The month of January is celebrated as Thyroid Awareness Month. The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped gland inside our neck which is located around the windpipe i.e. trachea. It is an important gland that secretes hormones that facilitate many functions of the body but majorly promote the metabolism, growth and development of the body. Be it the heart, digestive system, nervous system, reproductive system or bones, the thyroid gland affects almost all the organs of the body.
“The hormones secreted by the thyroid gland help in converting the food consumed by a person into energy which is used by the cells of the body to function properly. When the thyroid gland starts secreting more or less hormones than required If so, it could have a negative effect.” effect on the human body. The condition when the thyroid gland produces too many hormones is called hyperthyroidism and when it produces less than the required hormones, it is called hypothyroidism. These two conditions have different effects on the human body and people experience opposite symptoms with these conditions,” says Dr Richa Chaturvedi, Senior Consultant, Endocrinology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.
Thyroid Disorders: Major Symptoms
Dr Richa Chaturvedi lists the symptoms:
Some of the common symptoms of hyperthyroidism are listed below:
• Anxiety and irritation
• lack of sleep
• Weight loss
• Enlargement of thyroid gland or development of goiter
• Weak and trembling muscles
• sensitivity to heat
• Eye and vision problems
• excessive sweating
Thickening of nails
Some of the common symptoms of hypothyroidism are listed below:
• body fatigue
• weight gain
• Tendency to forget things easily
• Dryness and dryness of hair
• Developing a hoarse voice
• sensitivity to cold temperatures
• Constipation
• brittle nails
Thyroid: Does it affect men and women differently?
Dr. Chaturvedi shares that men and women generally experience similar symptoms during hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism but there are some symptoms that are unique to one gender. During thyroid disorders, women experience irregular menstrual cycles and often face fertility issues. They may also look for abnormalities in ovulation and complications during pregnancy. On the other hand, hair loss can be seen unexpectedly in men. They also experience loss of sexual abilities and sperm count. They may also experience a decrease in muscle strength and a drop in energy levels in the body, says Dr. Chaturvedi, adding that these symptoms are a sign of thyroid problems and that “if the thyroid remains untreated, it can lead to heart problems.” disease, nerve damage and fatal thyroid conditions can occur.”
(image via freepik)