Health
8 important things you should know about your thyroid health
With more than 1 million Australians living with an undiagnosed thyroid disorder, it’s time to get on top of our thyroid health. Here’s everything you need to know.
By Sabrina Rogers-Anderson
According to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), approximately 10% of Australians over 50 live with a thyroid disorder and countless others go undiagnosed. Yet most of us don’t know much about the butterfly-shaped gland that sits at the front of our neck and has far-reaching effects on our health.
Endocrinologist Dr Isobelle Smith shares 8 facts to help Australians stay on top of their thyroid health.
1. Thyroid hormones affect all our organs and systems
“The thyroid gland produces hormones that act on pretty much every cell in the body,” says Dr Smith. “These hormones are really important for metabolism, and cardiac, cognitive and neurological function.”
2. Your immune system may attack your thyroid gland
The 2 most common thyroid disorders are hyperthyroidism (when your thyroid is overactive and produces too many thyroid hormones) and hypothyroidism (the thyroid is underactive and doesn’t produce enough hormones).
These conditions are most often triggered by autoimmune conditions that attack the thyroid gland. Graves’ disease is the main cause of an overactive thyroid while Hashimoto's disease is responsible for most cases of underactive thyroid.
“Our immune system is usually good at recognising our own tissue versus foreign tissue, but for some reason it often gets confused with the thyroid and will make antibodies against it,” Dr Smith says.
“Around 10 to 15% of people have at least some antibodies against the thyroid, but only 2 to 3% of the population will get hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism because of it.”
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
- Anxiety, nervousness or agitation
- Inability to tolerate heat
- Sweating
- Rapid pulse
- Heart palpitations
- Weight loss without eating less
- Rapid pulse
- Tremor (shaking hands)
- Fatigue
- Diarrhoea
- Bulging eyes
Symptoms of hypothyroidism can vary from one person to the next and may include:
- Fatigue
- Inability to tolerate the cold
- Unusual weight gain
- Memory or concentration problems
- Face puffiness
- Dry skin
- Hair loss
- Depression
- Constipation
3. Thyroid problems can be caused by low iodine
The thyroid gland needs iodine to produce thyroid hormones, so an iodine deficiency can lead to thyroid disease, particularly hypothyroidism.
In some parts of Australia, including Tasmania and along the Great Dividing Range, the soil is low in iodine. To ensure Australians get enough of this essential mineral, it’s added to most table salts – known as “iodised salt” – and breads sold in Australia.
“Iodine deficiency is quite uncommon now in Australia, so it’s no longer the main cause of thyroid issues,” says Dr Smith.
Other causes of thyroid problems include:
- Thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland)
- Some medications and medical procedures, including radiation therapy and thyroid surgery
- Thyroid nodules (lumps that are generally benign)
- Thyroid cancer
4. Thyroid nodules and cancer may be best left alone
“Over the age of 50, 50 to 70% of people have a thyroid nodule,” explains Dr Smith. “It's not generally something to worry about or that you necessarily need to have removed. We can see on an ultrasound if there are any concerning features and whether you might need a biopsy or to have another ultrasound in one year.
“The American Thyroid Association has published some interesting articles noting that we may be doing more harm than good by overtreating thyroid nodules and really low-grade thyroid cancer. Sometimes active surveillance is the best option.”
Interestingly, thyroid cancer and structural thyroid conditions such as nodules and goitre (enlarged thyroid gland) don’t generally affect thyroid hormone levels.
“Many patients who have a thyroid nodule or goitre keep wanting to have their thyroid hormone levels tested over and over, but there’s rarely a correlation,” says Dr Smith. “Their thyroid generally continues to make perfectly normal hormones.”
5. Women are at greater risk of thyroid issues than men
Thyroid disease is more common in women than men and the prevalence increases with age. Up to 25% of women over 65 may be affected by hypothyroidism alone.
“This is most likely because autoimmune diseases are more common in women, so thyroid problems caused by these diseases are more common as well,” says Dr Smith.
6. Leaving thyroid problems undiagnosed can affect your heart and bone health
“Having high or low thyroid hormones can be associated with negative cardiovascular outcomes and hyperthyroidism can lead to osteoporosis,” says Dr Smith.
“I see many patients who have had very mild hyperthyroidism without symptoms for years and who develop osteoporosis, so it’s important to treat it.”
7. Thyroid and menopause symptoms are often confused
There’s a lot of overlap between menopause and thryoid disorder symptoms, including fatigue, weight gain, depression, concentration problems and hair loss. So, how can you tell what’s ailing you?
“A TSH [thyroid-stimulating hormone] blood test will detect whether your thyroid hormones are normal or not and help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis,” says Dr Smith.
8. Get tested if you have symptoms
Most thyroid problems can be treated effectively once they’re diagnosed, so early detection is key.
“If you have any symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, or you feel a lump where your thyroid gland sits in your neck, see your GP to get screening tests done,” advises Dr Smith.
This article is general information only and is not medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Do not use the information found on this page as a substitute for professional medical or health advice. Any information or links on this page should be verified with your professional health care provider.
Feature image: iStock/bymuratdeniz
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