The Overactive Gland
Your thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly and is found in your neck, wrapped around your trachea. Its only function is to make the thyroid hormone which effect many tissues in your body. Its job in the body is regulate your metabolism. This gland is prone to some extremely common problems. The first one concerns the creation of the hormone as in too much or too little. The thyroid can grow and this will cause some neck structures to become compressed. It can also have formations of lumps or nodules within it and can give the thought of possible cancer. This gland can become enlarged and this is called goiters. These goiters can be removed so they do not obstruct vital structures of the neck and also removed for cosmetic reasons.
Hyperthyroidism is the term used to describe the creation of too much of the thyroid hormone. As the metabolism of the body is then increased by this excess hormone, you will then show symptoms of hyperthyroidism. These symptoms can be seen as feeling hotter than other people and fatigue at the end of your day and having trouble sleeping. It is possible to have your hands shaking and your heartbeat can be irregular or hard and palpitations can develop. Someone with this condition can be easily upset and irritable to be around. If the condition gets severe, then chest pain, shortness of breath and weakness in the muscles will be noticed. This can go on for a long time before the person finally feels there is something wrong and they go to see their doctor. The symptoms of hyperthyroidism in older people might not even show up as they can just become depressed and lose weight. Other symptoms can be that you have warm moist skin and hair loss is possible too. Women can notice a light or missing menstrual periods and bowel movements can increase as well.
Signs and symptoms for every illness have their own medical meanings. It is the symptom that you will feel or notice and it is the sign that your doctor can measure or detect. For example, you can feel hot, this will be called a symptom but your doctor can touch your skin and note that is is moist and warm and this is a sign. Inflammation of the thyroid can be a cause of hyperthyroidism and over production of the thyroid hormone is called Graves’s disease, named after the doctor who first described this condition.
