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Dr. Brian Weeks explains what women should know about the thyroid gland.
Dr. Weeks:
Let’s take a minute to talk about three important things about your thyroid gland. Ladies, you may know that the thyroid gland is an extremely important gland in your body. It’s one of the major organs in your body that monitors your metabolism, but it’s also a very, very important organ for many other reasons.
The three most important things I want you to remember about your thyroid gland are as follows:
Number one, no mass or growth in your thyroid gland is normal. Any time you feel something in your thyroid gland, you need to report it to your primary physician; you need to bring it to your healthcare provider’s attention. Think about it just like your breast exam that you do every month. You really should be feeling your thyroid gland. Any lump or bump needs to be explored.
Number two, thyroid cancers run in the family just like breast cancers do. The incidence or the propensity to develop cancer is not nearly as high as breast cancer, but it’s still very important. It’s a cancer that is more commonly found in women as opposed to men, and it runs strongly in families, as I mentioned before. So, understand your family history and point that out to your primary physician when you are giving a history so that they’ll understand that as part of your health assessment.
And lastly, your thyroid function is a very, very important part of your day-to-day life, and improper function of your thyroid gland may suggest a more serious medical condition.
So as part of your workup and part of your proper health evaluation, you need to mention things to your primary physician about your thyroid and about your metabolism and your energy level in your day-to-day life.
Don’t forget, your thyroid gland can affect every single part of your body: your mood, your sex life, your energy level. All of your other hormones are regulated by your thyroid gland, so keep those things in mind.
About Dr. Weeks, M.D.:
Dr. Brian Weeks specializes in diseases of the ear, nose, throat, as well as tumors of the head and neck region, including thyroid, parathyroid, and skull base tumors. He has advanced specialty training in endoscopic sinus surgery, and is a national/international leader in balloon sinuplasty surgery. Additionally, Dr. Weeks has expertise in minimally invasive surgeries of the head and neck, as well as head and neck reconstruction. His role in reconstruction of the head and neck includes management of skin cancers, facial defects and blemishes, and cosmetic imperfections. He also provides extensive knowledge in skin care, facial peels, and facial care products.