Thyroid Conditions and Their Effects On You

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Your thyroid, an endocrine gland, makes hormones. It is shaped like a butterfly and sits in your neck, just above your collarbone. The underproduction or overproduction of thyroid hormones can lead to health conditions and weaken the delicate balance of your metabolism.

It may be surprising to know that of the millions suffering with thyroid diseases, most people who suffer from thyroid diseases in the United States are women. The results of having a thyroid disease include an inefficient use of energy. Either your body will use it more slowly or more quickly than it should.

Women are five to eight times more likely to have thyroid dysfunction than men, and many have it without ever realizing they do. Many women chalk up their fatigue, depression or low energy to other circumstances and conditions, for example. The ATA (American Thyroid Association) estimates that more than half of thyroid conditions remain undiagnosed.

Hypothyroidism is more common, and this is when the gland is not active enough. This condition can make you feel sluggish and cause you to gain weight. It can also make you feel tired and have trouble with colder temperatures. On the other hand, if you have hyperthyroidism, it means your thyroid is too active. It is producing too much hormone.

Symptoms of this condition include weight loss, a speedy heart rate, and a sensitivity to hotter temperatures. There are many causes for both conditions. Treatment involves trying to reset your body's metabolism to a normal rate.

The most common example of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease. According to MayoClinic.com, the attack of the immune system on the thyroid gland causes the disease to develop. It is the extra hormones that are released during the attack which increase the metabolism. The resulting symptoms may include increased appetite, weight loss, nervousness.

The thyroid gland is also responsible for thyroid disorders in children. The California Pacific Medical Center estimates that one in 4,000 births will be prevalent of congenital hypothyroidism, a condition which occurs before your child is born. It is recommended that L-thyroxine treatment must be delivered immediately to ensure your child will not have a lower IQ.

Graves' disease also occurs in children and at least half will exhibit signs of ophthalmopathy. Antithyroid medications can be prescribed, but the California Pacific Medical Center state that only 25 percent of children go into remission after two years according to an article by Livestrong.

Hashimoto thyroiditis is another form of hypothyroidism. This is the main cause for most cases of thyroid dysfunction in adolescents, but is very rare in children who are four years old or younger. This condition is marked by an autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid. It can cause a lack of growth, fatigue and weight gain. Treatment is also with L-thyroxine. 50 percent of children will benefit from treatment.

Thyroid cancer in children is very rare. According to the Cure Search for Children’s Cancer website, it also has an extremely high survival rate of 95 percent. It occurs in one in 1,000 to 2000 children.

Suppurative thyroiditis is a rare, but life-threatening disorder of the thyroid. It is commonly caused by a bacterial infection of the thyroid gland that results in inflammation.

As with any condition, if you notice unusual signs or symptoms and think they may be related to thyroid conditions in your child, yourself, or a loved one, seek medical attention quickly.

Sources:

MedlinePlus. Thyroid Diseases. Retrieved from the internet on November 8, 2011. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/thyroiddiseases.html

LiveStrong.com. Thyroid Conditions in Children by Matt Berry
Retrieved from the internet on November 8, 2011.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/231466-thyroid-conditions-in-children/

WebMD. Understanding Thyroid Problems – the basics. Retrieved from the internet on November 8, 2011.
http://women.webmd.com/guide/understanding-thyroid-problems-basics

Healthy Women.org. Thyroid Conditions. Retrieved from the internet on November 8, 2011.
http://www.healthywomen.org/condition/thyroid-disorders

Aimee Boyle is a regular contributor to EmpowHER.

Reviewed November 10, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.