Almost everyone has heard of the thyroid gland; you might have even blamed it for a little extra weight. However, many people would struggle to locate it in the body and fare even worse in identifying what it actually does. To start, the thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that is found in the neck, wrapped around the trachea. Its main function is to produce hormones that regulate and control the metabolic processes inside your body (metabolism). The most common thyroid problems involve the production of hormones and can lead to too much, also called hyperthyroidism, or too little, hypothyroidism. Another issue that is closely related to hyper/hypothyroidism are nodules that can form on the gland itself.
Hyperthyroidism can be caused by several factors. Grave’s disease, an autoimmune disorder, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. It causes antibodies to stimulate the thyroid to secrete too much hormone. Other causes include an excess in bloodstream iodine, a key ingredient in hormone production. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include increased appetite, irregular heartbeat, itching, weight loss, and breast development in men. Severe signs include dizziness, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, and a fast, irregular heart rate called atrial fibrillation. To treat hyperthyroidism, your physician may recommend medications such as Tapazole which causes the thyroid to limit or stop making hormones. More severe cases can require surgery to remove a piece or all of the thyroid.
Hypothyroidism is characterized by two common causes. The first is due to current or ongoing inflammation of the thyroid gland which leaves part of the cells dead and unable to function. The second major cause is due to medical treatments, such as the previous removal of the thyroid. This can be due to previous operations to remove nodules that were found on the gland. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain, constipation, depression, decreased libido, and cold intolerance. Hypothyroidism is diagnosed with a fairly simple blood test monitoring the levels of hormone within the body. The good news is this condition is easily treated by taking a small pill once per day. However, there are several types of thyroid hormone replacement medications and finding the right one is not always an easy journey.
The last major classification of thyroid disease are nodules found growing directly on the gland. These lumps commonly arise with no warning from an otherwise normal thyroid gland. Although any growth within the body sounds scary, take heart. More than 95% of all thyroid nodules, or goiters, are benign and non-cancerous. They are extremely common as well. According to the Center for Disease Control, 70% of those age 70 and over have at least one thyroid nodule growth. Sometimes, these growths are in response to an under-producing thyroid gland; simple blood tests can determine the root cause. Many times, the growths will have no symptoms whatsoever. Occasionally, goiters may cause pain or produce difficulty in swallowing. Although the vast majority are benign, your physician may recommend you to a specialist for further evaluation in which case a needle aspiration may be performed to definitively tell if the nodules are cancerous. Even if the growths are non-cancerous in nature, your specialist may recommend surgical removal in order to prevent future cancerous growths. In this case, you can expect a relatively common surgery and one to two nights in the hospital for observation.
This is a subject near to me. Last summer, my general practitioner noticed several lumps on my thyroid gland and referred me to an ENT specialist. After further tests and biopsies, it was determined that they were not cancerous and, because there were so many, termed a multi-nodule goiter. Because of my young age (well, relatively speaking), my surgeon recommended removal to keep this from becoming a major issue later in life. I will have the left portion of my thyroid removed at the end of the month, or what is called a partial thyroidectomy. The amazing thing is that the remaining portion of the gland can function for the entire body, much as one kidney can. In either case, I am looking forward to getting rid of my annoyed thyroid. Stay safe out there.
M. Eric Williams, MS, NR-P is a Mississippi native and the Assistant Director of Emergency Medical Technology Education at Jones County Junior College. He is a current Doctoral researcher at Delta State University and has 15 years’ experience in healthcare. If you have questions or comments, you may contact him at eric.williams@jcjc.edu
