AshleyMommyto2
04-21-2009, 09:19 AM
Thyroid Disorders
Your thyroid is one of your body's most important glands. When your thyroid doesn't work properly, it can cause you to feel nervous or tired; make your muscles weak; cause weight gain or loss; impair your memory; and affect your menstrual flow. A thyroid disorder can also cause miscarriage and infertility.Women are five to eight times more likely to have thyroid dysfunction than men, but most don't know they have it. Women often overlook their symptoms or mistake them for symptoms of other conditions. For example, women are at particularly high risk for developing thyroid disorders following childbirth. Symptoms such as fatigue and depression are common during this period, but these are also symptoms of thyroid disease. Thus, more than half of thyroid conditions remain undiagnosed, according to the Thyroid Foundation of America.
Hypothyroidism:
When too little TH is released, the body's metabolic rate decreases, and the body slows down. Hypothyroidism often goes undiagnosed because its symptoms are often mistaken for or attributed to other conditions. Symptoms include:
• fatigue
• depression
• low body temperature
• weight gain
• dry or itchy skin
• thin, dry hair/hair loss
• puffy face, hands and feet
• decreased taste and smell
• slow heart rate
• constipation
• poor memory
• trouble with concentration
• hoarseness/husky voice
• irregular or heavy menstruation
• muscle aches
• infertility
• high cholesterol
• goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
Hypothyroidism can occur spontaneously, develop during or after pregnancy or after treatment for hyperthyroidism. You can be born with it or it can be caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the leading cause of hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism:
When too much TH is released, the body's metabolic rate increases, and your metabolism speeds up. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
• nervousness/irritability
• weight loss
• fast/irregular heart rate
• heat intolerance/increased perspiration
• changes in appetite
• sleep disturbances (such as insomnia)
• muscle weakness
• trembling hands
• more frequent bowel movements
• shorter and scantier menstrual flow
• exophthalmos (bulging eyes)
• goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
Hyperthyroidism can be caused by nodules composed of thyroid cells that produce TH without regard to the body's need. It can also develop during or after pregnancy and may be caused by Graves' disease. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may also result from overtreatment of hypothyroidism with synthetic TH or from thyroiditis, an inflammation of the thyroid gland, which leads to an overproduction of TH.
~Treatment~
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, is the simplest of the three types of thyroid disorders to treat. It requires a daily dose of prescription synthetic T4, called levothyroxine sodium (L-thyroxine, L-T4). You and your health care professional will work together to find the right dose for you based on your symptoms and blood tests.
Hyperthyroidism
If you are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, including Graves' disease, your health care professional will consider several factors to determine the best treatment for you. These include your age, your general health and the cause and severity of the hyperthyroidism. Available treatments include radioactive iodine (the type that damages thyroid tissue), antithyroid drugs and surgery.
~Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and Pregnancy~
Pregnant women are at an increased risk of developing thyroid dysfunction as compared to the general population. Any woman with a prior history of a thyroid problem, a family history of thyroid disease or symptoms of thyroid dysfunction should be tested for thyroid dysfunction as soon as she knows she is pregnant. TH (T4) is absolutely safe to take during pregnancy and is essential for the health of the fetus if you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism. If you are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, beta blockers and antithyroid drugs are used. If a woman is allergic to these drugs, surgery may also be considered. Radioactive iodine is not an option because it will pass into the fetus and damage its thyroid gland.
