The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck below the Adam's apple. This gland produces thyroid hormones that help regulate growth, metabolism, and other critical bodily functions.
Thyroid disorders occur when the thyroid produces too little or too much of these essential hormones, causing widespread effects on the body. Some common thyroid disorders include:
Thyroid disorders have diverse causes including iodine deficiency, inflammation or autoimmune diseases, genetic predisposition, radiation exposure, and too much or too little production of thyroid hormones. In many cases, the exact cause is unknown. Risk increases with age, family history of thyroid disease, and other medical conditions like type 1 diabetes or Down syndrome. Thyroid issues affect women more often than men.
Stress can also trigger thyroid changes by altering hormone levels throughout the body's endocrine system.
If thyroid disease is suspected based on symptoms, your doctor can check levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormones in the blood. This helps determine if the thyroid is underactive or overactive.
Additional tests like ultrasounds, radioactive iodine uptake tests, thyroid scans, or fine needle biopsies may provide more details.
Treatment depends on the specific condition but may include synthetic thyroid hormones to restore hormone levels, radioactive iodine to shrink overactive thyroid tissue, surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid, or medications to manage inflammation or symptoms.
With appropriate treatment tailored to the type of thyroid dysfunction, most people can manage their symptoms and avoid complications. Monitoring thyroid hormone levels and working closely with an endocrinologist or primary care provider at Renew Wellness is important, as dosage requirements can change over time. Most thyroid problems can be managed effectively, allowing patients to live full and active lives.