The thyroid is a small gland in your neck that makes thyroid hormones. Sometimes the thyroid makes too much or too little of these hormones.
Hyperthyroidism : Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) occurs when your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism can accelerate your body’s metabolism, causing unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Hypothyroidism : It is also called underactive thyroid or low thyroid, is a disorder of the endocrine system in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. It can cause a number of symptoms, such as poor ability to tolerate cold, a feeling of tiredness, constipation, depression, and weight gain.
Myth: If You Have a Thyroid Problem,You Will Develop a Goiter (Enlarged Thyroid)
Fact: The majority of thyroid patients will not develop a goiter, or enlarged thyroid.
Myth: A lump or Nodule in the Thyroid Means You Have Thyroid Cancer
Fact: Actually, only 5% of thyroid nodules are cancerous. Various diagnostic procedures can evaluate whether your nodule or lump is one of the rare cancerous lumps.
Myth: People with Hypothyroidism Can Never Lose Weight
Fact: A person with hypothyroidism will often have difficulty losing weight because even though the appetite may be dulled, their sluggish thyroid will slow the rate at which they burn calories. However, after normalizing thyroid
levels along with the right dietary choices and exercise you are on same playing field.
Myth: Men Don’t Get Thyroid Disease
Fact: While thyroid disease is much less common in men, it is not unheard of. Two out of 10 cases of thyroid disease are found in men, although the symptoms may be a bit different than they are in women.
Myth: Everyone with Graves’ Disease or Hyperthyroidism will develop Bulging Eyes.
Fact: “Bulging eyes” are one symptom of thyroid eye disease, also known as Graves’ opthamalopathy. While this condition is more common in Graves’ disease not everyone who has Graves’ will develop the eye-related symptoms.
Myth: You can use iodine instead of thyroid medication because it’s safer and more natural.
Fact: Iodine can make thyroid.disorders worse and should not be taken as a supplement in patients without first discussing it with your endocrinologist.
Myth: It’s not safe to take thyroid hormone medication while pregnant.
Fact: It’s perfectly safe to take the synthetic thyroid hormone (Thyroxine) while pregnant. Thyroxine replacement is crucial for the development of your baby’s brain.
Myth: Extra iodine can fix most thyroid problems.
Fact: Extra iodine can slow the thyroid. Once iodine gets into your thyroid, your thyroid makes it into active hormones. When you get a big surge of iodine in your system, this blows a fuse that prevents you from making way too much thyroid hormone.
Myth: Older people are only at risk of developing thyroid cancer.
Fact: Thyroid cancer can be found at any age – about two-thirds of all cases are found in people ages 20 to 60. Medullary thyroid cancer can occur in younger people, especially if they carry a mutated (changed) RET gene.
