Tiredness, aches and depression may be red flags of serious condition

The thyroid gland creates hormones that control vital functions in the body, but having an excess or lack of the hormone can cause thyroid disease, leading to muscle aches, feeling tired 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, health experts say.

A lack of the thyroid hormone is more common than you think; 2% of the UK population suffer with this, and women are five to ten times more likely to be affected than men.

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.

“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 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 1 diabetes) you are likely to develop an additional autoimmune disorder like thyroid disease.

“If you’re a smoker, quitting can reduce your risk of thyroid disease as cigarette smoke contains toxins that alter the functioning of your thyroid.

“We would recommend visiting your GP if you think you may have thyroid disease, where you will likely undertake a thyroid function test. This is where a sample of blood is taken to measure your hormone levels. If it is determined that you have a lack of hormones, not being produced properly by your thyroid, your doctor could recommend hormone replacement therapy.

“Performed correctly, ENT (ear, nose, and mouth) surgeries are not a direct cause of thyroid disease. However, in our experience, negligent ear, nose, and mouth surgeries can lead to complications, linked to thyroid disease. Negligent ENT surgery can damage the central nervous system, causing the thyroid to undergo a fluctuation of hormone levels, which creates a risk of thyroid disease.”

“It’s important to note that the vast majority of ENT surgeries are successful, and patients receive a much better quality of life post-surgery. In our experience, it is only in rare cases that complications have arisen, and this is due to ENT surgeries being performed negligently.

“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 a treatment of medication, radioactive iodine treatment (a form of radiotherapy) is often recommended to destroy cells in the thyroid gland. If this is unsuccessful, surgery should be recommended.

“If you have experienced negligent ear, nose or throat surgery which has resulted in thyroid disease, then you could be entitled to compensation.”

“It may seem daunting, but making a claim can provide the financial support necessary to help your life move forwards. We will guide you through the process, step-by-step, to make the experience as stress-free as possible, and help you to reach the resolution that you deserve.”