Conditions affecting the thyroid can be debilitating and affect around one in 20 people in the UK.
Underactive or overactive thyroid problems can have serious effects on people’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing - with patients also at greater risk of experiencing long-term sick leave and impairment of working ability, according to the University of Aberdeen. Women are six times more likely to suffer from the condition than men.
But a new study by Aberdeen academics found that it takes an average of 4-and-a-half years for a thyroid condition to be diagnosed, with this taking considerably longer for patients with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).
In most cases - almost two thirds of the almost 1,200 respondents to the study - it took multiple appointments and a worsening of the severity of symptoms before a diagnosis was made.
Here, we cover the symptoms you need to know as diagnosis is often ‘only the start of a lengthy journey for the majority of thyroid disease patients’, says the university.
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What is the thyroid and what can go wrong with it?
Your thyroid gland is an endocrine gland found in your neck that creates thyroxine and triiodothyronine, two hormones responsible for controlling vital bodily functions, including energy levels, weight regulation, internal temperature, and metabolism.
Low or high levels of these all-important hormones may result in thyroid disease, which can be characterised by an underactive or overactive thyroid. If your thyroid isn't secreting enough hormones, then this is known as hypothyroidism, while hyperthyroidism refers to an overactive thyroid.
What are the signs of an underactive thyroid?
The NHS says you should see a GP and ask to be tested for an underactive thyroid if you have symptoms including:
tiredness
weight gain
depression
being sensitive to the cold
dry skin and hair
muscle aches
An underactive thyroid can often be successfully treated by taking daily hormone tablets to replace the hormones your thyroid is not making.
There's no way of preventing an underactive thyroid. Most cases are caused either by the immune system attacking the thyroid gland and damaging it, or by damage to the thyroid that occurs during some treatments for an overactive thyroid or thyroid cancer.
Symptoms of an underactive thyroid are often similar to those of other conditions, and they usually develop slowly, so you may not notice them for years.
For example, if you are at an age where you may be expecting the menopause, you may think you have started the menopause rather than having an underactive thyroid.
What are the signs of an overactive thyroid?
An overactive thyroid can affect anyone, but it's about 10 times more common in women than men, and typically happens between 20 and 40 years of age, says the NHS.
An overactive thyroid can cause a wide range of symptoms, including:
nervousness, anxiety and irritability
mood swings
persistent tiredness and weakness
sensitivity to heat
swelling in your neck from an enlarged thyroid gland (goitre)
an irregular and/or unusually fast heart rate (palpitations)
twitching or trembling
weight loss
How do I know if I have a thyroid problem?
The only accurate way of finding out whether you have a thyroid problem is to have a thyroid function test, where a sample of blood is tested to measure your hormone levels, says the NHS.
All babies born in the UK are screened for congenital hypothyroidism using a blood spot test when the baby is about five days old.
What about treatment?
The NHS says thyroid problems can be treated with medications, radiotherapy and surgery – depending on the kind of condition a patient has.
But the University of Aberdeen found that even once treatment has started, a staggering 92 per cent of patients still experience multiple symptoms, most commonly tiredness and slowness (79 per cent), cognitive deficits (64 per cent), and muscle aches and weakness (62 per cent).
“The evidence that emerges from this survey confirms that thyroid diseases have serious implications for the life of patients, with adverse and long-lasting consequences on their wellbeing and their ability to engage with and interact with social activities and work long after they get a diagnosis,” said Professor Alexandros Zangelidis.
“Patients on average do not feel they are being heard by the medical profession and do not feel empowered during their medical journey.
"Given it affects one in 20 people in the population, its impact should be much more prominently reflected in the Scottish and UK Government’s women’s health strategies,” added Professor Catia Montagna.
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