A small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck responsible for producing hormones can create a lot of problems if it is not functioning correctly.
The thyroid gland helps regulate the body's metabolism - the process that turns food into energy - and many of the body's functions can slow down if the amount of hormones produced is lower than normal. It can also produce too many hormones which in turn interfere with the body's systems and cause a whole array of issues.
It can affect both men and women, though it is more common in women and while thyroid conditions are treatable, if they go undiagnosed they can lead to potentially life-threatening episodes. We have had a look at what the NHS lists as the most common signs for both under and over-active thyroids.
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If you are concerned about your thyroid or any of the symptoms always seek advice from your GP. You can read a full breakdown of the NHS thyroid issues here.
Underactive thyroid symptoms
Tiredness
Weight gain
Depression
Being sensitive to the cold
Dry skin and hair
Muscle aches
Overactive thyroid symptoms
Nervousness, anxiety and irritability
Hyperactivity – you may find it hard to stay still and have a lot of nervous energy
Mood swings
Difficulty sleeping
Feeling tired all the time
Sensitivity to heat
Muscle weakness
Diarrhoea
Needing to pee more often than usual
Persistent thirst
Itchiness
Loss of interest in sex
A swelling in your neck caused by an enlarged thyroid gland (goitre)
An irregular and/or unusually fast heart rate (palpitations)
Twitching or trembling
Warm skin and excessive sweating
Red palms of your hands
Loose nails
A raised, itchy rash – known as hives (urticaria)
Patchy hair loss or thinning
Weight loss – often despite an increased appetite
Eye problems, such as redness, dryness or vision problems
How do you test for thyroid problems?
The best, and most accurate way to test for thyroid problems is a blood test. This 'thyroid function test' looks at the levels of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and can also look at levels of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Low levels mean you could have an underactive thyroid and high levels can mean it is overactive.
What is the treatment?
If you have an underactive thyroid you will need to take daily hormone replacement tablets - levothyroxine - for the rest of your life. If it is not treated it can lead to complications such as heart disease, goitre [swelling of the thyroid gland at the front of the neck] and in very rare cases a life-threatening condition called myxoedema coma.
Treatment for an overactive thyroid is a little more complex as sometimes the treatment can cause the gland to produce too few hormones causing an underactive thyroid. There are three main types of treatment for an overactive thyroid, firstly medication carbimazole and propylthiouracil which you may need to take for several years or the rest of your life.
Secondly, there is a type of radiotherapy that has proven to be very effective in curing an overactive thyroid, though is not appropriate for everyone as it involves ingesting a low dose of iodine to destroy cells in the thyroid gland. Thirdly, there is surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid gland if it is particularly swollen or there are recurring symptoms. As a result of this surgery, it is likely you will need to take medication for the rest of your life to help hormone production.
If untreated, an overactive thyroid can lead to eye problems such as double vision, pregnancy complications and a sudden, life-threatening flare-up of symptoms called a 'thyroid storm'.
Symptoms of a thyroid storm include a rapid heartbeat, a high temperature, diarrhoea and being sick, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), severe agitation and confusion and loss of consciousness. In the event of a thyroid storm you should always call 999 as it is a medical emergency.
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