Thyroid disorders are not uncommon, affecting about 12 % of Americans at some point in their lives. It is essential to understand when you have a thyroid disorder as most of the symptoms you experience are common to other health complications and can be misdiagnosed. Fortunately, the Humble, TX, critical care medicine providers at North Houston Diabetes Institute can help you understand the particular symptoms indicating you have a thyroid disorder through an expert diagnosis. Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and goiter are common thyroid disorders, and the following tips can help you identify them.
Make an Appointment With Your Doctor
This is the most crucial step to take when you suspect you are enduring a thyroid disorder. Symptoms such as unexpected weight loss or gain and chronic fatigue are some of the common signs you might have a thyroid disorder. Contacting your doctor will help them evaluate the symptoms to rule out other medical conditions and confirm or also rule out the possibility of a thyroid disorder. Your doctor can put together several techniques to help diagnose your symptoms.
Consult About Blood Tests
You can request a blood test to confirm your diagnosis of thyroid disorder. The tests are easy to perform, and your provider can quickly tell if your symptoms are due to a thyroid disorder or not. Your provider may recommend a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test, which is mainly the first step in diagnosing a thyroid issue. It is considered the most accurate test in diagnosing hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Other blood tests include thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin.
Go for Imaging Tests
Some imaging tests can also be used to pinpoint and diagnose your symptoms related to thyroid disease. An ultrasound that utilizes sound waves can help your provider look at the thyroid gland and identify issues such as calcification, cysts, and nodules. Computed tomography (CT) scan can help your provider identify the tissues of a large goiter. A thyroid scan with radioactive uptake (RAIU) may also be utilized to evaluate the structure and function of the thyroid gland.
Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)Biopsy
It is good to understand if any growth on your body is cancerous. Because imaging tests alone may not reveal all the information required, an FNA biopsy can be recommended to assess if the thyroid nodule is cancerous or noncancerous. The procedure involves a small thin needle inserted into your thyroid nodule to get samples to be viewed under a microscope. Learn about the Individual Thyroid Disorders
It is good to educate yourself about individual thyroid disorder symptoms and to understand how they manifest themselves. Generally, if you have abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, you are suffering from goiter. Other symptoms of goiter include coughing, breathing difficulties, swelling, and tightness in the neck, and wheezing.
If your thyroid has become overactive, this is an indication of hyperthyroidism due to the overproduction of thyroid hormones. Common symptoms include sleeping troubles, weight loss, anxiety, fatigue, increased sweating, and irritability.
When your thyroid is underactive, you suffer from hypothyroidism, where there is less production of the thyroid hormone. You might experience weight gain, fatigue, joint, and muscle pain, depression, slow heart rate, decreased sweating, and enlargement of the thyroid gland.
Learn more about thyroid disorders by reaching out to North Houston Diabetes Institute. Your practitioner will diagnose your signs and provide relevant information to help you understand the particular issue you are suffering from.
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