Know your thyroid: The warning signs you shouldn’t ignore

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck that controls how almost every part of your body works.

The thyroid gland is situated just below your Adam’s apple, in front of your windpipe (trachea), and is responsible for producing thyroid hormones T3 and T4, which influence:

• metabolism, how fast you burn calories
• controls your heart rate, body temperature and energy levels
• your mood, memory and concentration
• bowel habits
• muscles, skin, hair, cholesterol and menstrual cycle

“Because thyroid disorders often resemble other conditions, knowing what symptoms to look out for is key to early testing and treatment,” says Dr Tanwir Jaffer, general surgeon at Life Robinson Private Hospital.

“There are two types of thyroid disorders, and both have an influence on your health.”

Hypothyroidism – your thyroid is underactive, and your body slows down, which has the following effects:

• weight gain, high cholesterol and increased risk of heart disease
• fatigue, depression and poor memory
• constipation and fluid retention
• muscle aches, joint pain, dry skin and hair loss
• slow heart rate
• heavy periods and fertility issues in women. In pregnancy, it can affect the baby’s brain development

Hyperthyroidism – your thyroid is overactive, and your body speeds up, which has the following effects:

• weight loss, anxiety, tremors and insomnia
• fast or irregular heart rate and palpitations
• diarrhoea, heat intolerance and sweating
• muscle weakness and bone loss/ osteoporosis over the long term
• Graves’ disease can also cause eye bulging
• lighter periods and fertility issues in women

“There are some ‘red flag’ symptoms to look out for. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to consult with your doctor and get tested as soon as possible,” says Dr Jaffer.

“Thyroid conditions are common and treatable, but if missed, they can affect your heart, weight, mood, fertility and overall quality of life”.

Red flag symptoms include:

• rapidly growing lump in the neck
• compressive symptoms such as trouble swallowing, hoarse voice for longer than two weeks, difficulty breathing and a choking sensation
• swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• family history of thyroid cancer

“Early thyroid testing is essential because prompt diagnosis and treatment offer the best chance of successful management, leading to better outcomes.”

Hypothyroidism is treated with one daily tablet, and hyperthyroidism can be controlled with medication, radioactive iodine or surgery.

Thyroid testing generally consists of:

• blood tests to confirm if the gland is under- or overactive
• thyroid antibody test to confirm any autoimmune causes like Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease
• a neck ultrasound to look at nodules or a goitre
• a thyroid biopsy is done when a nodule raises concern

If there are indications of malignancy or compressive symptoms are present, removal of the thyroid gland may be necessary.

Most thyroid conditions are not cancer; however, because the thyroid affects your heart, brain, weight and energy, untreated problems can make you feel unwell without knowing why. A simple blood test is often all it takes to find the answer, and the majority of patients do extremely well once the condition is managed properly.

Life Robinson Private Hospital has a team of general surgeons dedicated to providing exceptional surgical expertise and quality of care to ensure your road to recovery starts with a successful diagnosis.

For more information, contact Life Robinson Private Hospital on 011 278 8700 or send an email to [email protected].