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CCNTV6
  • 5 months ago
In our House Call segment, Dr Mariana Browne gives us some early warning signs of thyroid disease.
Transcript
00:00This segment is brought to you by Superfarm, your prescription of trust.
00:14If you're feeling anxious, tired, gaining weight or losing your hair, it might not be age or stress.
00:22It could be your thyroid, a small gland with a big impact.
00:27Let's talk about thyroid disease and how most people don't know that they're living with it.
00:32Your thyroid is a small gland located at the base of your neck.
00:35Its job to regulate your metabolism, basically how you use your energy.
00:40When it's working well, you don't even notice it.
00:43However, if it's producing too much or too little thyroid hormone,
00:47then it could wreak havoc on your body and throw it completely off balance.
00:51When your thyroid is overactive or producing too much thyroid hormone,
00:56it's known as hyperthyroidism.
00:59Common signs include a fast heartbeat or palpitations,
01:03feeling anxious, heat intolerance or sweating excessively,
01:07weight loss without trying, trouble sleeping or shaky hands.
01:12One of the most common causes is grave disease,
01:15an autoimmune condition that attacks the thyroid gland.
01:18On the flip side, when the thyroid is underactive for producing too little thyroid hormone,
01:23then everything slows down.
01:25You might experience unexplained fatigue,
01:28weight gain without even eating more,
01:31brain fog, constipation,
01:33cold intolerance or dry skin.
01:36Hypothyroidism is especially common in women
01:39and one of the most common causes is something known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
01:44Another sign of thyroid imbalance is known as a goiter.
01:48This is the abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland.
01:52It usually shows up as a painless fullness or lump at the base of the neck.
01:57If you ever noticed it, it is time to get checked out by your doctor.
02:00So who's at risk for thyroid disease?
02:03Women are actually five to eight times more likely to develop thyroid disease,
02:08especially after pregnancy and during menopause.
02:11Who else is at risk?
02:13If you have a family history of thyroid disease,
02:15if you've previously received radiation to the neck,
02:18if you're above the age of 50,
02:21and a history of other autoimmune conditions.
02:24The good news is we can easily diagnose thyroid disease
02:27through a simple screening blood test known as the TSH.
02:31If it's too high, then we know the thyroid is underactive.
02:35If it's too low, then we know the thyroid is overactive.
02:38Your thyroid may be small, but its effects are powerful.
02:42If you're feeling off and can't explain it, don't ignore it.
02:46It's Dr. Brown for TV6 House Call.
02:50This segment was brought to you by Superfarm,
02:52your prescription of trust.
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