Thyroid Disease Specialists

What is the role of the thyroid gland?

Hormones produced by the thyroid gland are released into the bloodstream and dispersed through your entire body, where they impact virtually every cell and organ in your body.

As thyroid hormones regulate your metabolism, they affect:

• Heart rate
• Body weight
• Muscle strength
• Breathing
• Cholesterol levels
• Nervous system
• Menstrual cycles
• Body temperature

The two most common thyroid problems are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The most prevalent type of hypothyroidism, an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is 4-10 times more common in women than men. Hyperthyroidism also occurs more often in women than men.

What causes hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones to support your body’s needs, which means metabolism slows down. This condition can be caused by:

• Autoimmune disease – the immune system attacks the thyroid gland
• Thyroiditis – inflammation of the thyroid gland
• Medications – some medicines stop the thyroid from producing hormones
• Surgical removal of the thyroid – nodules, cancer, or other diseases may be treated by removing the thyroid
• Radiation treatment – when radiation is needed for head or neck cancer, it often damages the thyroid

While lack of dietary iodine results in hypothyroidism, it’s not a common cause in the United States.

What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?  How is hypothyroidism treated?

The symptoms associated with hypothyroidism often develop gradually over time, which means you may have lived with lack of thyroid hormones for a while before you finally consult Dr. Boulware about your symptoms. The most common symptoms are:

• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Dry skin and hair
• Trouble sleeping
• Sensitivity to cold temperatures
• Depression
• Impaired memory
• Joint or muscle pain
• Puffy face
• Hoarseness
• Elevated cholesterol

What is hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism is the opposite of hypothyroidism; it occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much hormone. It may be caused by several health problems such as an immune disorder, goiter, cancer, and too much iodine.

Hyperthyroidism speeds up your metabolism, causing the following symptoms:

• Sudden weight loss
• Increased appetite
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Increased appetite
• Skin thinning
• Dry, brittle hair
• Nervousness, anxiety
• Tremor in hands and fingers
• Sweating
• Changes in menstrual patterns
• Sensitivity to heat
• Changes in bowel habits
• Enlarged thyroid gland

How are thyroid diseases treated?

Hypothyroidism is treated with hormones to replace the thyroid hormone that’s not being produced. Treating a hyperthyroid may be more complex because it can lead to a variety of health conditions that must be addressed, such as hypertension, atrial fibrillation, bone mass loss, and thyroid storm.