Signs you may have a thyroid problem
Caribbean L 42 ife, December 20-26, 2019
Health
The thyroid gland plays an essential
role in the human body. According
to the online healthcare
publishing company Medicine.net, the
thyroid is a butterfl y-shaped gland in
the front of the neck that produces the
hormones that regulate metabolism.
When the thyroid gland’s ability to do
its job is compromised, the effects can
be serious and lead to a host of symptoms
that don’t go away.
Are all thyroid conditions the
same?
Thyroid conditions vary, and as a
result, that can produce their own distinct
symptoms. The Harvard Medical
School notes that the thyroid can be
overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive
(hypothyroidism). An overactive
thyroid will produce too much
hormones, while an underactive thyroid
won’t produce enough. Symptoms
of both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
can overlap, but each condition
has its own unique symptoms as well.
What are the symptoms of
hyperthyroidism?
Signs of hyperthyroidism include:
• Fatigue
• Fast heartbeat
• Trouble concentrating
• Increased appetite
• Sweating
• Nervousness, restlessness
• Unintentional weight loss
What are the symptom of
hypothyroidism?
Signs of hypothyroidism include:
• Fatigue
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Muscle weakness
• Brittle nails and hair
• Hoarse voice
• Unintentional weight gain
What can I do to safeguard
myself from thyroid
conditions?
The online medical resource Healthline
notes that most cases of hypothyroidism
and hyperthyroidism cannot be
prevented. For example, hyperthyroidism
is often caused by Graves’ disease,
an immune system disorder that’s most
common among women. Some peoples’
thyroids have become overactive because
they consumed too many foods
that contained iodine, such as table salt,
fi sh and seaweed. However, Healthline
notes that such instances are rare.
While people may not be able to prevent
thyroid conditions from developing,
they can keep a watchful eye out for
any of the aforementioned symptoms
of overactive or underactive thyroids.
Any such symptoms should be reported
to a physician immediately. Medicine.
net notes that, in most cases, thyroid
disorders can be managed with treatment
and are not life-threatening. However,
the outlook for people with thyroid
conditions is always better when symptoms
are reported early. Learn more
about thyroid conditions at www.medicine.
net.
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/Medicine.net