they have the condition.
A Women’s Health Issue
Thyroid issues affect women at up to eight times more than men. One out of every eight women will develop some form of thyroid disease in their lifetime. The root cause of thyroid disease is unknown in many cases, making it harder to catch and regulate associated issues.
Common Thyroid Disorders
Here’s a rundown of the top thyroid issues diagnosed in patients and the symptoms associated with each condition.
- Hypothyroidism – Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid condition. The thyroid gland stops producing enough hormones, which causes healthy thyroid cells to become overrun by scar tissue and white blood cells. Lethargy, weight gain and irregular menstrual flows are common symptoms.
- Hyperthyroidism – There are several different causes of hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid gland produces too many thyroid hormones. Patients may find themselves experiencing sleep issues, a swollen thyroid gland, weight loss, or fatigue.
- Thyroid Cancer – Thyroid cancer can be difficult to diagnose since it often manifests no symptoms in patients other than a lump or swelling of the thyroid gland. It’s also undetectable in standard blood or TSH tests. There were 53,390 new cases diagnosed in 2018 in the U.S. with 40,900 of those patients being women.
Make Sure You’re Healthy
Harris Health encourage patients to get an annual physical and inform their physician about ongoing symptoms which might be related to the above-highlighted thyroid disease conditions.
With diagnoses of thyroid cancer in patients tripling over the past three decades, it’s vital that individuals receive medical attention as soon as possible. Early treatment and education can help people effectively control their thyroid issues and live a normal, healthy lifestyle.