January is Thyroid Awareness Month. This month offers an important opportunity to get to know this powerhouse organ, learn the warning signs of disease, understand your risk factors, and discover how proper diagnosis and treatment can dramatically improve quality of life for those living with thyroid conditions.
What Is the Thyroid, and What Does It Do?
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck, just below your Adam's apple. Despite its small size (it weighs less than an ounce), it's incredibly powerful and acts like your body's metabolic control center.
What it does:
The thyroid produces two main hormones: T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). These hormones travel through your bloodstream to nearly every cell in your body. These hormones essentially control how fast or slow your body uses energy, affecting just about every metabolic function of your body.
It regulates:
- Metabolism - how quickly you burn calories and whether you gain or lose weight
- Energy levels - whether you feel energized or exhausted
- Heart rate - how fast your heart beats
- Body temperature - how well you tolerate heat and cold
- Digestion - how quickly food moves through your system
- Mood and brain function - concentration, memory, and emotional well-being
- Muscle strength - how your muscles function
- Growth and development - especially critical in children and during pregnancy
Think of your thyroid like a thermostat for your body. When it's working properly, everything hums along smoothly. But when it produces too much hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism), it can throw multiple body systems out of balance. That's why such a tiny gland can cause such widespread symptoms when something goes wrong.
How Can I Stay Aware of My Thyroid Health?
1. Know the symptoms - Familiarize yourself with signs and symptoms such as:
- Unexplained fatigue
- Unexplained weight changes
- Hair loss
- Unexplained mood swings
- Sensitivity to temperature changes
- Irregular periods
- Brain fog
These can indicate both hyperthyroidism (overactive) and hypothyroidism (underactive).
2. Get regular checkups - Ask your doctor about thyroid screening, especially if you:
- Have a family history of thyroid disease
- Are over 35
- Are pregnant
- Are experiencing any of the above symptoms
A simple blood test (TSH test) can check your thyroid function. Southeast Medical Group also provides in-network ultrasound services to check your thyroid for lumps and abnormalities.
3. Understand your risk factors - Women, people over 60, those with autoimmune conditions, and people with a family history are at higher risk. Being aware of your personal risk helps you stay vigilant.
4. Track changes - Pay attention to how you feel. If something seems off with your energy, weight, or mood for an extended period, keep notes to share with your healthcare provider.
5. Do neck checks - You can do a simple self-exam by looking in the mirror while swallowing water to check for any unusual swelling or lumps in your neck area, though this shouldn't replace professional screening. If you have concerns about your thyroid after completing a self-exam, book an appointment or visit a Southeast Medical Group clinic near you.
6. Stay informed - Learn about thyroid conditions so you can advocate for yourself if needed. Many thyroid issues are manageable with proper treatment.
What Are the Most Common Thyroid Conditions?
Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid) - This is when your thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones. Your metabolism slows down, causing fatigue, weight gain, sensitivity to cold, dry skin, hair loss, constipation, depression, and brain fog. It's more common in women and older adults. The most common cause is Hashimoto's thyroiditis (an autoimmune condition). Treatment typically involves daily thyroid hormone replacement medication.
Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid) - The opposite of hypothyroidism; your thyroid produces too much hormone. This speeds up your metabolism, leading to unexpected weight loss, rapid or irregular heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, tremors, sweating, heat sensitivity, frequent bowel movements, and difficulty sleeping. Graves' disease (another autoimmune condition) is the most common cause. Treatment may include medication, radioactive iodine therapy, or sometimes surgery.
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - An autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks your thyroid, gradually destroying it and leading to hypothyroidism. It's the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. Symptoms develop slowly over time and mirror those of hypothyroidism. It's managed with thyroid hormone replacement.
Graves' Disease - An autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism by overstimulating the thyroid. A distinctive symptom can be bulging eyes (Graves' ophthalmopathy). It requires treatment to prevent serious complications like heart problems.
Thyroid Nodules - These are lumps or growths in the thyroid. Most are benign (non-cancerous) and cause no symptoms, but some can produce excess hormones or, rarely, be cancerous. They're often discovered during routine exams or imaging for other reasons.
Goiter - An enlarged thyroid gland that can appear as swelling in your neck. It can occur with hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, or normal thyroid function. Causes include iodine deficiency (though rare in the U.S. due to iodized salt), autoimmune disease, or nodules.
Thyroid Cancer - Though less common than other thyroid conditions, it's one of the most treatable cancers when caught early. Types include papillary (most common), follicular, medullary, and anaplastic. Symptoms may include a lump in the neck, difficulty swallowing, or voice changes. Treatment usually involves surgery, and the prognosis is generally very good.
Most thyroid conditions are highly treatable once properly diagnosed, which is why awareness and screening are so important.
