Thyroid Symptoms & Test
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck. It is responsible for regulating metabolism and helping cellular activity. The thyroid can develop different conditions with their own sets of symptoms. The most common thyroid problems include hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis and cancer.
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Hypothyroidism
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Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is caused when the body doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone. Symptoms of this condition include slight weight gain and difficulty losing weight, fatigue, cold intolerance, dry skin and hair, cramps or achy muscles, hair loss (sometimes involving the eyebrows), depression, irritability, constipation, heavy periods, memory loss and decreased sex drive.
Hyperthyroidism
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Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, is caused when the body produces too much thyroid hormone. Symptoms and signs of this condition include weight loss, sweating and heat sensitivity (sometimes the skin feels warm to the touch), rapid heartbeat or palpitations, insomnia, nervousness, muscle weakness, trembling hands, breathlessness, fatigue and staring into space.
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Thyroid Cancer
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According to the EndrocrineWeb site, there are around 20,000 new cases of thyroid cancer each year. Symptoms of thyroid cancer include swelling or pain in the neck, nodules, hoarseness and enlarged lymph nodes. It should be noted that less than 1 percent of nodules are malignant.
Autoimmune Thyroiditis
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Autoimmune thyroiditis is a condition in which the body's own antibodies attack the thyroid gland, causing it to enlarge. The symptoms for this condition are similar to hypothyroidism, only more severe.
Treatment Options
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Hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis are both treated with hormone replacement therapy consisting of one pill taken daily to shrink the thyroid gland and control thyroid hormone regulation.
Medications to control symptoms such as trembling and overproduction of thyroid hormones are employed when treating hyperthyroidism. Other treatment options are radioactive iodine, which kills off thyroid cells, ceasing the overproduction, and surgery to remove the thyroid gland completely. Both of these options will leave the patient hypothyroid, requiring daily medication.
Treatment for thyroid cancer consists of removing all or part of the thyroid gland and any infected lymph nodes or surrounding tissue. A few weeks later, radioactive iodine will be used to see if all thyroid tissue was removed. If not, another surgery is in order. The patient will then be on thyroid medication for hypothyroidism and return for periodic tests to assure proper dosage and to make sure the thyroid tumor has not returned.
Tests
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There are several tests performed to diagnose thyroid problems. The most common test is the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) blood test. Other blood tests used include T4 and T3 hormone levels and or thyroid binding globulin (TBG). Some patients also require a thyroid scan or Iodine uptake scan, in which iodine or an isotope is given and then a picture of the thyroid is viewed.
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