January is Thyroid Awareness Month

January. It’s the time of year when the majority of Americans sit down to plan out their New Year’s resolution.

What’s my weight? Why am I so tired? Why can’t I seem to get things done? If only I could focus and be motivated. For over 20 million Americans, the answer may lay in a little known butterfly shaped gland known as the thyroid.

As a primary care provider, I spend a great deal of time educating my patients about the role that the thyroid gland plays in our everyday life. The thyroid is responsible for the production of two major hormones; T3 and T4. These hormones help regulate numerous functions in our body including metabolism, temperature, brain development, mood and so much more.

While there can be a number of different conditions that affect the thyroid, perhaps the most widely recognized is hypothyroidism or the underactive thyroid.

Fatigue, cold intolerance, bloating, weakened muscles, dry skin, constipation, thinning hair, slowed memory, and weight gain can all indicate that your thyroid gland is malfunctioning.

Scheduling an appointment with your health care provider is the best way to determine if you have a thyroid disorder.

When we suspect a patient may have a thyroid disorder, a physical exam and blood work will be obtained to determine if the thyroid is working correctly.

If the thyroid is underactive, medications can be used to restore normal hormone levels and give patients relief from their symptoms.

It is important to know that women are 5-8 times more likely to develop hypothyroidism than men, however men can also suffer from severe symptoms of this disease.

Now let’s talk about hyperthyroidism.

What if your anxiety, heart palpitations and sleepless nights were more than just stress? Hyperthyroidism is a less common condition, in which the thyroid becomes overactive.

Individuals with over active thyroid disease may experience a racing heart, anxiety, heat intolerance, weight loss, menstrual irregularities or insomnia. Patients with these symptoms should be evaluated by their primary care provider, have a thorough physical exam and blood work completed.

Treatment for this condition varies, but can include medication, radioiodine ablation or surgery. Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to a medical emergency and should be treated as soon as possible.

While the thyroid can be underactive or overactive, it can also function normally and still yet develop disease.

Thyroid cancer occurs when cells in the thyroid mutate and develop into a growth or nodule. Thyroid cancer is the least well known of the thyroid disorders and has increased in prevalence in the United States, with over 56,000 new cases identified each year.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of thyroid cancer are typically not as noticeable as other thyroid diseases and may only present as a small discrete lump or nodule near the “Adams apple” or neck.

Some patients may describe slight swelling to the neck or a chronic cough; however, these are less common.

It is important to know that thyroid cancers do not always show up in blood work initially.

Attending your yearly physical with your health care provider is one of the best screening methods for this type of cancer.

During this visit we can assess if the thyroid size is abnormal or if nodules are present. The good news is that the prognosis for thyroid cancer is very good, and the earlier treatment is started, the better.

As we head into the new year, I always remember the adage, “It is easier to stay healthy, than to get healthy.”

What better time than January to schedule an appointment with you primary care provider for a wellness visit to discuss screening for thyroid disease?

Courtesy of Mallori Gariner, FNP and San Luis Valley Health.