Don't ignore thyroid issues

© Csaba Deli – 123RF.com

An under-functioning thyroid (hypothyroidism) can produce such symptoms as excessive tiredness, difficulty in weight loss, despite a healthy diet and exercise, depression or hair loss. It can affect anyone at any time and is so insidious that its effects are often ignored.

The challenge is that this system does not get the same attention as the circulatory system or the digestive system, which display obvious symptoms when something goes wrong.

There are three different types of thyroid dysfunctions, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and malignant thyroids. Below is some insight into the two common main types:

Hypothyroidism - the slug

Hypothyroidism is where the thyroid gland is under-functioning (sluggish). It is caused by a variety of things, including autoimmune disease, treatment for hyperthyroidism, thyroid surgery, radiation therapy and some medications. Less frequently, it could be caused by congenital disease, a pituitary disorder, pregnancy or an iodine deficiency.

The symptoms are a little less obvious and are easily confused with the results of stress, or other lifestyle diseases. They include fatigue, weakness, weight gain, elevated cholesterol, hair loss or coarse, dry hair, muscle cramps, and intolerance of cold conditions.

If hypothyroidism is not treated, it becomes worse - and people maybe become forgetful, their thought processes may be slow or they may be depressed. It could also lead to heart problems, mental health issues and nerve damage (called peripheral neuropathy), as well as infertility among women, and birth defects among children.

Untreated, it could lead to a condition known as myxoedema, which is rare, but life-threatening, as it includes low blood pressure, decreased breathing, decreased body temperature, unresponsiveness and even coma.

Hyperthyroidism - over-zealous

Hyperthyroidism is where the thyroid gland is over-functioning (over active). This condition sees the body producing excess hormones, which then affect how the rest of the body functions. There are different types of hyperthyroidism, falling under diagnoses Graves' disease, hyper-functioning thyroid nodules and thyroiditis.

Hyperthyroidism tends to run in families, and it tends to be more common among women than among men.

Symptoms of an over-functioning thyroid, or hyperthyroidism are a little easier to detect and include fatigue, hand tremors, mood swings, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, heart palpitations, dry skin and insomnia and even sudden weight loss.

Left untreated, it could lead to heart problems, brittle bones, poor eye sight, red swollen skin and even thyrotoxic crisis, which includes a rapid pulse, fever, and even delirium. It is clear that this needs to be treated immediately, with ongoing care required once diagnosis has been made.

Get tested

It is easy to see how hypothyroidism can be confused with many other illnesses that affect men and women and it is imperative that you work with your doctor to identify links between symptoms. All it takes is a simple blood test that will provide diagnosis. Treatment for hypothyroidism is non-invasive and affordable - and essential to quality of life.

It is particularly important for women of childbearing age to understand the implications of hypothyroidism, as it can severely affect the development of unborn children. If undiagnosed during pregnancy and immediately after birth, children affected by hypothyroidism do not develop (mentally or physically) as they should, occasionally leading to catastrophic outcomes.

The test itself is a heel-prick for infants that should ideally be done at birth, on every child. It is true that endocrinologists, the specialist doctors that treat thyroid disease, are in short supply in South Africa. However, specialist doctors at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital are pioneering a scanning protocol and training programme that, if rolled out to primary care clinics across the country, with the assistance of corporates such as Merck, will make testing and diagnosis of thyroid disease much quicker and easier.