For:Thyroid Abnormalities
A regular thyroid screening can help detect and manage various thyroid disorders. The thyroid is a two-lobed endocrine gland, located at the base of the neck that secretes two hormones that regulate the rates of metabolism, growth, and development. It is one of the largest endocrine glands in the body. Thyroid disorders include hyperthyroidism (abnormally increased activity), hypothyroidism (abnormally decreased activity) and thyroid nodules, which are generally benign but may be a sign of thyroid cancers. A thyroid screening catches these conditions early on so that they do not develop into thyroid cancer. In areas of the world where iodine is lacking in the diet the thyroid gland can become considerably enlarged, a condition called endemic goiter. Pregnant women on a diet that is severely deficient of iodine can give birth to infants who can present with thyroid hormone deficiency, manifesting in problems of physical growth and development as well as brain development. In many developed countries, newborns are routinely tested for sufficient iodine levels as part of newborn screening.
Most thyroid abnormalities can be detected by checking your body’s thyroid stimulating hormone level (TSH) through a thyroid screening. In your body, the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is synthesized and secreted by your pituitary gland. You can view the TSH like a messenger sent to knock on the door of the thyroid. Its purpose is to regulate your thyroid gland, to tell it to produce more, or to tell it to produce less. In a healthy individual, its message is based on whether your blood levels have too little thyroid hormones to meet the demands of your body, or too much.
Learn more about how to prepare for your thyroid screening today.
What are the Warning Signs of Thyroid Abnormalities?
Warning signs for thyroid abnormalities can vary based on the specific type of abnormality. The American Thyroid Association recommends that adults over age 35 be screened for thyroid disease every 5 years. The risks of some common thyroid abnormalities are:
Hyperthyroidism can mimic other health problems, which may make it difficult for your doctor to diagnose. It can also cause a wide variety of signs and symptoms, including:
Older adults are more likely to have either no signs or symptoms or subtle ones, such as an increased heart rate, heat intolerance and a tendency to become tired during ordinary activities. Medications called beta blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure and other conditions, can mask many of the signs of hyperthyroidism.
Hypothyroidism signs and symptom may include:
When hypothyroidism isn't treated, signs and symptoms can gradually become more severe. Constant stimulation of your thyroid to release more hormones may lead to an enlarged thyroid (goiter). In addition, you may become more forgetful, your thought processes may slow, or you may feel depressed.
Thyroid nodules, for the most part, don't cause signs or symptoms. Occasionally, however, some nodules become so large that they can:
In some cases, thyroid nodules produce too much thyroxine, a hormone secreted by your thyroid gland. The extra thyroxine can cause problems such as:
A few thyroid nodules are cancerous but it's difficult to tell which nodules are malignant by symptoms alone. Although size isn't a predictor of whether a nodule is malignant or not, cancerous thyroid tumors are more likely to be large fixed masses that grow quickly.
How do I know if I’m At Risk?
Some of the common risk factors for the above thyroid abnormalities are:
Prevention:
Although your HealthFair professional may determine specific thyroid needs based on your specific abnormality, there are several things you can do in order to lessen your chance of developing thyroid abnormalities:
If you have any of the above risk factors, then get screened today!
Screenings Recommended:
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)