The Everything Guide to Thyroid Disease: From potential causes to treatment options, all you need to know to manage your condition and improve your life

493 Pages·2011·1.41 MB·English

by  Theodore C. Friedman MD PhD

THE
GUIDE TO
THYROID DISEASE
Dear Reader,
Chances are, you picked up this book because you or someone you care about
has a thyroid condition. Or perhaps you’re starting to suspect that you might
have one. Maybe you can’t understand why you can’t ditch the weight despite
your most noble efforts. Or maybe you’re feeling inexplicably fatigued,
depressed, or irritable.
In any case, this book is written for you—anyone who is trying to better
understand the thyroid, how it functions when you’re healthy, and what goes
wrong when it becomes diseased. It’s hard to imagine that a tiny gland nestled in
your neck can have such power over the way you feel, how much you weigh,
and even the texture of your skin and hair. But that’s what the thyroid gland is—
an anatomical powerhouse with enormous influence over your health and well-
being.
We know it’s not easy to live with a thyroid condition. Dr. Friedman has treated
hundreds of patients with all sorts of thyroid disease and lived with Hashimoto’s
himself for several years. But we also know that having thyroid disease is not the
end of the world. By the time you finish this book, we think you’ll agree.
Sincerely,
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THE
GUIDE TO
THYROID
DISEASE
From potential causes to treatment options,
all you need to know to manage
your condition and improve your life
Theodore C. Friedman, MD, PhD, and Winnie Yu Scherer
To Bill Glavin and John Keats—
for the early vote of confidence. —W. Y.
To my wonderful wife, Danielle, and my
great kids, Nora, Caleb, and Gideon. —T. F.
Contents
Introduction
01 All about Your Thyroid
A Busy Gland
How the Thyroid Works
The Role of Iodine
Thyroid Hormone
What Are the Parathyroid Glands?
Do a Self-Check
02 The Unhealthy Thyroid
When the Thyroid Gets Sick
Factors That Increase Risk
Things That Can Go Wrong
A Great Imitator
Thyroid Disease and the Rest of Your Body
03 Choosing a Thyroid Doctor
From Primary Care to Endocrinology
What to Expect from a Good Doctor
Specialists You Might Need
You’re the Boss
The Doctor-Patient Relationship
Be a Good Patient
04 Hypothyroidism
What Is Hypothyroidism?
What Hypothyroidism Looks Like
Making the Diagnosis
Blood Tests
Normal Versus Abnormal Test Results
Putting It All Together
The Diagnosis Debate
The Importance of Treatment
The Importance of a Correct Diagnosis
05 Treating Hypothyroidism
Drug Options
Is Natural Better?
Taking Drugs Correctly
Watch What You Eat
Be Wary of Drug Combinations
Side Effects and Complications
Common Myths
06 Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
About Autoimmune Diseases
The Details of Hashimoto’s
Diagnosis and Treatment
Complications
Others Forms of Thyroiditis
07 Hyperthyroidism
What Is Hyperthyroidism?
What Hyperthyroidism Looks Like
Making the Diagnosis
Blood Tests
Radioactive Iodine Uptake (RAIU) and Scan
Putting It Together
Challenges in Diagnosis
The Importance of Treatment
08 Treating Hyperthyroidism
Treatment Options
Radioactive Iodine (RAI)
Antithyroid Drugs
Take Drugs Safely
Surgery
Other Drugs
Achieving Remission
09 Graves’ Disease
What Is Graves’ Disease?
Causes and Symptoms
Diagnosis and Treatment
Thyroid Eye Disease
Skin Problems
Other Autoimmune Conditions
10 Goiters and Nodules
What Is a Goiter?
Evaluating Goiters
Treatment for Goiters
Thyroid Nodules
Evaluating Nodules
Treatment for Nodules
11 Thyroid Cancer
What Is Thyroid Cancer?
Detecting Thyroid Cancer
Types of Thyroid Cancer
Treatment for Thyroid Cancer
Staging Your Cancer
Monitoring and Follow-Up
12 Thyroid Disease and the Endocrine System
The Endocrine System
Hypopituitarism
Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypopituitarism
The Adrenal Gland Connection
Details of Adrenal Insufficiency
Thyroid and Menstruation
13 Imitators of Thyroid Disease
Depression
Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome (CFIDS)
Fibromyalgia
Lupus
Cushing’s Syndrome
Panic Disorder
Sleep Apnea
Menopause
Growth Hormone (GH) Deficiency
14 Pregnancy and Your Thyroid
The Thyroid in Pregnancy
When You’re Trying to Conceive
Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy
Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Other Thyroid Problems
Postpartum Thyroid Troubles
15 Thyroid Disease and Children
Challenges in Children
Congenital Hypothyroidism
Thyroglossal Duct Cysts
Acquired Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Thyroiditis
Goiters and Nodules
Thyroid Cancer in Kids
Meeting the Challenges
16 Thyroid Disease and Aging
The Thyroid and the Elderly
Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Risks of Thyroid Disease in the Elderly
Treatment Concerns for Older Adults
The Thyroid and Mental Health
17 How the Environment Affects the Thyroid
Household Products
Drinking Water
A Special Note on Cigarette Smoking
Other Airborne Pollutants
Bath and Beauty Products
18 Complications of Thyroid Disease
Diseases of the Heart
High Cholesterol
High Blood Pressure
Heart Failure
Atrial Fibrillation
Stroke
Osteoporosis
Obesity