#>LiVeWell Senior's Health A NEWSLETTER WITH IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION FOR SENIORS July 2016 Thyroid Disease Your thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland found at the base of your neck just below the Adam's ap ple. The thyroid gland produces a hormone that travels in your blood and controls many activities in the body. The hormone also controls your body's metabolism, including how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats. Women are more likely than men to have thyroid disease. Thyroid diseases include; disorders that cause hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, goiter, thyroid nod ules, thyroid cancer. Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid doesn't make enough thyroid hormones. It slows down your metabolism and other body functions. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hash imoto's disease. Symptoms develop slowly, often over several years. Feeling cold when other people do not Constipation Muscle weakness Weight gain Feeling sad or depressed Pale dry skin Dry, thinning hair Slow heart beat The most common treatment is a man-made form of the thyroid hormone that your body needs which you will most likely need to take the pill for the rest of your life. Hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid, where the thyroid makes more of the hormone than your body needs. This speeds up your metab olism and heart rate. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Grave's disease, a problem with the immune system. Symptoms include: Weight loss, even if you eat the same Irregular heart beat Feeling nervous, irritable Trembling hands and fingers Trouble sleeping Diarrhea Muscle weakness Bulging, redness, or irritation in your eyes Treatment depends on your doctor. There are medicines that block your thyroid from making new thyroid hormone. Surgery is also an option to remove all or part of the thyroid. For more information about thyroid disease call the Office on Women's Health (OWH) Helpline at 800-994-9662 or contact National Cancer Institute (NIH) 800-422-6237. American Thyroid Association is also a good place for information and support. Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital (Source: Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services)