Signs and Symptoms of Thyroid Problems & How to Cure It?

Updated on 13 July 2022

The thyroid gland refers to a gland that is placed in your neck, surrounding the trachea. It creates and releases hormones that help the human body carry out specific tasks. The gland releases hormones that control several critical functions in the body.

If the gland is not working normally, it is going to affect your whole body. When the body makes excess thyroid hormone, it results in a condition known as hyperthyroidism. In case the thyroid hormone produced by the body is not enough, one suffers from hypothyroidism. Both of these diseases are critical and must receive thyroid treatment from a healthcare provider.

Thyroid Disease

This is an umbrella term used for any condition which impacts the production of the required amount of Thyroid. In case your Thyroid produces excess hormones, the body will use energy fast because of hyperthyroidism. This condition will not only leave you tired but also increase your heart rate, reduce your weight and cause nervousness. On the other hand, it can also produce less than the normal quantity of hormones and cause hypothyroidism. In that case, you are going to feel tired frequently and gain abnormal weight. You will also be intolerant to cold temperatures.

Hyperthyroidism, as well as hypothyroidism, may be the result of a number of underlying problems. The disorder is often passed genetically in families.

What the Thyroid Does?

The thyroid gland produces hormones, primarily triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which play a critical role in regulating metabolism, energy production, body temperature, heart rate, and the function of other organs in the body. These hormones also influence growth and development in children.

Who is Affected by Thyroid Disease?

Thyroid diseases are common and can affect individuals of any age or gender. Women, especially those aged 30 and older, are more prone to thyroid disorders, particularly hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto's disease. However, thyroid issues can occur in men and women of any age.

Symptoms of Thyroid Disease

There exists a vast chunk of symptoms one can experience in the case of thyroid disease. Please note that the symptoms of thyroid problems usually bear similarities to several signs of different medical conditions and problems. This often makes it hard to pinpoint whether these symptoms indicate a thyroid disorder or any other disease.

Broadly speaking, most thyroid symptoms in female are categorised into two further groups: the disease that releases extra thyroid hormone is hyperthyroidism, and the disease that releases insufficient thyroid hormones is hypothyroidism.

Signs of overactive Thyroid or hyperthyroidism:

Anxiety, nervousness, and irritability.
Disturbed sleep.
Unexplained weight loss.
Suffering from goitre.
Weakness and tremors in Muscles
Irregular or stopped menstrual cycles.
Heat sensitivity.
Eyesight problems and irritation.

Signs of underactive Thyroid or hypothyroidism:

Unusual fatigue.
Unexplained weight gain.
Increased forgetfulness.
Frequent and excess menstrual cycles.
Dry and damaged hair.
Hoarse voice.
Cold sensitivity.

Causes of Thyroid Disease

Thyroid disorders can arise due to various factors:

Autoimmune conditions: Disorders like Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease occur when the immune system attacks the thyroid gland.
Iodine deficiency: Inadequate intake of iodine, an essential mineral for thyroid hormone production, can lead to thyroid problems.
Genetics: Family history and genetic predisposition can increase the risk of thyroid disorders.
Thyroid nodules or tumors: Growths or lumps in the thyroid gland can affect hormone production.

Diagnosis of Thyroid Disease

Diagnosis involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, and tests, which may include blood tests to measure thyroid hormone levels (TSH, T3, T4), imaging tests like ultrasound or thyroid scans, and sometimes biopsy of thyroid nodules.

Treatment of Thyroid Disease

The ultimate goal of your healthcare provider is to push the levels of your thyroid hormone back to normal. This is possible to do in a number of methods, and all of these thyroid treatments are specifically dependent on your unique cause of thyroid condition.

In case you are struggling with excess thyroid hormone levels or hyperthyroidism, you can have treatment options such as:

Anti-thyroid medications can effectively stop the thyroid gland from producing too many hormones.
Radioactive iodine treatment works by damaging your thyroid gland cells, thereby stopping it from producing such a high quantity of hormones.
Beta-blockers are not capable of changing the number of hormones produced in the body but are effective in helping you to control the related symptoms.
Surgery is the last and most serious form of treating Thyroid. In this case, your doctor can surgically take the Thyroid out of your body through a process called thyroidectomy. This is permanently going to stop the gland from producing hormones. This implies that you will have to consume replacement thyroid hormones regularly for your entire life.

In case you are struggling with insufficient thyroid hormone levels or hypothyroidism, you can have treatment options such as:

Thyroid hormone replacement medicines are an artificial way of adding thyroid hormones directly into the system. With the help of this medication, you will be able to control your disease and continue living normally.

If you are looking for natural ways to keep your Thyroid in check, these are a few measures that can successfully boost the health of your Thyroid:

Include iodised salt in the diet.
Avoid foods like cabbage and broccoli.
Avoid excessively processed or preserved food such as white bread and pasta.
Cut off alcohol and tobacco completely.
Light workouts like walking or cycling must be included in your lifestyle
Reduce stress levels
Go for regular thyroid function tests

So, be vigilant for diseases like thyroid and immediately take help from your doctor in case you observe any symptoms. Follow the above natural measures and stay fit.

CARE Hospitals is deemed the best thyroid hospital in Visakhapatnam. We have the best doctors to treat thyroid disorders and they also provide diabetes treatment in India.