Hot or Cold?

Today I want to talk to you about a problem that presents itself in my office almost everyday. It is more common in women than in men. It is often undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, ignored or completely mistreated. What is it? Thyroid disorders, most often Hypothyroid (decreased thyroid function).

The thyroid gland is your body's metabolism regulator. At the proper setting, your body runs smoothly, efficiently and comfortably. Mess with it, and all havoc can break loose. Symptoms can vary from unexplained weight gain, fatigue, heavy menstrual cycles to fibrocystic breast changes.
Properly diagnosing thyroid disease requires testing of TSH, the active forms of T3 and T4 as well as a hormone called Reverse T3. Autoantibodies should also be tested to see if there is an autoimmune component. Unfortunately, too many patients are misdiagnosed because only the TSH test was run. TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone and must be tested in conjunction with the other hormones.

HYPOTHYROID
Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid. Symptoms can include: always feeling cold, constipation, dry hair and skin, depression, muscle cramps, decreased sex drive, high cholesterol, loss of the outside third of the eyebrow and puffiness in the face. Hypothyroidism significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

HYPERTHYROIDISM
Hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid. Symptoms can include: always feeling hot, feeling like you just want to jump out of your skin, anxiety, bulging eyes, lump or swelling around the throat, heart rate of 100 beats per minute or more, high blood pressure and unexplained weight loss.

It is important to note that thyroid problems can change over time and/or easily be confused with or masked by other conditions or medications.

The good news is that thyroid problems are often very manageable and/or fixable. Proper evaluation and diagnosis is essential for treatment to be effective. If you've had your thyroid tested and have been told that nothing is wrong, yet you still don't feel like you think you should, it may be time for a more thorough evaluation. We run a comprehensive array of tests to thoroughly evaluate thyroid function, with six of the most sensitive tests available. These tests will help us determine which course of action to take to improve your thyroid health.

If you or a loved one have any suspicion that you may have a thyroid disorder, don't delay setting up an appointment in our office. There are serious health threats to an untreated thyroid.