Your guide to detecting hypothyroidism

Thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland control many of our bodily activities, including how fast we burn calories and how fast our hearts beat. Thyroid problems can cause various health issues, and many affect our metabolism. Thyroid dysfunction can cause:

• Goiters – enlargement of the thyroid gland
• Hyperthyroidism – thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone
• Hypothyroidism – thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone
• Thyroid cancer
• Thyroid nodules – lumps in the thyroid
• Thyroiditis – swelling of the thyroid

In order to properly diagnose thyroid diseases, you will want to see your doctor. He or she will typically use your medical history, a physical exam and testing to determine if you have a problem with your thyroid. But hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough important thyroid hormone, can be tricky to diagnose. And for many of our patients, they first discover the problem by listening to their own bodies.

Are you experiencing hypothyroidism?
If you have a sluggish thyroid, you will likely experience some changes in how you feel that can seem odd and even alarming.

Check out these symptoms of an underactive thyroid
The more symptoms you’re experiencing in these areas, the more likely that you have hypothyroidism:

• Energy level
  Fatigue
  Lethargy
  No energy to exercise
  Not exercising consistently
  A heavy or tired head, especially in the afternoon
  Falling asleep when you sit down
• Weight
  Easy weight gain
  Difficulty losing weight for no apparent reason
• Skin
  Rough and scaly
  Perpetually dry
• Hair
  Dry, coarse, tangled
  Hair loss
• Temperature
  Feeling cold all the time
  Slow to warm up
  Don’t sweat with mild exercise
  Low basal body temperature (less than 97.6)
• Family history of thyroid problems
  As with many health issues, thyroid problems can have a genetic link.

Surgical options for your thyroid
Treatment will depend on your unique problem, but could include medication, radioiodine therapy or surgery to biopsy your thyroid and/or to remove it. Dr. Buch has 25 years of experience performing thyroid surgery procedures of all kinds. Call for a consultation appointment today:
908-725-8755.