Free seminars offered on thyroid disorders, treatments

(Rowlett/Greenville) Lake Pointe Health Network will begin its free 2012 Community Seminar Series with two informational programs on thyroid disorders – one in Greenville on Wednesday, Jan. 25; and one in Rowlett on Thursday, Jan. 26.

Wednesday’s program will be presented by Dr. Sreedevi Guttikonda at 6:30 p.m. at the Wesley Medical Plaza, 4101 Wesley, Suite K, Greenville, 75401.

Thursday’s program will be presented by Dr. Sumana Gangi, board certified in Endocrinology and Metabolism and Internal Medicine, at 7 p.m. at the Cafe at Lake Pointe Medical Center, 6800 Scenic Drive, Rowlett, 75088.

To RSVP for one of these free informational seminars, call 1-866-525-LPMC(5762).

Thyroid Disorders

Your thyroid gland, which is located in your neck just above the collarbone, produces two hormones – tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones determine how your body uses food for energy and control how fast or slow organs work.

Millions of people in theUnited States have some type of thyroid disease. Women are more likely to be affected than men, and the disease often begins between the ages of 20 and 40.

There are two main types of thyroid disease – hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism

With hyperthyroidism, your body produces too much thyroid hormone, which causes the body’s metabolism to speed up. Approximately 1 percent of women develop hyperthyroidism. One of the most common forms of the disease is called Graves’ disease.

Graves’ disease, which may run in families, is a type of autoimmune disease where the body produces antibodies that attack the thyroid gland. This causes it to produce too much thyroid hormone.

Hyperthyroidism also may be caused by thyroid nodules, taking too much thyroid hormone medication or an inflammation of the thyroid, which may be caused by a virus or by autoimmune disorders.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include:

Muscle weakness
Trembling hands
Rapid heartbeat
Fatigue
Weight loss
Diarrhea or frequent bowl movements
Irritability and anxiety
Irritated eyes or problems seeing
Menstrual irregularities
Intolerance to heat and excessive sweating
Infertility

Treatments

Hyperthyroidism may be treated with medications, radioactive iodine or surgery. Antithyroid drugs help regulate the over-production of thyroid hormones. These drugs may need to be taken for several years. Beta-blockers may be used to help control some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as rapid heart rate, trembling, anxiety and the high body heat caused by the disease.

Your thyroid gland pulls iodine from the bloodstream to make thyroid hormones. Doctors may use radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid gland. In some cases doctors may choose to surgically remove the thyroid gland. This option may be considered when the thyroid itself is enlarged, making breathing difficult, or when drug therapy isn’t working. Patients treated surgically or with radioactive iodine must have their thyroid levels monitored and take replacement thyroid hormones for the rest of their lives.

Left untreated, hyperthyroidism may lead to other health problems including congestive heart failure or osteoporosis.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroid disease occurs when your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones (underactive). As we age, we are more likely to develop an underactive thyroid gland. In fact, as many as 15 percent of women over the age of 70 may have underactive thyroid glands. Women may want to talk to their doctors about screening for hypothyroidism beginning at age 50.

Symptoms of an underactive thyroid may include:

Fatigue
Mental depression
Sluggishness
Feeling cold
Weight gain
Dry skin and hair
Constipation
Menstrual irregularities

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s disease. This occurs when the body produces antibodies that attack the thyroid gland causing chronic inflammation. The thyroid gland then fails to produce enough thyroid hormone. Other causes can be inflammation of the thyroid, drugs such as amiodarone that affects thyroid function, a pituitary gland that doesn’t make enough thyroid-stimulating hormone or treatment for hyperthyroidism.

Treatment

Doctors may prescribe oral thyroid hormone replacement, levothyroxine. Most patients will need to continue the medication throughout their lives and receive routine blood tests to monitor hormone levels.

“If you have a family history of thyroid diseases or have symptoms related to either an over- or under-active thyroid gland, follow-up with your physician,” said Dr. Sumana Gangi, board certified in Endocrinology and Metabolism and Internal Medicine on staff at Lake Pointe Medical Center. “Simple blood tests can determine your thyroid levels and provide the first step in managing your disease.”