January Is Thyroid Awareness Month
The thyroid plays a significant role in your health and well-being. Since January is Thyroid Awareness Month, we thought now was the perfect time to educate you about this small but powerful organ and how you can identify thyroid disease early so you can seek medical treatment.
What Is the Thyroid & What Does It Do?
Located in the base of your neck is a small, butterfly-shaped gland called the thyroid. While small in size, this gland affects virtually every organ in the body, including the heart. It is important in the regulation of your metabolism.
Thyroid hormones T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine) control how the body uses energy. When functioning normally, the thyroid will release the correct amount of hormones to maintain the proper metabolic rate.
How Common Is Thyroid Disease?
An estimated 20 million people in the U.S. currently live with some type of thyroid disorder. Women are more likely than men to suffer hypothyroidism, or when the gland does not produce enough hormones. However, thyroid disease can affect anyone at any age.
Signs of Thyroid Complications
When the thyroid isn’t functioning properly, the consequences can be quite serious. One common complication is hyperthyroidism, or when the thyroid overproduces the T4 hormone. Hyperthyroidism can lead to more serious diseases, including heart disease, and can also contribute to obesity, depression, and even infertility.
You may want to have your thyroid levels checked if you experience the following symptoms:
- Chronic fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Increased sensitivity to heat or cold
- An enlarged thyroid
Thyroid Treatment Options
The key to proper thyroid disease treatment is early detection. If you suspect there may be a problem with your thyroid, consult with a medical professional to learn about your healthcare options. You should start with your primary care provider since many thyroid problems are nonsurgical in nature.
However, if you do have a thyroid problem that does need surgery, the Surgical Professionals team has experience performing partial and total thyroidectomies for patients throughout East Valley, AZ. Your health is our primary concern, and we prioritize professionalism in all we do, from the operating room to the clinic to the bedside.
We would be happy to meet with you in consultation to see if surgery is the most appropriate treatment for your condition. We will also discuss options that may be available to you. And if we don’t feel surgery is the best choice for you, we’ll let you know that as well.
Contact Surgical Professionals online or call (480) 892-2456 to schedule a surgical consultation.
