Thyroid Disease Specialist

What does the thyroid do?

Thyroid disease is a condition that affects the thyroid gland. This gland is at the base of your neck and is responsible for making the hormones your body needs to function properly, control your heartbeat, and help you burn calories efficiently.

When there’s dysfunction in your thyroid, you can develop a variety of health complications, some severe enough to interfere with your daily life.

What are common thyroid diseases?

Some of the most common conditions that affect the health of your thyroid include:

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a condition where your thyroid produces too many hormones. Conversely, in hypothyroidism your thyroid gland produces too little hormones.

Hashimoto’s disease

Hashimoto’s disease is a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland and destroys its ability to produce hormones, leading to hypothyroidism.

Graves’ disease

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes your immune system to attack the thyroid gland, causing it to overproduce hormones that regulate metabolism and triggering hyperthyroidism.

Thyroid nodules

Thyroid nodules are growths that form on the thyroid gland. These nodules are often benign, but they can become cancerous or grow large enough to interfere with breathing and swallowing.

Goiter

A goiter describes an enlargement of the thyroid gland, most often due to a dietary deficiency of iodine. Goiters can grow large enough to cause tightness in the neck and difficulties swallowing or breathing.

What are the symptoms of thyroid disease?

Thyroid disease can cause a wide variety of symptoms that vary from one person to the next and depend on the type of condition you have.

Some of the most common signs of thyroid disease include:

• Anxiety
• Memory issues
• Dry skin and hair
• Irregular heartbeat
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Unexplained weight changes

You may also experience sleep disruptions, chronic fatigue, and weakness in your muscles. When you can’t resolve these symptoms with rest and home care, schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Cogent Family Healthcare as soon as possible.

What treatments are available for thyroid disease?

The medical team at Cogent Family Healthcare offers comprehensive care for thyroid disease. They can evaluate the function of your thyroid and your hormone levels through a blood test and recommend treatments based on the type of condition you have and the severity of your symptoms.

In many cases, treating a thyroid disease requires medications that increase or reduce your natural hormone production. Your Cogent Family Healthcare provider also discusses changes you should make to your diet and lifestyle to alleviate your symptoms and improve the function of your thyroid.

If you have symptoms of a thyroid condition, call Cogent Family Healthcare today or request a diagnostic evaluation online now.