By Dr. Reema Patel

PERTH AMBOY – The word thyroid in Greek means “shield shaped,” referring to the shape of the thyroid gland located in your neck. Thyroid is one of the hormone producing glands in the body. Thyroid disorders can range from a small, harmless goiter to thyroid cancer. According to recent research data, millions of people in the U.S. have thyroid diseases of which most of them are women.

I often refer to the thyroid as the powerhouse of the body. Power is needed in just the right amount to run things smoothly. Too much power can race the body and too little can slow it down. The thyroid secretes hormones that control brain development, metabolic activity and the function of virtually every organ system, from how fast our heart beats, how quickly we digest food, how much we sweat, the speed at which we burn calories, and many other body functions.

A condition called hypothyroidism refers to a thyroid gland that is not active enough. It can make you gain weight, feel fatigued and have difficulty dealing with cold temperatures. Women may have irregular periods or heavy flow. Hypothyroidism tends to run in families, so once diagnosed, other family members should be tested to see if they have any thyroid dysfunction.

Hypothyroidism is a risk factor for premature birth, low birth weight, miscarriage and fetal neurological development so it is very important for women who are or plan to become pregnant to know their thyroid health status.

If your thyroid is too active, it makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs. This condition is called hyperthyroidism. Too much thyroid hormone can make you lose weight, speed up your heart rate, create feelings of anxiety and irritability, sleep problems, shakiness, diarrhea, and make you very sensitive to heat.

Untreated hyperthyroidism has many ill effects on the body, including irregular heart beat and congestive heart failure. It also causes weakening the bones and can thus lead to osteoporosis.

Because the symptoms of many thyroid disorders can be very subtle, they are often overlooked or mistaken as other health issues. Patients should have their thyroid checked annually as part of an annual physical. Additionally, some patients may need specialized thyroid blood testing or an ultrasound. Your physician can then prescribe medication to reset your body’s metabolism to its normal rate.

Reema Patel, M.D., has offices in Old Bridge and South Amboy, NJ. She is board certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism and Internal Medicine. In addition to specializing in the treatment of thyroid, Dr. Patel also treats conditions such as diabetes, calcium and parathyroid disorders, osteoporosis, menopause, low testosterone, erectile dysfunction, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hirsutism, pituitary and adrenal disorders and a variety of other hormonal problems. She is fluent in English, Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Urdu. To make an appointment, call 732-360- 4070 or 1-800-DOCTORS.