The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the base of your neck. It releases hormones that control metabolism (the way your body uses energy). The thyroid's hormones regulate vital body functions like breathing, heart rate, central and peripheral nervous systems, body weight, muscle strength, menstrual cycles, body temperature, cholesterol levels, moods, and energy levels.
Thyroid problems are fairly common and range in type and
severity, but it’s important to have a doctor properly diagnose your thyroid
condition rather than assuming you have a thyroid disorder. Here are 12 common
thyroid disorders that can affect the person you become:
1.
Congenital
Hypothyroidism: This is
a thyroid condition (also called neonatal hypothyroidism) that affects
newborns. It means the baby was born with an underactive thyroid, or no thyroid
gland at all. If the condition is not found and treated,
it can
result in irreversible neurological problems and poor growth. Early treatment
can help reverse related problems, but in most cases it will require lifelong
treatment. About 1 in 2,000 to 4,000-babies are born with this condition, and
it’s twice as common in girls.
2.
Goiters: Goiters are a
visible problem with the thyroid gland, and are described as “generalized
swelling or bulging in the thyroid gland.” They can appear whether you have an overactive
or underactive thyroid. In some other cases, you may not have any problems with
hormone levels, or have any related symptoms and still end up with a swollen
thyroid.
It
could be from lack of iodine in your diet (which is essential for thyroid hormone
production). Goiters can even be caused by a pregnancy hormone called Human
Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG).
3.
Graves’
Disease: In
Graves’ disease, your body releases abnormal antibodies that mimic a
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) that’s normally produced in the brain’s
pituitary gland. These “fake” TSH hormones kick the thyroid gland into
overdrive. The good news is that the condition is fairly easy to correct once
it’s properly diagnosed, but left unchecked it can cause complications and even
death.
4.
Hashimoto’s
Disease: This
disease is the result of your immune system attacking your thyroid. The
inflammation caused by Hashimoto’s
disease usually leads to an underproductive thyroid. This is the
leading cause of hypothyroidism in the U.S. It adds the disease primarily
affects middle-aged women, but also can occur in men and women of any age and
in children. Symptoms can include a puffy face, hair loss, and muscle aches,
among many others.
5.
Hyperthyroidism: This is essentially the
opposite of hypothyroidism, and it presents different symptoms. A hyper
or overactive thyroid can “accelerate your body’s metabolism significantly,” which
can lead to sudden and unexplained weight loss. Other symptoms can occur if
your thyroid is putting your bodily functions into overdrive. These symptoms
include an increased (resting) heartbeat, sweating, or feeling nervous or
irritable. You may also have trouble sleeping (insomnia), or notice thinning
skin or brittle hair.
6.
Hypothyroidism: This condition is when your thyroid gland doesn’t
produce enough hormones. There are a host of symptoms that come with
hypothyroidism: fatigue, dry skin, constipation, and poor concentration just to
name a few.
7.
Pituitary
Gland Disorders: Although
not the result of the thyroid itself, in some cases a pituitary gland disorder
may be the reason your thyroid hormone production is out of balance. The
pituitary gland at the base of the brain is about the “size of a pea,” but it
has a big impact on systems in your body.
One of
the functions of the pituitary gland is to produce thyroid-stimulating hormone
(TSH), which prompts the thyroid gland to produce hormones to regulate
metabolism, energy, and nervous system function, says the source. If this gland
isn’t sending TSH, it can lead to hypothyroidism. There are also (usually
non-cancerous) pituitary tumors that can produce too much of a hormone normally
made by the pituitary.
8.
Postpartum
Thyroiditis: Just
like babies can be affected by thyroid problems, new mothers can as well. This
condition, an inflammation of the thyroid gland, usually occurs within a year
after giving birth. There are usually 2-phases, with hyperthyroidism coming
first (lasting about 2 to 4-months), followed by hypothyroidism (lasting up to
a year). Inflammation can damage the gland making it less effective at
producing hormones, which leads to the hypothyroidism phase.
Doctors
may prescribe thyroid hormone therapy (such as Levothyroxine) for the second
phase if you have symptoms. In some cases, the hypothyroidism can be permanent
and women will need lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
9.
Thyroid
Cancer: Some
nodules could turn out to be cancerous (they could be painful in this
case).Thyroid cancer is far more common among women than men, and that about
66-percent of cases occur in adults under the age of 55.
There
are different forms of thyroid cancer classified by the specific cell type
within the thyroid that has become cancerous. The good news for thyroid cancer
patients is it typically has a high survival rate, but like other forms of
cancer early diagnosis is key to dealing with this.
10.
Thyroid
Nodules: These
can lead to enlarged thyroids but are generally more localized (such as a
single lump). These lumps are sometimes not obvious, and are discovered during
routine medical exams. Nodules can lead to hyperthyroidism, but most are
non-functioning and don’t present any symptoms at all even if the nodule turns
out to be cancerous. A nodule may grow and interfere with the throat, which can
make breathing and swallowing more difficult. Have your doctor examine you if
you locate a suspicious lump in your neck area.
11.
Thyroiditis: Any type of thyroiditis implies
inflammation of the thyroid, which can lead to either hyper or hypothyroidism.
Acute thyroiditis is a rare type of the disorder that can cause pain and
discomfort in the gland. The acute version is believed to be linked to a viral
infection, and the thyroid swells in response to it. The source says it’s
slightly more common among women aged 40 to 50-years than in men of the same age,
and it usually appears following a respiratory infection such as the flu.
12.
Toxic
Thyroid Adenoma: We’ve
covered thyroid nodules, but this particular condition results in excessive
thyroid hormone production from a single nodule in the thyroid gland. One lump
develops on the gland causing it to swell and release excess thyroid hormones.
If iodine (essential to thyroid function) is lacking in your diet, it can cause
your thyroid to enlarge to try and absorb any available iodine from the blood
as possible. The symptoms of toxic adenoma are similar to hyperthyroidism, and
can include weight loss, flushing, feeling tired, tremors, excessive sweating,
and more.
“I want people to know that blood
tests alone won't always detect thyroid disease. I think a lot more people have
this disease than are diagnosed.” (Kim Alexis)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“12 Most Common Thyroid Disorders” by Jeff Hayward
·
“Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): The Pregnancy Hormone” by American
Pregnancy Association
·
Thyroid Gland: Overview” by
Bridget Brady
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