For many, hot flashes, insomnia, irregular menstruation and mood swings are symptoms of menopause.  But for others, they may be a sign that the thyroid is not functioning properly.

“When your thyroid isn’t functioning properly it can affect every aspect of your health,” says Brian Michael, M.D., an endocrinologist with WellSpan Health. 

What is it?
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located just below your voice box (larynx).  It produces hormones that are important in regulating body energy, the body’s use of other hormones and vitamins, and the growth and maturation of body tissues.

If the thyroid is emitting below-average levels of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), the pituitary gland secretes more thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH) to stimulate the thyroid gland.

Common disorders
Thyroid problems are among the most common medical conditions but, because their symptoms often appear gradually, they are commonly misdiagnosed. Consider the three most common thyroid problems:

• Hypothyroidism occurs in women with insufficient thyroid hormone. Symptoms include weight gain, fatigue, depression, dry skin, hair loss, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation and heavy menstrual flow.
• Hyperthyroidism occurs in women with too much thyroid hormone. Symptoms include weight loss, hot flashes, nervousness, anxiety, brittle hair, difficulty sleeping, frequent bowel movements and lighter menstrual flow.
• Thyroid nodules are solid or fluid-filled lumps that are located at the edge of the thyroid gland.  They can be felt as a lump in the throat. The great majority of thyroid nodules are non-cancerous and don’t cause symptoms.

Risk factors
“The largest risk factor for autoimmune thyroid disease is being female,” says Michael.  “Women have a three-fold higher incidence of hyper and hypothyroidism just based on gender.”

Other risk factors include:

• Gender 
• Age 
• Family history 
• Diet  

Diagnosing and treating thyroid problems
Blood tests are used to evaluate thyroid function by looking at the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Low TSH indicates hyperthyroidism and high TSH indicates hypothyroidism.

“There is no single superior therapy for any of the various thyroid problems, but individualized therapy for the affected individual can generally restore overall good health,” said Michael. 

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can be treated by taking medication. Radioactive iodine can also be used to destroy the overactive thyroid tissue.

With nodules, surgery is sometimes the best treatment. A procedure called near-total thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of the nodules along with the majority of thyroid tissue.

“If there is a history of thyroid enlargement (goiter) or hyper or hypothyroidism in parents and grandparents, there is likely increased risk of having a problem,” said Michael.

The signs and symptoms of thyroid disorders typically develop slowly over a period of weeks to months. Undiagnosed and untreated thyroid disorder can lead to elevated cholesterol levels, heart disease, high blood pressure, depression and other illnesses.

How WellSpan Can Help
WellSpan Endocrinology has a skillful team of medical professionals who can help to assess thyroid problems, as well as other glandular conditions, and make recommendations for treatment.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (717) 851-6231 in York or (717) 339-2790 in Gettysburg.