Up to 20 million Americans have some type of thyroid disease. With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can reduce uncomfortable side effects and thrive. At Signature Internal Medicine, concierge internal medicine specialists Humera Ahmed, MD, and Dina Diehl, DO, provide complete care for thyroid disease, including patient education, prescription medication, and referrals to endocrinologists. To make an appointment, call the office in Frisco, Texas, or book online today.
Thyroid disease refers to a group of conditions that affect your thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck. Your thyroid produces a wide range of hormones that control many bodily functions, including your heart rate and appetite.
If your thyroid produces too many or too few hormones, it increases your risk of other health problems. Fortunately, there are several treatments that can provide relief.
Signature Internal Medicine diagnosis and treats the two main types of thyroid disease:
Hyperthyroidism causes your thyroid gland to overproduce the hormone thyroxine. That causes various symptoms, including a rapid heartbeat, unexplained weight loss, and excess sweating.
Hypothyroidism means your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones. The condition develops slowly and doesn’t always present symptoms early on.
The symptoms of thyroid disease include:
If you have thyroid disease, you might also experience intolerance to temperature changes, like hot or cold.
Signature Internal Medicine diagnoses thyroid disease during an in-office visit.
Your provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms. Then, they do a physical exam.
During the exam, your provider examines your neck and thyroid, looking for signs of redness or swelling. They also order a series of blood tests to test the levels of certain hormones in your blood, including:
Your provider might also test for thyroid antibodies, calcitonin, or thyroglobulin.
If your blood tests show abnormal hormone levels, your provider develops a custom treatment plan.
Treatment of thyroid disease depends on several factors, including the type and severity of your symptoms. Signature Internal Medicine might recommend:
If noninvasive treatments don’t provide relief, your provider might recommend surgery to remove the thyroid (thyroidectomy).
To learn more about the treatment options for thyroid disease, make an appointment at Signature Internal Medicine by calling the office or booking online today.