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What is Thyroid Disease?


According to Thyroid Australia around 850,000 people, mainly women, have a thyroid disorder. On top of this, an additional 35,000 women are diagnosed with the condition each year (compared with 5500 men). While the condition is most often diagnosed in those over 50, many patients have had symptoms that were missed or dismissed for years, even by doctors. The reason? Thyroid disorders develop slowly, mimic many other health conditions, and are often mistaken for the normal signs of stress or ageing.


What causes thyroid disorder?

Too little thyroid hormone leads to hypothyroidism, the prevalent form of this disorder. The most common cause of this type is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It can also be caused by inflammation of the thyroid, surgical removal of the gland or even pregnancy. Undiagnosed, it can put you at risk of miscarriage, infertility and heart problems. It’s particularly dangerous in pregnant women during the first trimester, since it’s been linked to developmental delays and lower IQ. Too much thyroid hormone can result in hyperthyroidism. The most common form of this type is Graves’ disease, another autoimmune disorder.


What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism causes a slowdown in the body’s metabolism, so you gain weight and feel sluggish, constipated, bloated, depressed and forgetful.


What is hyperthyroidism?

With hyperthyroidism your heart races and you feel anxious, irritable or dizzy. You may also notice overly rapid weight loss, difficulty sleeping and, in some cases, a slight bulging of the eyes.


How is the thyroid tested?

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that straddles the lower part of the windpipe in the front of the neck. This tiny gland produces some pretty powerful hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which keep every system in your body running smoothly. When the hypothalamus senses the level of thyroid hormone in your blood is low, it signals the pituitary gland to release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to kick start production. Measuring your TSH is the gold standard for judging how well your thyroid is working.


How is the thyroid treated?

The point at which medication is called for is a subject of debate. Until a few years ago, experts considered a TSH level of 0.5 to 5.0 normal. Anyone above it would be treated for hypothyroidism; below, for hyperthyroidism. In general, I consider a TSH of 0.35 to 3.5 normal. But if you are concerned, see another doctor.

Fortunately, thyroid disease is easy to manage. For underactive thyroid, a daily dose of Oroxine or Eutroxsig is usually prescribed. For overactive thyroid, the regimen is more complicated and usually involves selectively destroying some of the thyroid tissue so the gland doesn’t produce as much hormone.


Any issues with medication?

Because Oroxine and Eutroxsig are so good at speeding up metabolism, some women without thyroid problems clamour for it to help them lose weight or boost energy. One word of caution: Hypothyroid medication is not a weight loss drug and taking something you don’t need can be risky. The fact that Margaret noticed a change when her dose was cut back shows just how delicate the thyroid hormone balance is.




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