Thyroid Disorder Q & A
What is the thyroid?
In your neck, there is a small, butterfly-shaped gland called a thyroid. This gland controls everything from how well your body can convert food to energy, to how fast your heart is beating. That’s because the thyroid is the gland responsible for producing the hormones that direct your body’s metabolism.
What is a thyroid disorder?
You may receive a thyroid disorder diagnosis when your thyroid isn’t working the way it should, has a growth on it, swells, or develops cancer. The most common types of thyroid disorders are:
Goiters
A goiter is an abnormally enlarged thyroid. You might be able to see or feel it, and it can make it challenging to swallow or breathe.
Hyperthyroidism
When your thyroid produces too many hormones, it speeds up the functions in your body that these hormones control. As a result, hyperthyroidism can cause:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Irritability
- Weight loss
- Sleep problems
- Sensitivity to heat
- Diarrhea
Graves’ disease is the leading cause of hyperthyroidism.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, is a condition marked by your thyroid’s underperformance. When your thyroid doesn’t make enough of its hormones, it causes symptoms like:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Sensitivity to cold
- Dry hair, skin, and nails
- Slow heartbeat
- Constipation
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s disease.
Other thyroid disorders
Other thyroid disorders include:
- Thyroiditis (swollen thyroid)
- Thyroid nodules
- Thyroid cancer
Whichever type of thyroid disorder is affecting you, the expert team at North Georgia Endocrinology offers diagnosis and treatment.
How is a thyroid disorder diagnosed and treated?
It depends on the type of thyroid disorder affecting you. North Georgia Endocrinology is one of the only practices in the area with an Endocrine Certification in Neck Ultrasound (ECNU), so they can use a noninvasive, comfortable ultrasound to look at your thyroid and diagnose problems.
The North Georgia Endocrinology team has extensive experience in performing ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies, minimally invasive procedures that allow them to take a small sample from a thyroid nodule to determine if it’s cancerous.
Once the team performs the right tests to diagnose your thyroid disorder, they personalize treatment to you, helping minimize your symptoms and restore hormonal balance in your body.
If you think you may be living with a thyroid disorder, don’t hesitate to contact North Georgia Endocrinology. Call the office or schedule your thyroid care appointment online today.