Mahaska Health Partnership Educates on Thyroid Disorders

Mahaska Health Partnership

Mahaska Health Partnership

MAHASKA COUNTY – Thyroid diseases affect many Americans, especially women, and can drastically alter the way your body functions. Understanding the signs and symptoms of thyroid abnormalities is an important first step in diagnosis.

According to the American Thyroid Association, the thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck. When working properly, it helps the heart, brain, liver, skin and other organs perform correctly.

A variety of thyroid disorders can occur, including hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, nodules and goiter. “If you have a family history of thyroid disorders, there is a chance you could develop one,” Family Nurse Practitioner Jill Konfrst of MHP’s New Sharon Medical Center shared.

Some of the main warning signs of a thyroid condition include fatigue, changes in your skin or hair and weight changes. Your primary care provider can check for thyroid problems by testing your hormone levels through a blood sample.

“Two common thyroid conditions are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism,” explained Konfrst. “Hyperthyroidism means the thyroid is producing too many hormones and hypothyroidism means it isn’t producing enough.”

Konfrst explained the main differences between hyper and hypo are seen in your metabolism. “With hyperthyroidism, your metabolism speeds up. You may experience weight loss, nervousness, irritability, increased sweat production, thinning skin and weakness in your muscles, especially in your arms and thighs.

“At first, you may experience an increased amount of energy, but as the disease progresses, you may feel tired. In the most common form of hyperthyroidism, Graves’ disease, you may notice that your eyes look enlarged or even bulging.

“With hypothyroidism, your metabolism slows down because you are not getting enough hormones,” continued Konfrst. “You may feel tired, cold, your skin may feel drier and you may feel depressed and start forgetting things. The symptoms can vary greatly, but a simple blood test can tell whether you have the disease so treatment can begin.”

Thyroid issues can sometimes be detected by the look and feel of your neck where the gland is located. Tip your head back and watch the base of your neck in a mirror as you take a drink of water. Look for bulges which may be a sign of an enlarged thyroid. If you think you see a bulge, contact you primary care provider.

“If you are diagnosed with a thyroid condition, it is treatable and manageable,” assured Konfrst. “The key is early diagnosis. If you notice any of the symptoms of thyroid diseases, make an appointment and have the necessary tests to begin treatment as soon as possible.”

Family Nurse Practitioner Jill Konfrst practices fulltime at MHP’s New Sharon Medical Center and can treat patients of all ages. To make an appointment, call 641.637.2651.

Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, visit www.mahaskahealth.org.

Posted by on Apr 7 2014. Filed under Lifestyle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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