Thyroid Treatment Specialist

What is the thyroid? 

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck. It is part of the endocrine system and produces hormones that help control metabolism and several body systems. Thyroid hormones help regulate:

• Weight gain and loss
• Energy levels
• Internal temperature 
• Skin, hair, and nail growth
• Mood
• Sleep

When your thyroid doesn't work correctly, it can impact a wide range of bodily functions and cause significant hormone imbalance. If you have a thyroid condition, the Lake Grove ENT team offers quality thyroid assessment, care, and treatment.

What are conditions that may need thyroid treatment? 

Thyroid conditions that could cause it to produce too little hormone, called hypothyroidism, include thyroiditis or Hashimoto's disease. Conditions that cause too much hormone production, or hyperthyroidism, include thyroid nodules, goiter, or Grave's disease. 

You may need thyroid treatment if you have signs or symptoms associated with either hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. 

What are signs that I may need thyroid treatment?

You may need thyroid treatment if you have symptoms that your thyroid is underactive or overactive. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism are due to your metabolism being in overdrive, such as anxiety or irritability, muscle weakness, vision problems, weight loss, and sensitivity to heat.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism reflect a slow or ineffective metabolism, including:

• Chronic fatigue
• Dry skin
• Brittle hair and nails
• Weight gain
• Sensitivity to heat
• Weakness or joint pain
• Memory problems or difficulty concentrating
• Constipation 

If you have these symptoms, your provider may order thyroid blood tests, a thyroid ultrasound, or other diagnostic testing. If you have a thyroid condition, they develop a customized treatment plan. 

What are the treatments for thyroid conditions? 

Your treatment plan depends on whether your thyroid produces too much or too little thyroid hormone. If you have hypothyroidism, you might need synthetic thyroid hormone, dietary changes, and nutritional support. 

If you have hyperthyroidism, your treatment may include radioactive iodine, medications, or thyroid surgery to remove the thyroid, parathyroid, or excess hormone-producing tissue. If you have thyroid nodules, you may need a biopsy to determine if they are noncancerous. If so, you may have surgery to remove the benign nodules to help balance your thyroid hormones. 

For quality thyroid treatment, call the office or schedule an appointment online with Lake Grove ENT today.