Thyroid Treatment Providers in Fargo
Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are both serious thyroid conditions, however, hyperthyroidism describes an overactive thyroid gland, whereas hypothyroidism involves an underactive thyroid gland. Approximately 1% of Americans will experience hyperthyroidism and 5% will experience hypothyroidism. Unfortunately, approximately 50% of people that have thyroid disease are unaware they have a thyroid problem.
If you’re looking for experts or a fresh perspective on how to treat and manage thyroid disorders, contact Altaire Clinic today to schedule a consult with our medical providers.
Common Causes Of Underactive & Overactive Thyroid Glands
Aside from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the other common causes of hypothyroidism are radiation therapy, a pituitary disorder, overtreatment of hyperthyroidism, iodine deficiency, pregnancy, or thyroid cancer.
The common causes of an overactive thyroid gland, or hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease, toxic multinodular goiter, toxic adenoma, thyroiditis, overtreating an underactive thyroid, and Plummer’s disease.
Both types of untreated thyroid diseases can be dangerous and may result in constant fatigue, anxiety, heart disease, or death in severe cases. Both types of thyroid diseases may also be caused by autoimmune disorders.
Treatment & Management Of Thyroid Issues
Below, we’ll go through the differences and similarities between these two types of thyroid diseases, the symptoms associated with each, and how the medical providers at Altaire Clinic can effectively help you manage your thyroid disease and improve your quality of life
HYPOTHYROIDISM
This type of thyroid disease refers to an underactive thyroid gland. An underactive thyroid can be caused by the low production of thyroid hormones, a pituitary gland that does not produce enough thyroid stimulating hormones, or the hypothalamus doesn’t produce enough thyrotropin-releasing hormone.
HYPOTHYROIDISM SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES
The common symptoms associated with an underactive thyroid gland include:
- Sensitivity to cold
- Goiter
- Increased fatigue
- Weight gain
HASHIMOTO’S DISEASE
Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder, and it’s the most common trigger for hypothyroidism.
Hashimoto’s disease is caused by a hormone imbalance, gluten intolerance, infections, food sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, exposure to toxins, or leaky gut syndrome.
HORMONE IMBALANCES
If a person’s hormone levels are outside the normal range, Hashimoto thyroiditis can flare-up. In some cases, hormone replacement therapy can manage hormone deficiencies but treatment doesn’t necessarily balance the hormones.
INFECTIONS
Viral infections such as Epstein-Barr or tick-borne infections such as Lyme disease can lead to Hashimoto’s disease resulting in an under active thyroid gland.
SENSITIVITY TO CERTAIN FOODS
In some cases, a food allergy can trigger Hashimoto’s disease.
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES
Certain types of nutrient deficiencies can also trigger Hashimoto’s disease, with the most common being an iodine deficiency.
EXPOSURE TO TOXINS
Certain toxins can wreak havoc on the thyroid gland. Exposure to pesticides and other types of chemicals can trigger Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
LEAKY GUT SYNDROME
When the lining of the gut is constantly inflamed, it can weaken the tight junction proteins found within the intestinal wall, allowing food particles, microbes, and toxins into the bloodstream. A leaky gut can both be a symptom or the cause of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
HYPERTHYROIDISM
This type of thyroid disease involves an overactive gland that produces too much thyroid hormone. The overproduction of thyroid hormones can increase a person’s metabolism leading to rapid weight loss, sweating, anxiety, restlessness, and an irregular heartbeat.
HYPERTHYROIDISM SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES
Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disease, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
Graves’ disease causes the body’s antibodies to overstimulate the thyroid, causing it to produce more thyroid hormone than the body needs.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include rapid weight loss without trying to lose weight, sensitivity to heat, heart problems, and loss of appetite.
The most common form of treatment for an overactive thyroid is radioactive iodine, and medication, however, in severe cases surgery may be required.
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Thyroid Testing
At Altaire Clinic, during your appointment, a healthcare professional may use a variety of thyroid tests to tell how well your thyroid is functioning and determine the cause of the issues.
A practitioner may order one or several blood tests to check thyroid function. Tests can include thyroid stimulating hormones and antibody tests.
TSH TEST
When testing thyroid function, a medical professional often checks the amount of TSH in the blood first. This hormone is made in the pituitary gland and tells the thyroid how much T3 and T4 to make. High TSH levels usually indicate an underactive thyroid. Low TSH levels often mean an overactive thyroid.
T4 TESTS
High blood levels of T4 indicate an overactive thyroid, while low levels indicate an underactive thyroid gland.
T3 TEST
If one of our medical providers believes a patient may have an overactive thyroid even though their T4 level was normal, they may recommend a T3 test to confirm a diagnosis. In some cases, a T4 can be normal yet a patient’s T3 can be high, so measuring both T3 and T4 levels can be very effective when diagnosing a patient for hyperthyroidism.
THYROID ANTIBODY TESTS
Measuring the levels of thyroid antibodies can help a provider diagnose autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto’s disease and Grave’s disease
ULTRASOUND
An ultrasound allows a provider to look for thyroid nodules, which can be potentially cancerous.
THYROID SCAN
A thyroid scan will look at the position, shape, and size of the thyroid. This test requires a small amount of radioactive iodine which is used to help determine the cause of an overactive thyroid and to check for nodules.
Outlook For Thyroid Disease
Fortunately, there are effective treatments available for thyroid diseases that are designed to restore thyroid function to normal, even if the underlying cause of the disease is not treatable. When a person is diagnosed with thyroid disease they must continue lifelong medical treatment to ensure their thyroid function remains in the optimal range.
At Altaire Clinic we have worked with hundreds of patients who have been diagnosed with thyroid disorders, especially hyperthyroidism caused by Grave’s disease and hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Our medical providers have found innovative and effective ways to treat and manage thyroid diseases to minimize symptoms and improve a patient’s quality of life. Effective treatments can vary from patient to patient and can depend on many factors. Scheduling an appointment with an experienced healthcare professional will be the first step toward effectively managing your thyroid disease.
Contact Altaire Clinic To Schedule A Consult
Getting a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism can be very stressful. The good news is that both types of thyroid diseases are manageable and treatable. If you’re experiencing symptoms of an underactive or overactive thyroid or have certain risk factors such as a family history of Grave’s disease, contact Altaire Clinic today to schedule a consult with one of our experienced and knowledgeable medical providers. Our practitioners will recommend undergoing some simple tests so they can determine if your thyroid is producing too much or too little thyroid hormone and can create a personalized treatment plan that will help you manage your thyroid condition.
Contact Us
We encourage you to book a consultation, so one of our providers can personally discuss your needs and recommend the procedures best suited to your lifestyle. Contact us by phone or use the convenient form below so you can reach your ultimate health, wellness, & beauty goals.