Thyroid Gland Disorders
Private MD Lab Services offers the following profile used by physicians to diagnose thyroid gland disorders:
| Thyroxine (T4) Free, Direct
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Significant deviations from the normal range may require further evaluation for thyroid problems, more tests and diagnosis by your physician, in addition to Private MD’s recommendations.
The types of problems encountered
Within the thyroid gland, problems are generally divided into those that produce hyperthyroidism (over-activity) and hypothyroidism (under-activity).
Hyperthyroidism is a problem of the thyroid gland in which the gland makes too much thyroid hormone. Too much hormone speeds up the body's metabolism. The most common form of hyperthyroidism is called Graves' disease. It occurs more in women than men, especially women in the childbearing years between 20 and 40.
This causes a multitude of mental and physical changes including:
- anxiety
- insomnia
- tremors
- heat intolerance
- shortness of breath
- double vision
- exophthalmoses (a bulging of one or both of your eyes)
- weight loss
- rapid heart rate
- goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
- increased appetite
- diarrhea
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism happens most often in women over age 40. Too little hormone slows down the body's metabolism. This slowdown causes a multitude of mental and physical changes including:
- fatigue
- depression
- weakness
- constipation
- weight gain
- cold intolerance
- coarse, dry hair
- thick, dry skin
- swollen eyelids
- deep, hoarse voice
- thick tongue
- slowed heart rate
- decreased sexual interest
- loss of hearing
- numb and tingling hands
Causes of hypothyroidism include:
- Prior thyroid surgery for complete or partial removal of the thyroid gland
- Viruses can infect the thyroid gland and cause it to produce too little hormone.
- Hashimoto's disease (thyroiditis): This condition is an inflammation of the thyroid gland.
- Iodine deficiency (rare): A lack of iodine in the diet is rare in the US because some foods, especially salt, contain added iodine.
- Prior radiation treatment for hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland).
- Prior x-ray treatment for cancers of the head and neck.
- Rarely, problems with the pituitary gland, the gland that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce hormones.
- Excessive doses of medicines such as lithium or anti-thyroid medicine used to treat hyperthyroidism
