Food allergies are increasingly common and under-diagnosed, allowing them to impact a person's health in subtle ways. Even seasonal allergies may help explain feelings of tiredness, weight loss and being generally unwell. However, some of the same symptoms that characterize many allergies could in fact indicate an entirely different issue that's becoming more frequent in American health: an underactive thyroid.
"20 million Americans suffer from some form of thyroid disorder."
The thyroid is a crucial yet underappreciated organ located in the neck, just below the Adam's apple. As a central organ in the body's endocrine system, the thyroid plays a key role in creating and regulating many hormones that impact nearly every bodily function. Thyroid hormones stimulate the metabolism and thus control all aspects of energy absorption from food. The organ also assists in fetal development in pregnant women, as well as controlling the levels of calcium and other nutrients required for normal brain and heart function.
Since a healthy thyroid is an underlying supporter of so many biologic processes, it can also be a culprit when anything is wrong. However, the thyroid's varied role in the body explains why disorders involving it are underdiagnosed. Hypothyroidism is the clinical name for a thyroid that appears underactive in generating or regulating proper hormone levels, but it can manifest in many subtle ways.
Some common symptoms of hypothyroidism that are difficult to detect or tend to be attributed to other diseases include:
- Excessive fatigue.
- Depression.
- Anxiety.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Weight gain or loss.
- Difficulty getting pregnant (in women of childbearing age).
These symptoms vary in occurrence and severity from one patient to another, and some might not even be noticeable at first. That's especially true in older adults, since many of these problems are often blamed simply on aging. But untreated hypothyroidism can progress to serious cognitive impairment resembling dementia in the elderly. In addition, the root cause of hypothyroidism could be a cancerous thyroid, which would pose a serious concern if left undetected.
It's estimated that as many as 20 million Americans suffer a form of thyroid disorder, but many go undiagnosed or untreated. Estimates by experts from the American Association of Clinical Endrocrinologists estimated that perhaps 60 percent of those with a thyroid problem have no idea about it, and older women are especially prone to missed treatment opportunities.
Treatment and prevention
Fortunately, screening for thyroid problems and treating them is often straightforward, as long as doctors can pin it down as the cause of certain symptoms. A blood test for the three primary types of thyroid hormone can help diagnose many cases. However, as a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found, abnormal levels of what's known as thyroid-stimulating hormone may also cause thyroid disease, but require a separate test.
There are many treatments available for various forms of thyroid disorder, although knowing the best course of action may require some trial and error. Experts say the best way to prevent thyroid disease and treat minor cases is to eat a balanced diet containing enough iodine, a nutrient used by the thyroid to synthesize hormones. Iodine is often added to processed table salt in the U.S. as a public health measure, and consuming even small amounts is often adequate to meet daily iodine requirements. For those who need extra, eggs and several kinds of fish are also important dietary sources of iodine.
When patients are diagnosed with a serious form of thyroid disorder, they can be given certain medications to counteract hormonal imbalances or stimulate better organ function.
- Hypothyroidism is treated with supplementation of thyroxine, or synthetic thyroid hormone. However, dosage of these medications must be closely monitored as excessive levels can cause serious side effects.
- Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) may be more difficult to treat. Some symptoms can be managed temporarily, for example by regulating heart function with beta blockers. However, long-term treatment may require various medications or even surgery to remove the thyroid entirely.
- Subclinical hypothyroidism is the technical name for thyroid problems caused by minor hormone imbalances or a low level of thyroid-stimulating hormone.
People who suspect they may have some form of thyroid disorder should contact their health care provider and
