Are you aware that there are an estimated 20 million Americans suffering from thyroid disease without even knowing it? Shocking statistics reveal that up to 60% of thyroid sufferers remain undiagnosed.
Don’t let yourself be a part of this silent epidemic- get checked for thyroid disease today!
What is Thyroid?
- The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped and the largest endocrine gland in the body and it is located anteriorly in front of the neck and wrapped around the windpipe, below Adam’s apple, consisting of two lateral lobes, an isthmus connecting the two lobes, and a small pyramidal lobe coming upward from the isthmus.
- It weighs 20–25 gm in a normal adult and is located at the vertebral levels of C5 to T1.
So, what is the specialty of the thyroid?
All of us have glands throughout the body that create and release substances that help the body do specific work.
The thyroid has an important job to do within the body, which includes functions like how fast to burn calories, how fast the heart beats and releasing and controlling thyroid hormones that control metabolism.
💡One can think of your metabolism as a process of a generator; — it takes in raw energy and uses it to power something bigger to function in many bodily activities.
So, your thyroid makes hormones, which are T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine), TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), and TRH (Thyrotropin-releasing Hormone) that help control vital functions of your body.
But, what do these thyroid hormones do? And what if the thyroid doesn’t work properly?
They tell the body how much to metabolize and how much energy to use. If the thyroid doesn’t work properly, energy production will get hampered, which impacts the entire body’s functions. We know that every working system has a head who is looking over the work functions and organizing them systematically. Similar to this, the thyroid also has a head, which manages the input, output, and requirements at the workplace.
Who guides the thyroid?
The pituitary gland controls the thyroid and this gland’s size is no larger than a pea. It monitors and regulates the level of thyroid hormones in your blood.
The pituitary gland will change the levels of hormones in your body with its own hormone when it detects a deficiency or excess of thyroid hormones.
When the thyroid produces insufficient or excess amounts of its hormone, it will create a disturbance, leading to various types of thyroid diseases.
What are the most common types of thyroid diseases?
The first one, Hyperthyroidism, which is seen in a large group of the population, happens when your thyroid releases an excess amount of its hormones beyond the required normal range.
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
- Weight loss despite normal or increased appetite
- Heat intolerance
- Palpitations
- Tremors
- Dyspnoea
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Emotional lability
💡Iodine deficiency is also one of the common causes of thyroid disease, as iodine is used by the thyroid to produce hormones.
The second one, Hypothyroidism, as the name suggests, Hypo means below normal. When your thyroid secretes less amount of thyroid hormone than the required normal range then it leads to a condition called hypothyroidism.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
- Weight gain
- Cold intolerance
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Dry skin
- Dry hair Menorrhagia
💡Diseases of the thyroid predominantly affect females and are common, occurring in about 5% of the population.
What causes thyroid disease?
There are conditions that impact how the thyroid gland works. The conditions that cause thyroid disease are listed below:
Conditions and Descriptions
- Thyroiditis: It can lower the number of hormones your thyroid produces.
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: It is an autoimmune condition where the body’s cells attack and damage the thyroid.
- Postpartum Thyroiditis: This condition occurs after pregnancy in 5–9 percent of women.
Whenever it comes to identifying potential issues with the thyroid gland, relying solely on clinical signs and symptoms is not enough. In order to arrive at a definitive diagnosis, it’s important to gather statistical and concrete evidence to confirm the presence of an anomaly.
Everyone has a friend or loved one who brushes off their health concerns? Unfortunately, many people neglect to address weakness or other symptoms related to their health. But why settle for ‘just okay’ when one can feel their best? Don’t let anyone fall victim to neglecting their health, remind them to get checked out and take care of themselves. And now that we know what causes thyroid disease, we should get to know what all tests are for the same.
So, what are those tests?
The thyroid profile is a group of blood tests that help evaluate the function of the thyroid gland. These tests include TSH, T3, and T4, and are important in diagnosing and managing thyroid conditions:
1. TSH: Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone
2. T4: Thyroxine test
3. T3: Triiodothyronine test
4. TRH: Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
The incidence of thyroid dysfunction is increasing, this is a reason that approximately 30–40% of the patients are seen in an endocrine clinic!
It is important to have regular thyroid profile testing as part of routine healthcare, especially for individuals who have a family history of thyroid disorders or other risk factors. If an abnormal result is found, further testing and treatment may be necessary to maintain healthy thyroid function.
How is NirogGyan working towards solving this problem?
At NirogGyan, we fully comprehend the significance of your well-being. Our smart lab test reports, which have been scientifically vetted, are designed to make it easy for you to understand the results and provide you with valuable insights into your health. These user-friendly reports are geared towards raising awareness and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
By revolutionizing the patient journey, our Smart lab test reports enhance patient engagement and empower you with the knowledge you need to take control of your health. With NirogGyan, you can rest assured that you are receiving accurate, easy-to-understand test results, which will lead to an early diagnosis and easy cure.
With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can maintain a healthy #thyroid and avoid many of the negative health effects associated with thyroid disorders. #healthydiets and regular #exercise can play a key role in the management and all of these smart tips are provided to you in each #NirogGyan smart lab report.
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