Thyroid Disease Diagnosis & Treatment: How is Done?

Thyroid Disease Diagnosis & Treatment: How is Done?

• Every organ in the human body has a role to play, and the thyroid is just one of them.
• Shaped like a butterfly, it wraps around the windpipe or trachea and creates hormones to control metabolism.
• The former medical condition is called hypothyroidism.

So, why are these conditions a matter of concern? Well, a human body that suffers from hyperthyroidism uses way too much energy for bodily functions, leaving the person tired very quickly. Consequently, the heart starts beating faster, the weight drops without even trying, and nervousness creeps in.
Similarly, hypothyroidism causes weight gain and exhaustion and lowers one’s tolerance to drop in temperatures. Today, we are here to shed light on thyroid disease diagnosis and treatment. Read ahead to explore the options available in the medical field.

Diagnosis of Thyroid Disease: How Do Doctors Identify Whether a Patient is Suffering from this Condition?/h3>

Do you feel tired lately? Are you more forgetful nowadays? Is your menstrual cycle very irregular of late? You may or may not have thyroid disease. It might just be due to pregnancy or an after-effect of ageing. How to tell if it’s none of the two? Your doctor may prescribe you some tests like:

• Blood test

Five tests that can determine if yours is hypo- or hyperthyroidism are listed below:
1. Thyroxine (T4)
2. Triiodothyronine
3. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
4. Free T3 or free Triiodothyronine
5. Free T4 or free thyroxine (FT4)
None of the above is enough to evaluate the possibility of thyroid disease. A healthcare provider may suggest more tests, three of which are enclosed:
1. Calcitonin
2. Thyroid antibodies
3. Thyroglobulin
As for the ranges of these test results, only a healthcare provider can guide you in understanding the implications.

• Physical examination

This is a non-intrusive examination of the neck to check for any abnormal growth of the gland. It is painless, and there is hardly anything to worry about.

• Imaging tests

It is a thyroid scan using ultrasound, where the healthcare provider checks for growth in the gland. The procedure involves the transmission of high-frequency sound waves through body tissues and records the echoes to transform them into photographic images or videos. It’s a safe test involving no radiation or fasting and lasts only 20-30 minutes.

Treatment of Thyroid Disease: How Do Healthcare Providers Restore Thyroid Hormone Levels to the Normal Range?/h3>
The treatment is dependent on the type of thyroid. If your physician diagnoses hyperthyroidism, the medical expert shall approach the disease in either of the following ways:

• Radioactive iodine

This treatment method damages the thyroid cells to prohibit the overproduction of thyroid hormones.

• Surgery

If you want a more permanent solution to hyperthyroidism, go for surgery and remove the thyroid. In medical terms, it is called thyroidectomy. It may be a sigh of relief at first, but one may have to take thyroid replacement hormones all through one’s life. In just a few weeks, you can recover but ensure you avoid high-intensity exercises, lifting objects weighing over 15 pounds and wound-water contact.

• Anti-thyroid drugs

Medications like propylthiouracil and methimazole are used to inhibit the production of thyroid hormones.

This particular treatment involving the use of medications may not lower hormone count in the body but takes care of the symptoms rapidly.

When the medical case is of hypothyroidism, the primary treatment is given below:

• Thyroid replacement medication

This medication can take you back to your normal life through the restoration of thyroid hormones in your body. It is possible only through the intake of a synthetic drug called levothyroxine.

Where Can You Get Your Thyroid Disease Diagnosed and Treated?

If you live in Kolkata, you can visit the best-in-class diagnostic services in Kolkata for thyroid disease diagnosis & treatment. Equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and methods, the diagnostic centre promises a rapid generation of reports for your treatment to begin at once. You can also consult top-rated general physicians and surgeons under the same roof.