THYROID NODULES

The thyroid gland may develop one or more small bumps called nodules. As a result there may be no symptoms, although a nodule can be felt by the patient. All of these are harmless, although occasionally it can be a sign of cancer. Thyroid problems are treatable but is most important is to establish what the reason is for the various disorders.

FUNCTION OF THE THYROID GLAND

The thyroid controls the body's metabolism when it is working correctly. The speed of the metabolism affects the working of organs such as the heart and brain. The metabolism acts on your digestive system to control how efficiently you burn calories and to ensure your muscles and nerves are in good condition; it can influence how you think and feel. The thyroid gland regulates your metabolism by making thyroid hormone, which is a chemical that carries a message from the thyroid gland to the rest of the body through the blood stream. The thyroid gland makes thyroid hormone from iodine absorbed from the food you eat-the larger the amount of thyroid hormone produced, the faster the cells work; when less thyroid hormone is produced, the cells work slower. To control the amount that is produced, the pituitary gland (master gland in the brain) monitors the level of thyroid hormone in the blood and tells the thyroid it needs to make more. Blood tests can evaluate how the thyroid is working. When you have symptoms of decreased energy level or fatigue, feeling cold, muscle pain, longer or heavier menstrual periods, weight gain, dry and brittle skin, and feeling depressed, these may be signs of underactivity of the thyroid. Shaky nervousness, feeling hot, rapid or irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness or fatigue, more frequent bowel movements, shorter or lighter menstrual periods, weight loss or hair loss, may be signs of overactivity of the thyroid. Blood tests to determine the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone or thyroid hormone can establish whether there is a problem in the functions of thyroid.