Thyroid treatment available online today

Thyroid disease can mean a number of different things, but the two most common types of thyroid disorders are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism treatment

If you have high levels of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism), treatment options can include:

• Antithyroid drugs (methimazole and propylthiouracil): These are medications that stop your thyroid from making hormones.

• Radioactive iodine: This treatment damages the cells of your thyroid, preventing it from making high levels of thyroid hormones.

• Beta blockers: These medications don’t change the amount of hormones in your body, but they help control your symptoms.

• Surgery: A more permanent form of treatment, your healthcare provider may surgically remove your thyroid (thyroidectomy). This will stop it from creating hormones. However, you will need to take thyroid replacement hormones for the rest of your life.

Conditions that can cause hyperthyroidism include:

• Graves’ disease: In this condition, the entire thyroid gland might be overactive and produce too much hormone. This problem is also called diffuse toxic goiter (enlarged thyroid gland).

• Nodules: Hyperthyroidism can be caused by nodules that are overactive within the thyroid. A single nodule is called a toxic autonomously functioning thyroid nodule, while a gland with several nodules is called a toxic multinodular goiter.

• Thyroiditis: This disorder can be either painful or not felt at all. In thyroiditis, the thyroid releases hormones that were stored there. This can last for a few weeks or months.

• Excessive iodine: When you have too much iodine (the mineral that is used to make thyroid hormones) in your body, the thyroid makes more thyroid hormones than it needs. Excessive iodine can be found in some medications (amiodarone, a heart medication) and cough syrups.

Hypothyroidism treatment

Hypothyroidism symptoms may include: fatigue, constipation, dry skin, body weight gain, puffy face, hoarseness, muscle weakness.

If you have low levels of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism), the main treatment option is thyroid replacement medication. This drug is a synthetic (man-made) way to add thyroid hormones back into your body. One drug that’s commonly used is called levothyroxine. By using medication, you can control thyroid disease and live a normal life.

Conditions that can cause hypothyroidism include:

• Thyroiditis: This thyroid condition is an inflammation (swelling) of the thyroid gland. Thyroiditis can lower the amount of hormones your thyroid produces.

• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: A painless disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition where the body’s cells attack and damage the thyroid. This is an inherited condition.

• Postpartum thyroiditis: This condition occurs in 5% to 9% of women after childbirth. It’s usually a temporary condition.

• Iodine deficiency: Iodine is used by the thyroid to produce hormones. An iodine deficiency is an issue that affects several million people around the world.

• A non-functioning thyroid gland: Sometimes, the thyroid gland doesn’t work correctly from birth. This affects about 1 in 4,000 newborns. If left untreated, the child could have both physical and mental issues in the future. All newborns are given a screening blood test in the hospital to check their thyroid function.

Thyroid cancer treatment

Although thyroid cancer is not common, you may want to set up an online appointment if you notice these symptoms:

• Lump on your neck under the Adam’s apple

• Voice changes, particularly hoarseness

• Difficulty swallowing

• Pain in the neck and throat

• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

There are several thyroid tests specifically for patients with thyroid cancer, or who are suspected to have thyroid cancer.

• Ultrasounds: These are used to inspect thyroid nodules.

• Thyroid needle biopsy: This is a dependable test for identifying cancerous nodules.

• Thyroglobulin test: After thyroid surgery, thyroglobulin blood tests are done to monitor whether or not cancer cells are still present or have returned.

• Thyroid scans: These can measure lumps and nodules in the thyroid.

Hormone blood tests

These are the most common thyroid diagnosis tests. In the doctor's office, the doctor will draw blood and analyze it for concentrations of TSH, T4, and T3 hormones. Measuring the concentrations of TSH in labs is considered the most reliable, and generally, TSH tests are done first. The results from this diagnostic testing give the doctor an idea of whether or not the thyroid is overactive or under-active. It can also help diagnose subclinical hypothyroidism.

There is a particular type of test which measures T4 that is not connected to other molecules. This is called a Free-T4 test, and it is a better estimate of thyroid activity compared to measurements of total-T4 testing.

Thyroid antibody blood tests

Sometimes the thyroid is overactive or under-active due to a problem with the body’s immune system producing antibodies that attack the thyroid. The thyroid antibody test measures concentrations of such antibodies in the patient’s blood. Thyroid antibody tests are usually done to investigate whether or not a patient has Hashimoto’s disease or Graves’ disease. These diagnoses might also be done if a patient has a goiter or some other autoimmune disease.

Radioactive iodine uptake

Doctors can estimate the overactivity or under-activity of a thyroid gland by giving a patient slightly radioactive iodine. The doctor can then measure the radioactivity and observe how much iodine is taken up by the thyroid.

While this test may sound supernatural, all iodine is radioactive, yes, even your table salt, so don’t worry. In these dosages, it’s totally safe and allows the doctor to accurately scale thyroid conditions.

Thyroid scans

Imaging of thyroids using radioactive iodine can help a doctor measure the size, shape, and position of the thyroid. This can help an endocrinologist diagnose the different thyroid disorders such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and thyroid cancer.

If you are diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, there is no need to be alarmed. Thyroid treatments abound, and there is constantly new research offering hope to the many millions of sufferers in the world today. Take heart in the knowledge that there is much you can do to improve your situation.

Sticking to a healthy diet, developing an exercise habit, taking medication, trying out natural supplements or trying mind-body techniques can all help. Work with our board certified online doctors and medical team to develop the best lifestyle and treatment plan for you. A good thyroid management health program will focus on:

• Keeping blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible by balancing foods with medication and physical activity

• Taking insulin and other medications, as prescribed

• Maintaining blood cholesterol and triglyceride (lipid) levels as close to the recommended range as possible

• Monitoring and maintaining normal blood pressure

• Testing your blood sugar levels as often as needed based on discussions with your doctor

• Following a sensible and balanced meal plan suited to your individual dietary needs and thyroid profile

• Getting regular exercise

• Monitoring weight gain and reduce obesity

• Keeping regular appointments with your healthcare provider to monitor your condition and undergo any laboratory tests ordered by your doctor