What’s Wrong with My Thyroid?

Learn more about your thyroid and thyroid disease from the Cleveland Clinic.

The thyroid gland is a small organ located in the front of your neck. It is shaped like a butterfly and is positioned around the trachea. The thyroid gland makes hormones that help control vital functions all over your body.

Thyroid disease occurs when the level of hormone that is being produced is too high or too low. When your body makes too much of the thyroid hormone, you use energy quickly. Using energy this quickly cannot only make you tired, but you can also experience weight loss, anxiety and increased heart rate. When your thyroid doesn’t work properly, it can impact your entire body. If your body makes too much thyroid hormone, you can develop a condition called hyperthyroidism. If your body makes too little thyroid hormone, it’s called hypothyroidism. Both conditions are serious and need to be treated by your healthcare provider.

Thyroid disease can affect anyone of any age. It can develop at birth or later in life. Thyroid disease is very common, with an estimated 20 million people in the United States having some type of thyroid disorder. A woman is about five to eight times more likely to be diagnosed with a thyroid condition than a man. You can be at a higher risk of thyroid disease if you:

• Have a family history of thyroid disease

• Have a medical condition ( including: pernicious anemia, type 1 diabetes, primary adrenal insufficiency, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, sjogren’s syndrome and turner syndrome)

• Take medication that is high in iodine

• Older than sixty, especially women

Thyroid disease can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic other medical conditions.Useful tests to determine a thyroid disease diagnosis include blood tests, imaging and physical exams Once your healthcare provider has determined that you have a thyroid disease, the next step is to decide the best treatment plan. Your healthcare provider might talk to you about anti-thyroid medication, radioactive iodine, beta blockers or surgery. It is always important to speak to your healthcare provider about your concerns with any course of treatment.

Our Complex and Internal Medicine Clinic treats patients with thyroid disease in Northeast Wyoming. We have a comprehensive approach to primary care called the medical home model, which means our providers collaborate as a team to help patients make informed decisions about their health—from acute illness to routine immunizations. Call 307-688-3535 to make an appointment.

Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8541-thyroid-disease