The thyroid is a gland located at the base of your neck below your Adam’s apple. It secretes thyroid hormones, which play many vital roles in the body, including controlling your metabolic rate and regulating cholesterol levels. However, when the thyroid is overactive or underactive, it can lead to various disorders. There are many different thyroid disorders, and understanding their differences can help people better understand them. If you suffer from any condition that affects the thyroid, you need to see a doctor with experience in treating thyroid imbalances in Bastrop for treatment. Here, we look at some of the thyroid disorders most people develop.
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Hypothyroidism
This occurs when the thyroid is underactive. It can slow your metabolism down, leading to weight gain and sluggishness. People with hypothyroidism often feel the cold a lot more and have problems with constipation. They also tend to feel tired all the time. Treatment for this disorder includes taking medication that regulates the production of thyroid hormones.
Hyperthyroidism
This disorder is the exact opposite of hypothyroidism. It occurs when your thyroid produces too many T3 and T4 hormones, speeding up your metabolism and causing you to feel anxious and sweaty. People with hyperthyroidism often lose weight because they burn through calories faster than others and have trouble sleeping and concentrating problems. This disorder is treated with radioactive iodine and surgery.
Goiter
A goiter is an abnormally large thyroid gland caused by a tumor or the overproduction of thyroid hormones. It can lead to swelling of the neck, shortness of breath, problems swallowing, and coughing up blood. This disorder requires treatment from an endocrinologist.
Thyroid Nodules
This is when one or more lumps grow on the thyroid gland, not cancerous. They may be caused by a change in how the body uses iodine. Sometimes they are associated with pain if they become substantial, but treatment isn’t always needed unless you have problems swallowing or breathing.
Thyroid Tumors
Many tumors that affect the thyroid are malignant or can become cancerous. This makes it very important to go to the doctor to check for lumps on the thyroid gland as soon as you discover them to ensure they are not cancerous. It is also advised that an endocrinologist should regularly screen people with a family history of thyroid cancer to ensure their thyroid is healthy. If you are suffering from this you will need a thyroid clinic melbourne.
Graves Disease
This is an autoimmune disorder that causes the thyroid to produce too many T3 and T4 hormones, leading to hyperthyroidism. This condition often affects more women than men, which a virus may cause. Usually, it will go away on its own without treatment. However, some people may need surgery or radioiodine therapy to stop their thyroid gland from overproducing hormones.
To summarize, the thyroid is a gland found below Adam’s apple in your neck, and it plays the critical role of secreting thyroid hormones. Some of the most common conditions that affect the thyroid include goiter, graves disease, hypothyroidism., hyperthyroidism, and thyroid nodules. Thyroid tumors are also becoming increasingly common.
