More than 30 million people suffer from thyroid disease and about half, 15 million, don’t realize they have it.
The thyroid can be thought of as the master gland of metabolism. The butterfly shaped gland is located in the base of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple. When the thyroid isn’t properly functioning, it affects weight, depression and energy levels. It also affects the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin. As you can imagine, if the thyroid gland isn’t working properly, then neither are you!
Dr. Jeffrey R. Garber, breaks the thyroid down into a manageable analogy by comparing the thyroid to a car engine.
A car engine sets the pace of a vehicle, just as the thyroid gland sets the pace at which your body operates. While the engine produces energy for how fast the car moves, the thyroid manufactures energy, or thyroid hormones, which prompt cells to move at a certain rate.
In order to make the vehicle run, it must have gasoline, just as the body needs fuel to be able to move. The body doesn’t use gasoline, but rather iodine, which ends up producing two much needed hormones called thyroxine, or T4 and triiodothyronine , or T3.
Although you may have the engine and the gasoline in place, the car is unable to move along unless you press the accelerator, right? Well, the body is very similar because it also needs something to tell it how fast to go. This master gland is located in the brain and is referred to as the Pituitary gland. This pea-shaped master gland sends messages to the thyroid in the form of thyroid stimulating hormone, better known as TSH. TSH levels rise and fall depending on how much of the hormone is produced.
Someone who is battling fatigue and/ or weight issues might be experiencing symptoms of a poorly performing thyroid gland. Although thyroid disease is predominately found in women, many men suffer from the disease, as well. You may want to consider a thyroid evaluation if a parent, sibling or child suffers from a thyroid disease or if you have taken the prescription medications Lithium or Amiodarone. Finally, if you have had head or neck radiation and are experiencing some of the symptoms listed above, you may also have an increased risk of thyroid disease.
Having a blood test at The Medical Foundation that determines your TSH levels can be instrumental in diagnosing whether or not you are suffering from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is a condition where your thyroid is being overactive and hypothyroidism is where your thyroid is under performing and may be causing you to feel sluggish.
If you are currently taking corticosteroids, lithium, dopamine or other various thyroid medications, you will want to have your blood drawn for the test before you take your medication for the day.
The lab also offers testing which includes a T3, Free (triiodothyronine) and T4, Free (thyroxine). These tests are essential in aiding in the diagnosis of euthyroid, hyperthyroid and hypothyroid states.
You may notice blue paisley ribbons in the community as a way to gain awareness and advocacy for thyroid disease, because January has been noted as the month of observance. The blue paisley was chosen to represent thyroid disease because of its resemblance to cross-sections of thyroid follicles.
To learn more about the thyroid and its functions visit the Thyroid Disease Awareness page on Facebook or the American Association of Clinical Endrocrinologists website.
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