Thyroid disorders:
The thyroid gland produces various hormones used by the body and thyroid disorders cause various symptoms. The two main types are hypothyroidism (too little hormone) such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and hyperthyroidism (too much hormone) such as Graves' disease. Both conditions can be difficult to diagnose because they product relatively mild symptoms. Hence, thyroid disorders are often misdiagnosed as depression, aging, or other causes of tiredness, fatigue, or forgetfulness. Therefore, a thyroid disorder is a possibility that must be ruled out in diagnoses of conditions such as depression, fibromyalgia, lupus, sleep disorders, and various other conditions. Fortunately, diagnosis of thyroid problems is relatively specific by blood tests of thyroid hormone levels. Thyroid disorders are treatable, but can be serious if untreated, so any suspicion of thyroid problems needs to be confirmed promptly by a doctor.

Thyroid disorders: Symptoms
The types and severity of symptoms of thyroid disorders vary between individuals and are very different depending on cause and if they result in hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

At the onset of hypothyroidism, the symptoms can be vague and develop slowly. They may include weakness, weight gain, cold sensitivity, cold hands and feet, fatigue, dry skin,

Thyroid disorders: Misdiagnosis
A diagnosis of a thyroid disorder may be delayed or missed because some symptoms, such as nervousness, irritability fatigue, weight gain, muscle aches and weakness can be ambiguous and/or mild. These symptoms can be easily attributed to other conditions, such as excessive coffee drinking, aging, stress, excessive exercise, lack of .

Symptoms of Thyroid disorders
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism:
Insomnia
Irritability
Nervousness
Unexplained weight loss
See full list of 33 symptoms of Thyroid disorders

Treatments for Thyroid disorders
Treatment of thyroid disorders depends upon the underlying cause of the problem, whether the patient is hyperthyroid or hypothyroid, the severity of symptoms, and the age and other health problems that the patient might have. Treatments include:

Hypothyroidism

Observation - mild abnormalities may resolve without therapy over a few months and tests should be repeated to monitor

Cessation of drugs that may be causing the problem - eg lithium, amiodarone

Iodine - for cases associated with iodine deficiency

Thyroid disorders: Treatments
There is usually no way to prevent thyroid disorders. However, with recognition and treatment, low levels or high levels of thyroid hormone can be returned to normal levels in the body. Treatments vary depending on the type of thyroid disorder, a patient's age and medical history and individual factors.
 

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