Get to Know Your Thyroid

How important is your thyroid gland to your overall health? Absolutely critical, says the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists:

The thyroid gland produces hormones that influence essentially every organ, tissue and cell in the body. In short, if the thyroid doesn’t work properly, neither do you."

About 27 million Americans have thyroid glands that don’t function correctly. More than half don’t know it because their condition hasn’t been diagnosed.

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland found just above your collarbone," says Camino Medical Group (CMG) endocrinologist Todd Kaye, M.D. "The most common thyroid problems are hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)."

With hypothyroidism, Dr. Kaye explains, everything in your body slows down. You tend to feel cold, tired, constipated and you put on weight. With hyperthyroidism, your thyroid is overactive. You feel shaky, your heart races and you lose weight (but not in a healthy way).

An important thing to remember is that these symptoms are not specific, adds Dr. Kaye. This means you may experience them, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have thyroid disease. A blood test will help your doctor know. Once diagnosed, these conditions can be treated with medication.
"Thyroid nodules (lumps) are another common problem," adds Dr. Kaye. "They occur more frequently with age and are usually non-cancerous (benign)."

A needle biopsy is the best way to determine if a nodule is benign or cancerous. If the result indicates cancer, the nodule should be removed surgically.

To learn more about the thyroid and get answers to your thyroid-related questions, come to a free community presentation by Dr. Kaye on Wednesday, October 24 at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit the CMG For Your Health Web site or call 408-523-3295.