Because the thyroid gland is a small gland that works to handle many of the bodily functions, it is quite susceptible to thyroid problems and diseases. Thyroid problems are some of the most common medical conditions however, and are manageable. The symptoms for thyroid conditions however appear gradually, which is a common cause for misdiagnosis. The three most common problems that the thyroid gland encounters are the overactive thyroid, the underactive thyroid, and thyroid nodules.
Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is one of the three most common thyroid problems. The most common cause of this specific thyroid problem is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a medical condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its very own thyroid gland. Symptoms include constant fatigue, weight gain, constipation, slow thinking and dry skin and hair.
Another common thyroid problem is hyperthyroidism. Also called as overactive thyroid, hyperthyroidism occurs when the body starts to overstimulate the thyroid gland. An overactive thyroid is characterized by weight loss, jitteriness, frequent bowel movements, rapid heart beats, palpitations, nervousness, irritability, and fatigue.
Lumps, or thyroid nodules are another one of the three most common thyroid problems, and is usually harmless in most cases. Usually though, a good 4% of lymph nodes are actually cancerous and would require more testing to be done and over with before being considered harmless.