What are the symptoms of an inflamed thyroid?

One of the most overlooked parts of the body is the thyroid. Most people have heard the word, but few are likely to know how it works, what it does, and how important it is to our overall health. The words “hypothyroidism” and “hyperthyroidism” may be vaguely familiar, but their exact meaning and symptoms might not be known to people who haven’t had intimate experience with them. That’s why it’s important to know about this underestimated organ and about the problems that can happen with it. The two conditions we described before are important, and pretty common as well – in the millions, in fact – but there’s another condition that affects the thyroid that doesn’t get talked about as much: that’s thyroiditis, or an inflamed thyroid.

As a general introduction to the thyroid, let’s discuss what it is and how it works. The thyroid is a small gland in the neck. It synthesizes and pumps out two important hormones: thyroxine and diiodothyronine, hormones which are responsible for the body’s metabolic processes, as well as body temperature regulation and growth. When the thyroid isn’t working properly, some terrible symptoms can occur as a result. People who suffer from thyroid problems can feel fatigue, see their weight balloon, can feel sensitivities to cold or heat, muscle weakness, and can develop gastrointestinal issues. All of these build up to a serious set of symptoms that can discomfort or outright debilitate otherwise healthy, normally-functioning people. That’s why thyroid diseases, and inflammation, are not a joke.

How does the thyroid get inflamed? Well, the most common cause of inflammation in the thyroid is caused by antibodies in the blood. Antibodies are small proteins which are supposed to attack foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria, and are responsible for helping the body fight off infections and sickness. In some cases, however, these antibodies can turn on the body itself, such as with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Thyroid inflammation often happens when the person’s own antibodies begin to attack thyroid cells, causing damage to the thyroid and the resulting inflammation as the body tries to send help and repair it. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is caused by this. According to the American Thyroid Association, the medical community does not yet understand how the body comes to produce antibodies that attack the thyroid, but what they do know is that 1) it’s one of the most common forms of thyroiditis and 2) it tends to run in families, leading to there being a possible genetic cause.

Other forms of thyroiditis include postpartum thyroiditis, caused by a high amount of thyroid hormone in the blood following the delivery of a baby, and drug-induced thyroiditis, caused by the taking of certain pharmaceutical drugs, including amiodarone and lithium.

Thyroiditis can lead to hypothyroidism, and this can be permanent. However in most cases patients make a full recovery, with the thyroid returning to normal. This process can take weeks or months, however.

Thyroid inflammation is diagnosed by doing tests which include checking the amount of thyroid antibodies in the blood, testing the function of the thyroid itself, and physically checking to see if the thyroid is enlarged into what is called a goiter.

Different types of inflammation can last different lengths of time. For example, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can be treated but can likely still result in permanent hypothyroidism, whereas drug-induced thyroiditis can resolve as soon as the user ceases the drug that caused it.

Treating an inflamed thyroid can take any number of forms. Some treatments include taking beta-blockers to treat symptoms as the initial phase takes its course, or painkillers to treat the pain assocaited with some forms of thyroiditis. In some cases, taking thyroid hormones can be prescribed to support normal hormonal balance, even as the thyroid itself is unable to create the amount of hormones needed. This is also done in some cases to prevent the thyroid from getting any larger.

All of this is, assuming, that one actually has thyroiditis. Unfortunately with the advent of the internet and online medical information, there has been a rash of self-diagnoses among the general populace. The temptation to self-diagnose based on symptoms you may be feeling can be strong, but what’s important to remember is that thyroid issues – as with all medical issues – can only be diagnosed by a doctor. While informative tracts like this one can help to inform the general populace about different health issues, if one is worried they might have thyroid problems, they should never simply look at their symptoms and rush to diagnose it themselves. They should instead go to a doctor’s office and have an examination. Only then will they know.

Thyroid problems are scary, and thyroiditis in particular, but it’s better to be informed about it. As the saying goes, knowing is half the battle.