Know How Thyroid Nodules Impact Your Health
You may not be aware that there could be something wrong with your thyroid glands.
If you suffer symptoms of feeling run down, fatigue, dry skin, muscle aches, brittle nails, increased sweating, or clammy hands, erectile dysfunction ,reduced sexual drive it could be your thyroid is in poor health.
Hormone Production:
Thyroid hormones affect every cell and all the organs of the body. The Thyroid gland produces and releases various hormones that are essential to your body. The gland uses iodine from food to make thyroid hormones. Thyroxine is one of the hormones secreted by the thyroid gland.
The thyroid is a bi-lobular gland that controls the energy usage in your body. Understanding your Thyroid functions makes much sense.
The gland produces the correct quantity of thyroid hormones to meet your body's requirements. However, the efficient production of thyroid hormones can be out of sync by the presence of a thyroid nodule.
Thyroid Nodules:
A thyroid nodule is a swelling or lump within a section of the gland. Often it is a painless swelling that you may not even notice. Thyroid nodules are usually firm, smooth, and are easily felt through the skin if they are large enough. Some nodules may cause visible lumps on the surface of the neck.
In addition to nodules, your thyroid's function can be affected by your weight, age, and medications. Additionally, some health conditions such as disease or tumors of the pituitary gland or radiation exposure can affect its workings.
Diagnosis of a nodule is by ultrasound identifies the nodule, determines its size, shape, and whether nodules are solid or liquid. Nodules are either solidly filled with fluid or blood. And in some cases, the nodules can be caused by cancer of the thyroid gland.
Nodules can cause the thyroid gland to either create an excess or an inadequate amount of the right hormones. When the gland is overactive and secretes too many hormones, a condition of hyperthyroidism develops. When secreted too few hormones, it results in hypothyroidism.
Symptoms of Thyroid Nodules:
- Palpitations, rapid heartbeats, insomnia, sweating, involuntary, heat sensitivity, weight loss, tremors, and anxiety common in hyperthyroidism.
- Weight gain, tiredness, fatigue, dry skin, dry hair, memory problems, depression, increased sensitivity to temperature cold feelings, joint or muscle pain,digestive system problems, and constipation common in hypothyroidism.
- Enlarged nodules cause pressure against the esophagus or windpipe, making it difficult for swallowing or breathing.
- Men affected with an under active thyroid tend to have reduced sexual drive. But with a hyperactive and under active thyroid gland there is erectile dysfunction.
A goiter is the swelling of the thyroid gland caused by an iodine deficiency with tenderness to the touch, hoarseness, or shortness of breath.
Management:
Treatment of thyroid nodules depends on the type of the nodule. Consult with your physician if you have symptoms or notice a nodule.