As many as 15 million people may have undiagnosed thyroid disease. From fatigue and weight changes to depression and hair loss, thyroid disease causes many symptoms.

The thyroid is a gland, located at the base of your neck that makes, stores, and releases hormones which control your metabolism. The thyroid gland is controlled by the pituitary gland which makes thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). If there is not enough thyroid hormone in the bloodstream, the body’s metabolism slows down. This is called hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). If there is too much thyroid hormone, your metabolism speeds up. This is called hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Women are more likely to suffer from thyroid disease. In some women it occurs during or after pregnancy.

Hypothyroidism -

Underproduction of thyroid hormone occurs when there is not enough thyroid hormone. The most common cause is an inflammation of the thyroid gland.

• Weight gain
• Decreased appetite
• Loss of sex drive
• Constipation
• Puffiness around the eyes
• Hair loss
• Fatigue or weakness
• Change in menstrual periods
• Feeling cold when others don't
• Muscle aches
• Brittle nails

Hyperthyroidism -

Hormone occurs when there is too much thyroid hormone. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease, which most often affects women between 20 and 40 years old.

• Fatigue
• Nervousness
• Increased sweating
• Changes in menstrual periods
• Weight loss
• Rapid heart beat
• Feeling hot when others don't
• More frequent bowel movements

A goiter is a lump in the thyroid gland. Goiters can take months or years to develop. There are typically no symptoms until the goiter is visible as a swelling at the front of the neck. A nodule is a lump or enlarged area in the thyroid gland. Sometimes a nodule can appear in a healthy gland. It may feel like a lump in the throat, or there may be tenderness or pain in the front of the neck. If the nodule is large enough, it may be visible at the front of the neck.

Quiz

Take this quiz to evaluate whether you have risk factors and symptoms that may point to a thyroid condition.

1. Do you regularly consume soy foods and soy products?
2. Do you take iodine, a vitamin with iodine, or iodine-containing herbs, such as kelp?
3. Have you ever had radiation treatment to the head, neck, or chest, as a treatment for tonsils, adenoids, lymph nodes, thymus gland problems, or acne?
4. Do you have any family or personal history of thyroid conditions, goiter, or nodules?
5. When dieting, have you found it difficult, or even impossible to lose weight?
6. Do you gain weight in the abdominal area?
7. Are your face, hands, or feet puffy or retaining water?
8. Do you crave sweets and carbohydrates more than usual?
9. Do you get shaky if you don't eat, or have other hypoglycemic symptoms?
10. Are you regularly tired, exhausted, fatigued?
11. Do you need caffeine to get up, stay awake, or remain alert during the day?
12. Are you having difficulty concentrating or remembering things?

If you answered yes to more than 4 of these questions, make an appointment to speak with Dr. Sameera Daud-Ahmad, MD at Old Hook Medical Associates. Dr. Daud is Board Certified in Endocrinology