The Mighty Thyroid

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the base of the neck just below the Adam's apple and above the collarbone.  Your thyroid gland makes hormones that help control the function of many of your body’s organs, including your heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and skin. Making sure that your thyroid gland is healthy is important to your body’s overall well-being.

Most people are unaware of this organ’s vital functions until there is a problem, and only then do they truly become aware of its value.  It is estimated that over 30 million Americans have a thyroid condition, including many who may not know they have a thyroid problem or who have been misdiagnosed.   The most common thyroid conditions include:

·         Hyperthyroidism – This develops when the body is exposed to excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. This disorder occurs in almost one percent of all Americans and affects women five to 10 times more often than men. In its mildest form, hyperthyroidism may not cause recognizable symptoms. More often, however, the symptoms are discomforting, disabling or even life-threatening.

·         Hypothyroidism - An underactive thyroid occurs when the thyroid gland produces less than the normal amount of thyroid hormone. The result is the “slowing down” of many bodily functions. Although hypothyroidism may be temporary, it usually is a permanent condition. Of the nearly 30 million people estimated to be suffering from thyroid dysfunction, most have hypothyroidism.

·         Graves’ Disease - also known as toxic diffuse goiter, is an autoimmune disorder that is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States. In this condition, the thyroid gland produces excessive hormones. The disease is named after Sir Robert Graves, who first described the condition in the early 19th century.

·         Thyroid Nodules - A thyroid nodule is a lump in or on the thyroid gland. Thyroid nodules are common, but are usually not diagnosed. They are detected in about six percent of women and one to two percent of men. They are 10 times as common in older individuals than in younger ones. Sometimes several nodules will develop in the same person. Any time a lump is discovered in thyroid tissue, the possibility of malignancy (cancer) must be considered. Fortunately, the vast majority of thyroid nodules are benign (not cancerous).

·         Thyroid Cancer - (carcinoma) usually appears as a painless lump in this area. In most cases, the lump is only on one side of the neck.  Because the most common thyroid cancers tend to grow slowly, usually do not spread beyond the neck and respond to treatment, most patients with thyroid cancers have excellent prognoses.

·         Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis - (also called autoimmune or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis) is the most common thyroid disease in the United States. It is an inherited condition that affects over 10 million Americans and is about seven times more common in women than in men.

An estimated 15 million Americans have undiagnosed thyroid problems.  Some patients who have an enlarged thyroid gland may also produce too much or too little thyroid hormone. Because many symptoms of thyroid imbalance may be hard to recognize and may be mistaken for symptoms caused by other conditions, the best way to know for sure about your thyroid health is to ask your doctor.

If you have a family member with thyroid disease, are over the age of 60, or have any symptoms or risk factors associated with thyroid disease, you should discuss TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) testing with your doctor.  A TSH test is a simple blood test that measures whether your thyroid gland is functioning normally. If you already have a thyroid condition and are prescribed medication for treatment, it is important to take the same dose at the same time daily.

 For more information and resources, please visit:  http://www.thyroidawareness.com

Author Lori Rodgers MHA, BSN, RN is Clinical Director of Patient Care Services at Saint Luke’s East Hospital.  Lori serves as a member of the Lee’s SummitHealth Education Advisory Board. 

This article was originally published in Lee's Summit Tribune and Lee's Summit Journal.