Why Thyroid Health matters

Why is the Thyroid so important? 

The thyroid may be small, but it plays an important role in your health and wellbeing. It is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the bottom of the neck in front of our windpipe. It releases thyroid hormone which helps to control and regulate our metabolism, energy levels, mood, growth, development and much more. Most people wouldn’t even think about their thyroid health, until something goes wrong.

What does the Thyroid Do? 

The Thyroid gland is part of our bodies endocrine (hormone). Its main role is to release hormone which regulates several of our bodies functions including breathing, heart rate, body weight, muscle growth and strength, our nervous system, body temperature, menstrual cycle and cholesterol just to mention a few. 

Symptoms of Thyroid Conditions 

Many people live with undiagnosed thyroid issues. They can develop slowly and may be mistaken for other health issues. Here are some symptoms that may signal a thyroid imbalance and should not be ignored.

• Tiredness and fatigue
• Sudden weight gain or weight loss
• Thinning or dry hair
• Difficulty sleeping
• Dry skin
• Depression or anxiety
• Joint and muscle pain
• Changes in heart rate
• Irregular menstrual cycles ie. frequent, heavy periods
• Cold or heat sensitivity
• Gastrointestinal upset such as constipation

What are the most common Thyroid conditions? 

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) 

This is when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormone. Symptoms of hypothyroidism may include tiredness and fatigue, weight gain, difficulty sleeping, dry skin or hair, depression, Gastrointestinal upset such as constipation, cold sensitivity, joint and muscle pain and frequent, heavy periods.  There are conditions such as Hashiomoto’s disease which causes an underactive thyroid and runs in the family.

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)

This is when the thyroid produces too much hormone. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include weight loss, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, sweating, and insomnia.

Goiter 

A Goiter is the term given to an enlarged thyroid. It is often due to iodine deficiency In endemic areas or autoimmune disease. Enlargement of the thyroid can sometimes also cause compressive symptoms such as difficulty breathing especially when lying flat, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), shortness of breath and neck pressure or fullness.

Thyroid nodules 

Thyroid nodules are small lumps in the thyroid gland. They are common and often benign and found in up to 70-80% of people via ultrasound. However, occasionally they can grow and turn into cancer. Nodules should be evaluated by an experienced Head and Neck Surgeon

Thyroid cancer

About 5% of Thyroid nodules may represent a cancer, and often patients may not have any symptoms. They are often found incidentally on routine checks or imaging for other reasons. Treatment of Thyroid cancer should be performed by an experienced Head and Neck Surgeon.

Diagnosing Thyroid Conditions  

If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, it is simple to get a blood test through your GP to evaluate your Thyroid hormone levels. 

An ultrasound of the thyroid is the gold standard for assessing the size to see if it is enlarged.  It will also detect any thyroid nodules and can provide some information on their appearance. Sometimes thyroid nodules need to be evaluated further with a biopsy or Fine Needle Biopsy (FNB).

Treating Thyroid Conditions  

Thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of part, or all of your thyroid gland.

There can be many reasons why you may require part or all of your thyroid out including for cancer, enlargement causing compressive symptoms, for nodules to determine if they are cancerous or for certain conditions such as Grave’s disease where medications can’t suppress the over production of thyroid hormone.

You can find more information on Thyroid Health at the Australian Thyroid Foundation