The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped structure located at the base of the neck that regulates vital functions of the body: metabolism, body temperature, heart rate, neurological development and hormonal balance.
Through the production of two main hormones – thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) – the thyroid acts as a true conductor of the human body. When this gland makes more or less hormones than the body needs, the impact can be felt in almost all of the body’s systems, from the brain to the skin.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), thyroid disorders affect more than 750 million people in the world, and a significant percentage of them have not received a diagnosis.
Diagnose its operation
The problem with thyroid is that its symptoms are rarely specific. They are too similar to everyday exhaustion, work stress or simply the passage of years. For this reason, millions of people live for months—or even years—with a thyroid disorder without knowing it.
Doctors specializing in endocrinology warn that both excess and deficiency of thyroid hormones can go unnoticed at first, especially in women—who are five to ten times more likely to suffer from them than men—and in people over 60 years of age. “Early diagnosis is traditional because it allows us to avoid serious long-term complications,” the main endocrinology associations explain.
When the thyroid produces less than necessary
Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid dysfunction. It occurs when the gland does not make enough hormones, which causes the body to function slower than usual. The symptoms are gradual and, in many cases, are confused with depression or normal aging.
Most common symptoms:
- extreme fatigue. Persistent fatigue that does not improve with rest, excessive sleepiness and a general feeling of sluggishness.
- weight gain. Weight gain without changes in diet, due to the slowdown of basal metabolism.
- Cold feeling. Cold intolerance and low body temperature, even in hot environments.
- Dry skin and hair. Rough, pale and flaky skin, fragile hair with a tendency to fall out and brittle nails.
- Constipation. Chronic slowness of intestinal transit, without apparent dietary cause.
- Psychological fog. Difficulty concentrating, poor memory, and slow or confused thinking.
Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include a hoarse voice, swelling of the face—especially around the eyes—muscle cramps, high cholesterol, and, in women, irregularities in the menstrual cycle. In advanced cases, a swelling called goiter may occur in the neck.
Hyperthyroidism occurs at the opposite extreme: the thyroid produces too many hormones and the body enters a state of generalized acceleration. Its symptoms are more striking and appear more quickly, although they can also go unnoticed or be attributed to anxiety or nervousness.
- Palpitations. Fast or irregular heartbeat (tachycardia), feeling that the heart is “unhurried hard.”
- weight loss. Involuntary and rapid weight loss despite maintaining or even increasing appetite.
- Anxiety and nervousness. Irritability, restlessness, hand tremors, and inability to sit still.
- Heat intolerance. Excessive sweating and constant feeling of heat, even in cool environments.
- Frequent diarrhea. Acceleration of intestinal transit, with frequent and loose stools.
- Insomnia and fatigue. Difficulty sleeping despite exhaustion; the body cannot “turn off.”
Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism and can be accompanied by a very characteristic symptom: exophthalmia or protrusion of the eyeballs, which gives the eyes a more prominent appearance and can cause irritation, tearing and sensitivity to light.
When to consult the doctor?
Experts recommend going to the doctor if you experience several of these symptoms persistently, especially if you have a family history of thyroid diseases, if you have received radiation therapy to the neck, if you are pregnant or in the postpartum period, or if you are over 60 years of age. Diagnosis is made through a simple blood test that measures levels of TSH – the hormone that stimulates the thyroid – and, when necessary, concentrations of T3 and T4.
The good news is that thyroid disorders have effective treatment. Hypothyroidism is treated with levothyroxine, a synthetic hormone taken orally daily that normalizes hormonal levels. Hyperthyroidism can be addressed with antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, or, in some cases, surgery. The majority of patients with adequate treatment lead a completely normal life.
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