Thyroid Awareness Month

What is the thyroid?

It’s a small, butterfly-shaped gland part of the body located at the base of the neck.

Why is it relevant for our body?

The thyroid produces hormones that help control many vital functions such as body temperature and heart rate, and help regulate the production of protein.

The thyroid can be either overactive or underactive. Below are some of the common symptoms that are behind a thyroid condition.

 Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid):

• Experiencing anxiety, irritability, and nervousness
• Having trouble sleeping
• Losing weight
• Having an enlarged thyroid gland or a goiter
• Having muscle weakness and tremors
• Experiencing irregular menstrual periods or having your menstrual cycle stop
• Feeling sensitive to heat
• Having vision problems or eye irritation

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid):

• Tiredness
• Feeling sensitive to cold
• Gaining weight
• Slow movements and thoughts
• Dry and scaly skin
• Numbness and a tingling sensation in the hand and fingers
• Depression

Thyroid conditions are diagnosed through a physical exam, blood test and other thyroid tests.