January is Thyroid Awareness Month
The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the base of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. Although relatively small, the thyroid gland plays a huge role in our body, influencing the function of many of the body’s most essential organs, including the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin. The thyroid’s job is to make thyroid hormones, which are secreted into the blood and then carried to every tissue in the body. Thyroid hormone helps the body use energy, stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working as they should. It is vitally important to ensure your the thyroid gland is healthy and functioning properly.
Many people are somewhat familiar with the condition known as hypothyroidism; this typically describes the condition where the thyroid gland is in a sub-optimal state and is not producing enough of the thyroid hormones necessary for the body to function, but hypothyroidism is also linked to thyroid conversion issues (the inactive form, T4, is not converting to the active form, T3) and transport issues. While this condition counts for many people that are suffering from thyroid dysfunction, there are various other conditions, as well. These conditions include hyperthyroidism (thyroid gland in an over-active state), Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s disease (autoimmune diseases), goiter (thyroid enlargement), thyroid nodules (growths on the thyroid gland that can be caused by another condition, i.e. Hashimoto’s), and thyroid cancer.
The symptoms of course vary depending on the condition, but there are many warning signs that something is not right. There are over 300 symptoms that indicate thyroid dysfunction, the most common ones being:
- Cold hands/feet (hypothyroidism)
- Dry skin (hypothyroidism)
- Unexplained weight gain (hypothyroidism)
- Unexplained weight loss (hyperthyroidism)
- Loose bowels/diarrhea (hyperthyroidism)
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Vision issues (Graves’ disease)
- Difficulty swallowing (goiter/thyroid nodules)
- Hair loss, depression, puffy
The best way to find out if you have a thyroid problem is by having the following blood tests run:
- Free T4
- Free T3
- RT3 (Reverse T3)
- TSH
- Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-tpo antibody)
- Antithyroglobulin antibody
- Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)
These results combined with the measurement of your reflex speed, basal metabolic rate, and a clinical assessment can determine whether or not you have a thyroid issue.
Use this month to get your thyroid checked and share information regarding the tiny gland that has a huge job! Happy Thyroid Awareness Month!
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Ingredients:
Meatballs -
Olive oil (brown meat)
Ground beef (80% lean works well)
Ground pork
Egg
Italian breadcrumbs
Parmesan cheese
Garlic
Fresh parsley
Salt/pepper
Soup -
Carrots, Onions, Celery, Garlic, Chicken broth, Italian Seasoning, Salt/pepper, Acini de Pepe Pasta, Spinach
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Stove Top Method:
- Gently combine the meatball ingredients, roll into 1-inch balls
- Brown the meatballs in batches, remove from pot
- Add the onions, carrots and celery and saute for 5 minutes
- Stir in garlic and saute 1 minute
- Add the chicken broth, Italian seasoning and season with salt and pepper if desired
- Bring to a broil. Reduce the heat to medium
- Add the meatballs and pasta
- Simmer for 10 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through
- Stir in the spinach
- Garnish with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese and serve
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Adamov Podiatry ww.adamovpodiatry.com
10441 Quality Dr # 103 Spring Hill, FL 34609
P: 352.606.3950 Hours: M-F 9:00 - 5:00
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