~Questions to Ask Your Dr.~
1. How do you plan to make a diagnosis? Will my blood be tested for thyroid hormone, TSH levels and thyroid antibodies?
2. If the tests come back positive for thyroid dysfunction, what are the treatment options?
3. Will I have thyroid dysfunction all my life, or will the treatment cure it?
4. What are the side effects of treatment?
5. Are my children at risk for thyroid disorders?
6. How long after treatment begins should I expect to feel better?
7. Do you recommend surgery for benign thyroid nodules?
8. What are the risks and possible complications of surgery?
9. How long will I need to recuperate after surgery?
10. When can I return to work?
All information was found at: http://www.healthywomen.org
Your thyroid is one of your body's most important glands. When your thyroid doesn't work properly, it can cause you to feel nervous or tired; make your muscles weak; cause weight gain or loss; impair your memory; and affect your menstrual flow. A thyroid disorder can also cause miscarriage and infertility.Women are five to eight times more likely to have thyroid dysfunction than men, but most don't know they have it. Women often overlook their symptoms or mistake them for symptoms of other conditions. For example, women are at particularly high risk for developing thyroid disorders following childbirth. Symptoms such as fatigue and depression are common during this period, but these are also symptoms of thyroid disease. Thus, more than half of thyroid conditions remain undiagnosed, according to the Thyroid Foundation of America.
Hypothyroidism:
When too little TH is released, the body's metabolic rate decreases, and the body slows down. Hypothyroidism often goes undiagnosed because its symptoms are often mistaken for or attributed to other conditions. Symptoms include:
• fatigue
• depression
• low body temperature
• weight gain
• dry or itchy skin
• thin, dry hair/hair loss
• puffy face, hands and feet
• decreased taste and smell
• slow heart rate
• constipation
• poor memory
• trouble with concentration
• hoarseness/husky voice
• irregular or heavy menstruation
• muscle aches
• infertility
• high cholesterol
• goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
Hypothyroidism can occur spontaneously, develop during or after pregnancy or after treatment for hyperthyroidism. You can be born with it or it can be caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the leading cause of hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism:
When too much TH is released, the body's metabolic rate increases, and your metabolism speeds up. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
• nervousness/irritability
• weight loss
• fast/irregular heart rate
• heat intolerance/increased perspiration
• changes in appetite
• sleep disturbances (such as insomnia)
• muscle weakness
• trembling hands
• more frequent bowel movements
• shorter and scantier menstrual flow
• exophthalmos (bulging eyes)
• goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
Hyperthyroidism can be caused by nodules composed of thyroid cells that produce TH without regard to the body's need. It can also develop during or after pregnancy and may be caused by Graves' disease. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may also result from overtreatment of hypothyroidism with synthetic TH or from thyroiditis, an inflammation of the thyroid gland, which leads to an overproduction of TH.
~Treatment~
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, is the simplest of the three types of thyroid disorders to treat. It requires a daily dose of prescription synthetic T4, called levothyroxine sodium (L-thyroxine, L-T4). You and your health care professional will work together to find the right dose for you based on your symptoms and blood tests.
Hyperthyroidism
If you are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, including Graves' disease, your health care professional will consider several factors to determine the best treatment for you. These include your age, your general health and the cause and severity of the hyperthyroidism. Available treatments include radioactive iodine (the type that damages thyroid tissue), antithyroid drugs and surgery.
~Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and Pregnancy~
Pregnant women are at an increased risk of developing thyroid dysfunction as compared to the general population. Any woman with a prior history of a thyroid problem, a family history of thyroid disease or symptoms of thyroid dysfunction should be tested for thyroid dysfunction as soon as she knows she is pregnant. TH (T4) is absolutely safe to take during pregnancy and is essential for the health of the fetus if you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism. If you are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, beta blockers and antithyroid drugs are used. If a woman is allergic to these drugs, surgery may also be considered. Radioactive iodine is not an option because it will pass into the fetus and damage its thyroid gland.
~Questions to Ask Your Dr.~
1. How do you plan to make a diagnosis? Will my blood be tested for thyroid hormone, TSH levels and thyroid antibodies?
2. If the tests come back positive for thyroid dysfunction, what are the treatment options?
3. Will I have thyroid dysfunction all my life, or will the treatment cure it?
4. What are the side effects of treatment?
5. Are my children at risk for thyroid disorders?
6. How long after treatment begins should I expect to feel better?
7. Do you recommend surgery for benign thyroid nodules?
8. What are the risks and possible complications of surgery?
9. How long will I need to recuperate after surgery?
10. When can I return to work?
All information was found at: http://www.healthywomen.org