Yahoo News Common red flag symptoms that could be warning signs of a thyroid condition
Experts have warned that common symptoms including tiredness or feeling chilly could be warning signs of thyroid disease.
Problems can occur if your thyroid gland does not produce the correct level of hormones that control vital functions in the body. And having too much or too little of the hormones can cause thyroid disease and can lead to muscle aches, tiredness, depression and fluctuations in weight.
Hyperthyroidism is where the gland produces too much of the hormone whilst hypothyroidism is when there is a lack of it reports Bristol Live. And an underactive thyroid is more common, with 2% of the UK population said to suffer from this and women five to 10 times more likely than men to be affected.
Ahead of World Thyroid Day on May 25, medical negligence experts at Patient Claim Line have released advice on what symptoms to look out for. A spokesman said: “Tiredness and muscle aches are common signs that you may have thyroid disease as well as feeling sensitive when in cold and hot temperatures.
"An underactive thyroid is also known to cause depression in many sufferers. According to the NHS, elderly people suffering from an underactive thyroid may have an increased risk of memory loss whilst children may experience slower development leading up to puberty."
They added: “An overactive thyroid can also manifest itself in swelling in the neck from an enlarged thyroid gland, as experienced by our clients. This swelling is usually painless but it can create a cough; difficulty speaking and a wheezing noise when breathing.
"Thyroid disease can affect anyone but, according to the NHS, it is more common in women than men and usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 40 years old.
“Genetics also play a huge role, with research from (health information site) Verywell suggesting that approximately 64% of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and 65% of thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations are genetically determined. This means that if you have a close family member with the disorder, you’re at an increased risk of developing a thyroid condition.
“If your family also has a history of medical conditions such as anaemia or lupus, you may be at a higher risk of thyroid disease. If you suffer from an autoimmune disorder, such as type one diabetes, you are likely to develop an additional autoimmune disorder like thyroid disease."
They said stopping smoking can reduce risk of thyroid disease as cigarette smoke contains toxins that alter the functioning of the thyroid and for those thinking they may have thyroid disease they recommend a visit to the GP where a thyroid function test can be done.
This involves having a sample of blood taken to measure hormone levels and if it appears hormones are not being properly produced by the thyroid then the doctor could recommend hormone replacement therapy.
“To treat thyroid disease, initially a medical professional should take regular blood tests to measure your hormone levels. To treat hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) a medical professional may prescribe levothyroxine, which essentially replaces the hormone the thyroid doesn’t make enough of.
“To treat an overactive thyroid, thionamide medicines, such as carbimazole and propylthiouracil, should be taken for around 12 to 18 months. In most cases, these medicines can create side effects like sickness, aches and a high temperature."
If there is no improvement following medication, radioactive iodine treatment - a form of radiotherapy - may be recommended to destroy cells in the thyroid gland and if that is unsuccessful then surgery could be the next step.
Sometimes incorrectly performed ear, nose or mouth surgeries could also lead to complications linked to thyroid disease if the central nervous system has been damaged, causing the thyroid to fluctuate, but this is rare.
The experts say: “If you have experienced negligent ear, nose or throat surgery which has resulted in thyroid disease, then you could be entitled to compensation", with Patient Claim Line offering to guide anyone affected through this process.
