January is National Thyroid Awareness Month, a great time to learn more about your thyroid and schedule an appointment to get your thyroid checked. The thyroid is a small but powerful gland that is butterfly-shaped and located in the front of the neck.
Your thyroid gland produces hormones that play a role in many functions throughout the body like regulating blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, metabolism, and the reaction of the body to other hormones. Hormones are created by the thyroid and tell the body’s cells how much energy to use. When your thyroid works properly, it will regulate the correct amount of hormones to keep your metabolism working for your body.
When your thyroid doesn’t work properly, it can impact your entire body. When your thyroid makes either too much or too little of these important hormones, it’s called thyroid disease. There are several different types of thyroid diseases, including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, thyroid tumors, and thyroid cancer. Thyroid disease in women can affect their hormone balance and cause problems in puberty, menstruation, fertility, pregnancy, and the postpartum period.
Thyroid diseases are life-long and can be managed with proper medical attention. Most thyroid cancers respond to treatment, but a small percentage can be very aggressive. Women are 5-8 times more likely than men to experience thyroid problems. It is important for pregnant women to be diagnosed and treated adequately. If not, risks include miscarriage, preterm delivery, and severe developmental problems in their children.
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If you are experiencing any symptoms please make an appointment to see your physician.
