Why your thyroid health matters?

What is the thyroid?

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck wrapped around the windpipe, and it is responsible for making hormones that are important for different systems in the body to function properly.One of the hormones that are produced by the thyroid is thyroxine (T4). The right amount of T4 in your blood is essential to support your body’s digestion, heart and muscle function, brain development, bone upkeep, and also to ensure that other organs are working as they should.

Types of thyroid disease

There are two main types of thyroid disease. When the thyroid is overactive and makes too much thyroid hormone this can result in a condition called hyperthyroidism, and when the thyroid is underactive, too little thyroid hormone is made and this is called hypothyroidism.Hypothyroidism most commonly occurs due to autoimmune damage of the thyroid gland, however it can also arise as a consequence of iodine deficiency or exposure to radiation, among other causes.

What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?

Signs and symptoms of an underactive thyroid usually develop slowly, and mild symptoms are mostly ignored until the symptoms become unbearable. Dr Sindeep Bhana, Head of Endocrinology at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and a specialist in thyroid disease, says: “There are a number of symptoms associated with thyroid disease which can easily be overlooked or confused with other conditions.”

Dr Bhana lists some of the symptoms associated with hypothyroidism as being feelings of fatigue with no obvious cause, abnormal menstrual periods, weight gain of five to ten kilograms despite a healthy lifestyle, and thin or brittle hair or fingernails.Other symptoms of an underactive thyroid include sadness, mood swings and depression, irritability, muscle and joint pain, constipation, hair loss and fertility problems. According to Dr Bhana, the loss of the outer third of the eyebrows, particularly in women, is the only symptom that is specific to thyroid disease.

If you are experiencing any number of these symptoms that are associated with hypothyroidism, it’s time to get yourself tested to find out how well your thyroid gland is functioning! The best way to find out is to have a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) blood test.