Understanding the Different Types of Thyroid Disease

Hormones are a byproduct of your endocrine system, a loose network of organs, glands, and other tissues that create these chemical messengers that work throughout your body. This includes your thyroid, a gland located above the collarbone in the front of your neck. Known for its butterfly shape, this gland creates the T3 and T4 hormones used by all cells in your body.

As with all hormones, when T3 and T4 levels are out of balance, it can lead to many problems, and thyroid disease can cause this. To better understand the different types of thyroid diseases, let’s explore the conditions, the reasons they occur, and the ways we can treat them.

Residents of Anaheim, Riverside, Santa Ana, Corona, and Indio, California, dealing with thyroid disease can find help from Dr. Shruti Patel and her team at Low Cost Health Clinics.

Understanding thyroid disease

Your thyroid hormones regulate the metabolic rate, which is how the body turns what you eat into energy. Thyroid disease affects how fast or slow your metabolism works, resulting from too much (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism) is produced. 

The results of having a form of thyroid disease lead to various symptoms. Fewer hormones than you need causes a slower heart rate, fatigue, weight gain, cold sensitivity, coarse hair, dry skin, depression, and heavier periods. 

Too many hormones lead to tachycardia (faster heart rate), sleeping problems, weight loss, heat sensitivity, sweaty skin, anxiety, and irregular periods.

Types and causes

In addition to the increase or decrease of hormones from hyperthyroidism ot hypothyroidism, several other problems affect this gland, such as:

Hashimoto’s disease

Also called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, this autoimmune condition inflames the thyroid gland, creating a goiter (a swelling in the neck). This reduces activity in this gland, leading to hypothyroid symptoms.

Tumors

Noncancerous growths like nodules and adenomas can secrete hormones that cause hyperthyroidism.

Cancer

Commonly caused by radiation exposure in the chest and neck, this condition can develop for unknown reasons and comes in different types: papillary, follicular, anaplastic, and medullary thyroid cancer. 

Graves disease

Another autoimmune illness that causes gland overactivity, leading to hyperthyroidism.

Iodine-related conditions

Iodine plays a vital role in hormone production, and too much or too little of it can cause different problems.

Some types of this disease also cause both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism symptoms, such as thyroiditis and postpartum thyroiditis.

Treatment options

Managing issues related to thyroid disease depends on the type you have. Methods to treat them include anti-inflammatory medications, antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine treatment, surgery, and hormone replacement therapy with regular checks to maintain levels. Changes in the amount of iodine in your diet can help manage the symptoms.

Thyroid disease can affect many aspects of your body, but it can be managed, and we can help. Make an appointment with Dr. Patel and the Low Cost Health Clinics team today to get thyroid problems under control.