Thyroid Health

walrus — Mon, 24 May 2021 05:43:01 +0000

As part of Thyroid Awareness Month in May, we thought we’d take a closer look at thyroid health, including the function of the thyroid and how to keep it healthy.

What is the thyroid?

The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped endocrine gland, located in the lower front of the neck.

The job of the thyroid is to make thyroid hormones, which are secreted into the blood and carried around to every tissue in the body. These hormones help the body to use energy, stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscles and other organs all working as they should. Thyroid hormones are responsible for controlling your metabolism. They also help regulate blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate and growth.

Thyroid Problems

When the thyroid produces too many or too few hormones, it can result in problems with your thyroid. It is estimated that almost one in six Australians has a thyroid problem, with statistics indicating around 1 million Australian’s have some type of undiagnosed thyroid disorder.

Women are more affected than men and the chances of developing a thyroid problem increase with age.

There are three main types of thyroid problems that people experience:

Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Thyroid Cancer

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland becomes overactive and produces more hormones than needed. This causes your metabolism to speed up and makes your body work harder and faster.

The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease – an autoimmune disorder caused by your own immune system antibodies attacking your body.

There are a number of symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism, including:

Nervousness, anxiety, irritability and high emotions;
High libido;
Tremors and muscle weakness;
Heat intolerance and excessive perspiration;
Fatigue and interrupted sleeping patterns;
Unexplained weight loss or weight gain;
Increased heart rate and palpitations;
Rapid pulse;
Infrequent menstrual cycles and bleeding patterns;
Difficulties getting pregnant;
Diarrhoea;
Shortness of breath, especially when exercising;
Loss or thinning of hair;
Enlarged thyroid gland (goitre); and
Double vision and swollen eyes.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland becomes underactive and fails to produce the amount of hormones needed. This slows down your body’s metabolism gradually over time. It is the most common thyroid disorder in Australia and mainly affects women over 40 years of age.

Hypothyroidism is usually due to Hashimoto’s Disease – an autoimmune thyroid disease. A diet low in iodine is another major cause of hypothyroidism.

The common signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

Depression, feeling withdrawn, and a lack of motivation;
Inability to concentrate;
Body fatigue, muscle aches, and low energy levels;
Needing more sleep;
Intolerance to cold temperatures;
Unexplained weight gain;
Dry skin and/or pale skin and facial bloating;
Hair loss or thinning out;
Constipation;
Heavy, irregular, or prolonged menstrual periods;
Goitre (an enlarged thyroid gland that is visible); and
Slower heart rate.

Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer occurs when cells within the thyroid gland divide and grow in a disorderly manner and become malignant. It is the ninth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and affects more than twice as many women than men.

The five-year survival rate for thyroid cancer is 97%. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment remain key to successfully fighting the disease.

Thyroid cancer can often develop with no obvious signs; however, if you have one or more of the following symptoms, talk to your GP:

A lump in the neck or throat, particularly if it gets bigger over time.
Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Swollen lymph glands in the neck.
A hoarse voice.

How are thyroid problems diagnosed?

Problems with thyroid hormone levels can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. If your blood test confirms you have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, your GP will refer you to an endocrinologist who specialises in hormone conditions. Your endocrinologist may send you for further tests and scans.

While these conditions aren’t curable, the good news is that they can generally be easily managed with medication and/or treatment.

For those with hypothyroidism, eating foods containing iodine can help to improve thyroid function. Iodine is a chemical element that is essential for producing thyroid hormones; however, as our bodies don’t produce iodine, it needs to be sourced through our diet.

The easiest way to get iodine from your diet is through salt. Other sources of iodine include:

Seafood;
Milk or dairy products, such as yoghurt and cheese;
Eggs; and
Any foods containing iodised salt.

Concerned about your thyroid?

If you are concerned about your thyroid health, book in with one of our GPs to discuss your concerns. Appointments can be made online or by contacting us directly on (08) 9208 6400.

Illawarra Medical Centre also has an onsite specialist endocrinologist – Dr Imran Badshah – available for appointments with a referral from your GP. Dr Badshah consults on all aspects of endocrinology, including thyroid and parathyroid disorders.

For more information on this topic, visit:

Better Health – https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/thyroid-gland
Health Direct – https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/thyroid-problems
Healthy WA https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/S_T/The-thyroid-gland
House of Wellness – https://www.houseofwellness.com.au/health/conditions/foods-help-improve-thyroid-function
The Australian Thyroid Foundation – https://thyroidfoundation.org.au/

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