What Happens When Your Thyroid Hormones Are Imbalanced?

By the team at Speedoc,
 
October 16, 2020

What are thyroid problems?

The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck. It carries out an important role in the body’s processes, such as regulating heart rate, body weight, temperature, menstrual cycles, nervous systems and cholesterol. Thus, an overactive or underactive thyroid gland can greatly affect one’s ability to carry out basic functions.

The thyroid gland uses iodine from food we eat to make triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These two hormones should be balanced as an imbalance can cause hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).

SYMPTOMS OF HYPOTHYROIDISM INCLUDE:

  • Weight gain

  • Impaired memory

  • Muscle weakness

  • Elevated cholesterol levels

  • Fatigue

  • Face puffiness

  • Hair loss

  • Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods

SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTHYROIDISM INCLUDE:

  • Unintentional weight loss

  • Fatigue or muscle weakness

  • Irregular heartbeat

  • Nervousness, anxiety and irritability

  • Sweating

  • Difficulty sleeping

  • Increased appetite

  • Tremor, usually in the hands and fingers

Treating thyroid conditions

Treatment for thyroid problems starts by first identifying the underlying problem and restoring the balance of thyroid hormones using medication. If you have hypothyroidism, you will need hormone replacement, while you will need medication to slow down thyroid hormone production if you have hyperthyroidism. More complex cases may require further scans or surgery to remove the thyroid gland altogether as a last resort.

WHAT HAPPENS IF HYPOTHYROIDISM OR HYPERTHYROIDISM IS NOT WELL-MANAGED?

If hypothyroidism is not managed properly, it may lead to cardiovascular problems such as heart failure, renal complications, infertility, muscle weakness or nerve injury and increase the risk of miscarriage during pregnancy.

If hyperthyroidism is not managed properly, you may experience heart problems, brittle bones, eye problems, red and swollen skin and thyrotoxic crisis.

Suffering caused by negligence or inadequate management of thyroid conditions and additional healthcare costs in the event of health complications can be avoided by taking charge of your chronic condition and actively seeking treatment to keep it well-managed.

Let Speedoc help you manage your thyroid condition

Unsure about whether you're experiencing thyroid issues? Consult a licensed doctor over video consultation via our mobile app!

If you require more information, feel free to give us a call at +60 11 4166 1178.