Most people have normal thyroid function, but for those who don't, cholesterol levels may be elevated, causing atherosclerosis, a form of heart disease.
January is Thyroid Awareness Month. The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland that wraps around the neck's windpipe, produces hormones that are essential to stimulating metabolism, growth and the body's ability to process calories.
An abnormal thyroid can be discovered with certain kinds of blood tests during routine yearly checkups or if symptoms are recognized, said Dr. Zouhair Bibi, who practices at the Endocrine and Diabetes Center in Owensboro.
"Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, develops when the body is exposed to excessive amounts of thyroid hormones," Bibi said. "It occurs in about 1 percent of the American population and is a little more prevalent in women than in men."
Some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism can be fast heart rate, feeling anxious or irritable, hand tremors, weight loss despite eating excessively, intolerance to warm temperatures, increased likelihood to perspire, hair loss, muscle weakness, and in women, a change in menstrual patterns and an increased likelihood of miscarriage. Bibi said the presence of even one symptom is enough for a patient to consult with a physician.
Treatment can include drugs, radioactive iodine treatment, or sometimes surgery. Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, produces less than normal amount of thyroid hormones and results in slowing down many bodily functions. Some of the symptoms can be fatigue, drowsiness, forgetfulness, dry, itchy skin, puffy face, sore muscles, constipation, fluid retention, weight gain, and in women, heavy or irregular menstrual flow, and an increased likelihood of miscarriage. Treatment includes taking thyroid hormones. "The key question is the physician ordering the right blood test at the right time," Bibi said. "For example, you can have the flu or an upper respiratory infection, and when you check the thyroid, the levels are going to be off a little bit, and some people would be started on thyroid pills when they really don't need them." In subclinical hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, the thyroid levels "aren't really that bad, but the patient can be symptomatic and can be at increased risk for heart disease or bone disease," Bibi said. Bibi said a vitamin called ThyroLife is geared for people who have thyroid disease. Bibi said he's noticed more instances of thyroid cancer in recent years, many of which are found by chance with a lump in the gland. "Some patients with thyroid cancer will become aware of an enlarged lymph node in their neck," he said. "Occasionally, the lump might cause a feeling of pressure, or swallowing problems." Health fairs may do carotid artery checks for blockages, and if a thyroid nodule is spotted, "it's something to be taken very seriously," Bibi said.
