January is Thyroid Awareness Month
Unless you have one that isn’t functioning properly, you probably haven’t given any thought to your thyroid gland today. Well, that’s about to change because it’s Thyroid Awareness Month. I know I’m running late.
The thyroid gland is butterfly-shaped and found at the front of your neck, right under your voice box. It weighs between 20 and 60 grams. It is a vital hormone producing gland and plays a major role in metabolism, growth and development of your body.
The National Library of Medicine says, “It helps to regulate many body functions by constantly releasing a steady amount of thyroid hormones into the bloodstream. If the body needs more energy in certain situations — for instance, if it is growing or cold, or during pregnancy — the thyroid gland produces more hormones.”
The thyroid gland produces three hormones: Triiodothyronine (T3), tetraiodothyronine (T4), also called thyroxine, and calcitonin. Well, to be technical, calcitonin isn’t a hormone, it is made by C-cells which means that it’s involved in calcium and bone metabolism.
“Iodine is an important substance that is needed to make the thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Our bodies can’t produce this trace element, so we need to get enough of it in our diet. Iodine is absorbed into our bloodstream from food in our bowel. It is then carried to the thyroid gland, where it is used to make hormones,” NLM says.
Sometimes our body needs more hormones, and sometimes it needs less. That’s when the pituitary gland checks in to regulate the amount of hormone that’s released into the bloodstream.
This is a very simple explanation of a more complicated process, so if you’re interested in the details, please look it up.
Meanwhile, I’ll tell you that there are two main types of thyroid disease, that affect about 20 million people of the population in the U.S. Far more women, somewhere between five to eight times more than men, are likely to have thyroid problems.
Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid makes too little hormone. The most common of these diseases is Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition. Iodine deficiency, a lack of the mineral in your diet, is more prevalent in countries where they don’t have iodized salt. It can cause a goiter (enlarged thyroid.)
“Sometimes babies are born with a missing or underactive thyroid. About one in every 2,000 to 4,000 babies are born with congenital hypothyroidism,” Cleveland Clinic explains.
The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease. “This is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes an overactive thyroid,” according to Cleveland. Other hyperthyroid diseases include thyroid nodules (abnormal lumps on the thyroid) and excessive iodine, which can be caused by taking certain medications.
Then, there are diseases that can cause both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism at different times. They include thyroiditis (an inflammation of the gland) and postpartum thyroiditis (a rare condition that occurs after giving birth).
The American Thyroid Association says that up to 60% of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. One reason for this is, like so many diseases, thyroid disease symptoms mirror many other conditions and diseases.
Cleveland Clinic tells us that symptoms of hypothyroidism include slower-than-usual heart rate; feeling tired or fatigued; unexplained weight gain; feeling sensitive to cold; dry skin and dry and coarse hair; depressed mood, and heavy menstrual periods (menorrhagia).
“Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include faster-than-usual heart rate (tachycardia); difficulty sleeping; unexplained weight loss; feeling sensitive to heat; clammy or sweaty skin; feeling anxious, irritable or nervous, and irregular menstrual cycles or a lack of periods (amenorrhea).”
Cleveland also says that “both conditions can cause an enlarged thyroid (goiter), but it’s more common in hyperthyroidism.”
Number one on the high at-risk list are women, followed by having a family history of thyroid disease, Turner syndrome, taking a medication that’s high in iodine, not using iodized table salt, being older than 60, and having received radiation therapy to your head and/or neck. There are also some seemingly unrelated autoimmune diseases that can put you at higher risk.
Your primary care provider will employ blood tests to determine if you have hyper- or hypothyroidism. Thyroid conditions are most often successfully treated with medication. You don’t have a PCP? Call Bonner General Family Practice at 208-265-2221
Kathy Hubbard is a member of Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Council. She can be reached at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com.