Any condition that affects the thyroid gland’s ability to function properly is termed a thyroid disorder. The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland that controls the body’s metabolism, the rate of many functions in your body, including the rate of heartbeat and how fast the body burns calories. It does that by producing hormones. Women are more susceptible to thyroid disease than men. Thyroid disorders are many, but the most common ones include:

• Goitre
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypothyroidism
• Thyroid Cancer
• Thyroiditis
• Thyroid nodules

Symptoms vary according to the type of the disease. Here are some common symptoms that indicate one has a thyroid disorder:

• Nervousness
• Tremors
• Poor Concentration
• Racing Heartbeat
• Feeling bloated
• Muscle pain
• Intolerance to low and high temperatures (depending on the type of disorder)
• Weight gain or loss (again, depends on the type of disorder)
• Changes in menstrual cycle

See a doctor if you or your loved ones if above mentioned symptoms persist for more than a week. Always trust premier institutions like Paras Hospitals Group, which have specialized departments for the treatment of such conditions.

The cause of a thyroid disease depends upon the type of disease. Causes can range from malfunctioning of the pituitary gland, other diseases which affect the thyroid, development of nodules and inflammation, to exposure to certain chemicals and even the lack of the gland entirely. Risk factors are quite many, and include:

• Gender: Females more likely to develop thyroid disorders
• Age: Adults more than 50 are more likely to develop such disorders
• History of thyroid problems
• Family history of thyroid problems
• Surgery of thyroid gland
• Recent Radioactive Iodine Treatment (RAI)
• Cigarette smoking
• Iodine deficiency
• Certain medications like antiretrovirals and immunosuppressants increase the risk of developing such conditions
• Certain foods in large quantities increase the chance of thyroid disorders, they are called goitrogenic foods
• Stress, is a major environmental factor in most diseases
• Trauma to the neck

Treatment and management of thyroid disorders depends on the diagnosis. Until and unless the disease is diagnosed, no doctor will advise or perform any treatment. The disease will first be identified, then evaluated and then the corresponding treatment given. Taking medications with identifying the disease can further exacerbate the problem.

See a doctor if you or your loved ones if above mentioned symptoms persist for more than a week. Always trust premier institutions like Paras Hospitals Group, which have specialized departments for the treatment of such conditions.