Around 20 million Americans have some type of thyroid disease, but many aren’t aware of their condition. If you have any signs of thyroid disease, contact the team at Select Family Practice in Raleigh, North Carolina. They provide thorough diagnosis and personalized treatment to restore your hormonal balance and health. Call the office, or make an appointment online today.
Your thyroid is a small gland located in the front of your neck. It produces hormones — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — that regulate your metabolism and contribute to a host of other body functions.
Thyroid problems cause either hyper or hypoactivity. Some of the diseases that cause thyroid problems include:
Anyone can develop thyroid disease, although women are five to eight times more likely to develop thyroid problems than men. Your risk increases if you have a family history of thyroid problems, an autoimmune condition, or take medication that’s high in iodine.
Thyroid problems cause hyper and hypoactive symptoms. Some of the common warning signs of a hyperactive thyroid include:
However, if your thyroid is underactive, the symptoms are nearly the opposite. You might gain weight or struggle to lose it. You might have low energy and become forgetful. Your periods become heavy and frequent, and you develop an intolerance to cold. Additionally, your hair and skin become dry and coarse.
The Select Family Practice team provides thorough consultations and exams. They review your personal and family medical history, symptoms, and lifestyle. They complete a physical exam to look for signs of thyroid disease or other conditions that could cause your symptoms.
The team also runs lab tests to evaluate your hormone levels. In addition to checking your T3 and T4, they also measure your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and look for markers of other diseases.
Treatment for thyroid problems depends on if your thyroid is hyper or hypoactive. Treatments for an overactive thyroid include antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, and surgery. These options all aim to reduce your thyroid hormone production.
If your thyroid is underactive, your provider can prescribe replacement thyroid hormones. In cases where your thyroid needs to be removed or damaged, you might need to take synthetic thyroid hormones to maintain your health.
Your provider can also offer advice on lifestyle adjustments to help manage your symptoms and maintain your quality of life.
Call Select Family Practice today, or make an appointment online if you have concerns about thyroid disease.
