Symptoms of thyroid disease are not always cut-and-dry. You may simply not feel well and see no improvements with this discomfort over time. When your thyroid gland is not producing sufficient hormones, various bodily systems suffer and various symptoms may manifest as a result.
The good news is that thyroid issues generally respond well once appropriate Long Island thyroid treatment commences. An experienced hormone treatment doctor could diagnose your low thyroid levels and prescribe proper therapy so you can feel like yourself once more.
Located in the front of the neck, the small, butterfly-shaped thyroid gland creates two essential hormones—triiodothyronine and thyroxine, or T3 and T4 for short, respectively—that are needed for normal bodily cell function. The body naturally converts T3 into T4.
Because the thyroid is responsible for so many of the body’s functions, symptoms of thyroid issues run the gamut, potentially including any or several of the following:
Women are more likely to suffer from thyroid disease than men. If a women is still menstruating, she may experience heavy bleeding during her periods if she is also dealing with thyroid issues.
When the body does not produce sufficient thyroid hormone, hypothyroidism—or underactive thyroid—may result. Too much hormone production results in hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid. However, the former is much more common than the latter, and menopausal or perimenopausal women are more likely to suffer from hypothyroidism.
The immune system disorder known as Grave’s disease results in a form of hyperthyroidism with additional symptoms, including bulging eyes, heart palpitations, hand tremors, thyroid gland enlargement—or goiter—and red, thickened skin on the top of the feet. Another autoimmune thyroid disorder, Hashimoto’s disease, results in hypothyroidism and often the development of goiter.
Diagnosis of a thyroid disorder involves only a simple blood test, which reveals the body’s thyroid levels. The doctor may perform the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Test, which measures the T4 amounts produced by the thyroid gland and is among the most accurate thyroid tests available. Diagnostic imaging tests are necessary for certain patients so that the doctor may receive a good view of the thyroid gland.
The doctor should also perform a through physical examination and take a complete medical history. Since certain medications may affect thyroid hormone levels, patients should tell the doctor about all drugs they are currently taking, both prescription and over-the-counter.
Bioidentical thyroid hormones derived from animal products have been used to treat hypothyroidism for many years and are considered safe and effective. With these natural hormones, T3 and T4 can be correctly balanced.
That is not the case with synthetic thyroid hormones, which consist only of T4. Furthermore, because T3 stays in the system relatively briefly, it is necessary to take bioidentical thyroid hormones twice daily, while synthetics are taken once daily. However, improvement is usually rapid in patients taking bioidentical Long Island thyroid hormone treatment.
If you are experiencing symptoms of a thyroid disorder and would like to know whether you are a candidate for bioidentical thyroid hormone treatment, call Dr. Edward Jacobson today to discuss your options for Long Island thyroid hormone treatment. Dr. Jacobson could explain the treatment process and your various options to you in detail, so you can make an informed decision about the next steps you should take.