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Your thyroid, a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, produces two hormones that have a profound impact on your overall health. Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) regulate many bodily processes, influencing every cell in your body in some capacity. When the delicate balance of hormones falters, excessively high or low levels of T3 and T4 can send your body into extremes—firing on all cylinders to the point of extreme exhaustion or not having the energy at all to perform basic functions. These conditions, known as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, respectively, manifest themselves in the following ways and will require assistance from your primary care doctor to manage them.

Signs of Hyperthyroidism

Insomnia

Hyperthyroidism is essentially too much of a good thing—in this case, the thyroid hormones, which regulate everything from brain development to muscle control. If you’re having trouble falling asleep at night, your primary care doctor will likely check your thyroid levels. When you have too much of the thyroid hormones coursing through your body, you will feel overly alert when it’s time for bed, occupied by racing thoughts. You can also feel heart palpitations throughout the day and general muscle weakness from thyroid overexertion.

Anxiety

Similarly, overactive thyroid hormones can make you feel jittery throughout the day. This anxious state is triggered by the hormones telling your mind to be alert and functioning at full speed, resulting in an inability to relax. It can also speed up your metabolism, which is why unexplained weight loss and increased appetite are also associated with hyperthyroidism.

Other Overactive Issues

primary care doctorHyperthyroidism can create a variety of other issues as a result of overexerting different biological processes. When thyroid hormones go into overdrive, your cells burn loads of energy they usually wouldn’t. As a result, you can often feel overheated or even sweat profusely when you have this condition.

In the digestive tract, overactive thyroids can lead to diarrhea and frequent bowel movements. An increase in heart rate caused by this condition can also lead to high blood pressure. Women may have additional issues getting pregnant and have periods that are shorter, lighter, and farther apart. Since these symptoms range in specialty, an excellent place to start is having your primary care doctor form a diagnosis and guide you to other specialists from there.

Signs of Hypothyroidism

Fatigue

When you can’t seem to get out of bed in the morning, that can be a telltale sign of a thyroid hormone deficiency. If you have too little of these hormones, your muscles don’t receive a signal to get moving when you wake up, making you exhausted even after a healthy amount of rest. Beyond sleep issues, hypothyroidism can cause muscle aches, tenderness, and stiffness, as well as unexplained weight gain.

Depression

primary care doctorUnexplained periods of depression signal to your primary care doctor that you might have a thyroid issue. Researchers suggest that having hypothyroidism can limit serotonin levels in the brain, which regulate a positive mood. Like with other systems in your body with this condition, low thyroid hormone levels lower your mental health by reducing what makes it functional.

Other Low Function Issues

Similar to other symptoms previously stated on this list, a depreciated level of your thyroid hormones can make your body function lethargically. With body temperature regulation, you will likely have chills or feel cold when this issue arises because your cells are burning less energy to keep you warm.

Your digestive processes can also slow down, causing constipation. Hypothyroidism is also linked to high cholesterol that doesn’t respond to diet, exercise, or medication. High blood pressure is another factor, believed to be caused by a sluggish heartbeat weakening its blood pumping function. For women, this condition can additionally cause long, heavy periods and infertility issues if left untreated.

The Process for Getting Your Thyroid Checked

If you’re concerned that you have thyroid issues in either capacity, you should check in with your primary care doctor. They can do an immediate physical exam to diagnose any abnormalities, but to get a formal diagnosis of what’s wrong, you’ll need to do blood work. A Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test will measure the signals your pituitary sends to your thyroid to regulate it.

A high TSH level means you have hypothyroidism because your brain is trying to give your thyroid a jumpstart to do its job. Meanwhile, low TSH levels indicate hyperthyroidism, as it’s your brain telling your thyroid to calm down and limit its hormone production. A primary care doctor will also order additional bloodwork to evaluate your T3 and T4 levels, specifically, for a precise diagnosis.

 

While thyroid issues span a variety of symptoms, you must discuss your concerns with your primary care doctor on an ongoing basis to get the customized treatment you need. In Albany, NY, turn to the professionals at Urgent & Primary Care to get your thyroid back on track. The father-daughter team of doctors can accurately diagnose the issue and work with you to ensure you manage your symptoms effectively with appropriate medication. For more information about their full range of medical services, visit their website or give them a call today at (518) 470-3458.

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