Thyroid Disease

Thyroid disease means you suffer from an overabundance or inadequate amount of thyroid hormones. This will affect your weight, mood, and body temperature. At the office of James R. Tryon, M.D. PC, Edmee Rodriguez, M.D. provides management of thyroid disease so you can live without its uncomfortable symptoms. Call the Albuquerque, New Mexico, office today to book an appointment to receive help for thyroid disease.

What is thyroid disease?

Several diseases and disorders affect your thyroid, the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. The thyroid produces hormones that regulate many bodily functions, including metabolism, temperature, and heart rate. The gland is part of your endocrine system, the glands, and organs that regulate the body’s other systems.

The two primary hormones released by your thyroid are thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3).

Your body can under- or overproduce these hormones, resulting in hypothyroidism (too little) or hyperthyroidism (too much). These conditions cause unpleasant symptoms that disrupt your life, but both are treatable.

Thyroid disease can also mean you’ve developed thyroid cancer.

What is the thyroid disease called Hashimoto’s disease?

Hashimoto’s disease is a common thyroid disease. It’s an autoimmune condition in which your body attacks your thyroid, preventing it from producing enough thyroid hormone.

Symptoms of Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism (underproduction of thyroid hormone) include:

• Weight gain
• Hair loss
• Dry skin
• Brittle nails
• Chronic fatigue
• Cold sensitivity

Dr. Rodriguez treats Hashimoto’s disease with lifestyle changes and replacement thyroid medication. When managed, the symptoms of Hashimoto’s lessen significantly and can disappear almost entirely.

Is hyperthyroidism a thyroid disease?

If you overproduce thyroid hormones, it can also adversely affect your body. This overproduction is called hyperthyroidism. This overproduction is often a result of a condition called Graves’ disease. Your body produces antibodies that overstimulate the thyroid, so it enlarges.

Symptoms of Graves’ disease include:

• Weight loss
• Chest pain and heart palpitations
• Difficulty focusing
• Insomnia
• Tremors and anxiety
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Bulging eyes

Treatment for hyperthyroid can include radioactive iodine treatments and anti-thyroid medication.

Should I be concerned about thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer is diagnosed when cancerous cells grow inside your thyroid gland. The condition is relatively rare and treatable when caught early.

Thyroid cancer doesn’t produce noticeable symptoms, but your thyroid can appear enlarged when a doctor palpates it. Dr. Rodriguez recommends radioactive iodine treatments and surgery to treat thyroid cancer.

Thyroid disease affects your quality of life when it isn’t well managed. Call the office of James R. Tryon, M.D. PC, to schedule an appointment to have your thyroid evaluated and any problems managed.