How To Fix Thyroid Gland Problems

What Is It?
- What is thyroid disease?
Thyroid Gland Pictures
- What is the thyroid gland? Where is it located and what does it look like?
Thyroid Disorder Symptoms/Signs
- What are the symptoms and signs of the different types of thyroid problems?
12 Hyperthyroidism Symptoms
- 12 Hyperthyroidism symptoms and signs (Graves' disease, thyroiditis, tumors)
15 Hypothyroidism Symptoms
- 15 Hypothyroidism symptoms and signs (Hashimoto's disease, cancer treatment side effects)
3 Thyroid Nodule Symptoms
- 3 Thyroid nodule or cancer symptoms and signs
Do I Have Thyroid Problem?
- What should you do if you think you have signs and symptoms of a thyroid disorder? Which type of doctors treat thyroid problems?
Center
- 30 Thyroid Disorder Symptoms and Signs Center
Comments
- Patient Comments: Thyroid Disease Symptoms and Signs - Your Experience
- Patient Comments: Thyroid Disease - Hyperthyroidism Symptoms and Signs
- Patient Comments: Thyroid Disease - Hypothyroidism Symptoms and Signs
- Patient Comments: Thyroid Disease Nodule and Cancer - Symptoms and Signs
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What is thyroid disease?

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Picture of Thyroid Gland

Hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid can be caused by a condition known as Graves' disease, inflammation of the thyroid gland (known as thyroiditis), or by tumors that secrete thyroid hormones.

Thyroid disease is common. Thyroid disease can result from conditions that cause over-or under-function of the thyroid gland.

When the gland produces too much thyroid hormone, the condition is known as hyperthyroidism.
When the gland does not function sufficiently, there is too little thyroid hormone produced (hypothyroidism).
In addition to problems with the level of hormones made by the gland, both benign and malignant tumors (cancers) can cause enlargement of the thyroid gland or nodules (lumps) within the gland.
Enlargement of the thyroid gland in the neck can cause symptoms that are directly related to the increase in the size of the organ (such as difficulty swallowing and discomfort in front of the neck).

Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid) Symptoms and Signs

Hypothyroidism is a deficiency of thyroid hormone, which normally is made by the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland has a butterfly shape, and is located in the front of the neck. Eighteen hypothyroidism symptoms and signs include:

Fatigue
Weakness
Intolerance to cold
Muscle aches and cramps
Constipation
Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
Poor appetite
Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
Dry, rough skin
Coarse hair or hair loss
Eye and face swelling
Deeper and/or hoarse voice
Enlarged tongue
Irregular or heavy menstrual periods
Depression
Memory loss
Slowed thinking and mental activity
Increased blood cholesterol levels

What is the thyroid gland? Where is it located and what does it look like?

Thyroid gland and location

The thyroid gland is located below Adam's apple wrapped around the trachea (windpipe) and it has a butterfly shape.

The thyroid gland is a metabolism hormone-producing gland in the lower part of the neck, below Adam's apple. It has two lobes attached to one another by a middle part called the isthmus and is located in front of the trachea. The thyroid produces essential hormones required by the body that help regulate metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. Thyroid hormones are also necessary for children to grow and develop.

Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) are the two most important hormones made by the thyroid. The gland also makes calcitonin, a hormone involved in calcium metabolism. A hormone made by the pituitary gland called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) acts to stimulate hormone production by the thyroid gland.

The thyroid gland is located below Adam's apple wrapped around the trachea (windpipe), and it has a butterfly shape. A thin area of tissue in the gland's middle, known as the isthmus, joins the two thyroid lobes on each side. The thyroid uses iodine to produce vital hormones. Thyroxine, also known as T4, is the primary hormone produced by the gland. After delivery via the bloodstream to the body's tissues, a small portion of the T4 released from the gland is converted to triiodothyronine (T3), which is the most active hormone.

SLIDESHOW

Your Thyroid: Common Thyroid Problems and Diseases Explained See Slideshow

What are the symptoms and signs of the different types of thyroid problems?

Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism Symptoms

Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism Symptoms: Swollen Neck

Just as the types of thyroid conditions can vary (for example, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, goiters, Grave's disease, and cancer), so can the symptoms and signs of each thyroid problem.

12 Hyperthyroidism symptoms and signs (Graves' disease, thyroiditis, tumors)

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Hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid can be caused by a condition known as Graves' disease, inflammation of the thyroid gland (known as thyroiditis), or by tumors that secrete thyroid hormones.

Symptoms and signs of hyperthyroidism

Nervousness, tremor, agitation
Irritability
Poor concentration
Reduced menstrual blood flow in women
Racing heartbeat or palpitations
Heat intolerance
Changes in bowel habits, such as more frequent bowel movements
Enlargement of the thyroid gland
Skin thinning
Brittle hair
Increase in appetite, feeling hungry
Sweating

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15 Hypothyroidism symptoms and signs (Hashimoto's disease, cancer treatment side effects)

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Hypothyroidism Symptoms

Hypothyroidism Symptoms: Weight Loss and Weight Gain

Inadequate functioning of the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism). An autoimmune condition known as Hashimoto's disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a common cause of hypothyroidism. Other causes can include the use of certain medications, side effects of treatments for thyroid cancer or hyperthyroidism, or radiation therapy to the head and neck.

Symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism

Mental fogginess or sluggishness
Depressed mood
Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding
Fluid retention, feeling bloated, puffiness in the face
Joint aches and pains
Weight gain
High cholesterol levels
Feeling cold, or increased sensitivity to cold temperatures
Hoarseness
Dry skin
Constipation
Fatigue
Memory problems
Thinning hair or hair loss
Slowed heart rate

QUESTION

Where is the thyroid gland located? See Answer

3 Thyroid nodule or cancer symptoms and signs

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Nodules or lumps in the thyroid gland are benign (non-cancerous) in over 90% of cases. Thyroid nodules can form because of some of the conditions listed previously and lead to hyper- or hypothyroidism, for example:

Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Iodine deficiency can also cause enlargement of the thyroid gland and thyroid nodules, now rare in the United States.
Cysts in the thyroid gland can also cause lumps or nodules. A small number of thyroid nodules are the result of thyroid cancer.
Most thyroid nodules do not cause symptoms, and most do not produce thyroid hormone. Sometimes, nodules actively produce hormones and can cause the symptoms of hyperthyroidism described previously.

When thyroid nodules cause symptoms unrelated to the production of hormones, typically it is due to their size or location in the neck. Examples of these symptoms and signs include:

Difficulty swallowing
Shortness of breath, due to compression of the airways
A visible swelling or lump in the neck

What should you do if you think you have signs and symptoms of a thyroid disorder? Which type of doctors treat thyroid problems?

Thyroid disease is a broad spectrum of disorders that may or may not lead to enlargement of the thyroid gland itself or the presence of lumps or nodules.
Signs and symptoms of thyroid disease are apparent when the gland is over- or under-producing thyroid hormone.
It is important to remember that none of these symptoms described in this article is specific for thyroid disease.
A number of different conditions and normal states may cause all of them.
Your doctor or endocrinologist (a doctor that specializes in thyroid problems and other endocrine problems) can order laboratory tests to evaluate the function of your thyroid gland if you have troubling symptoms.

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Medically Reviewed on 8/20/2020

References

Thyroid nodules. American Thyroid Association. <https://www.thyroid.org/thyroid-nodules>

Bucurescu, G, MD, et al. Neurological Manifestations of Thyroid Disease. Medscape. Updated: Sep 18, 2017.
<https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1172273-overview>