Symptoms Present in Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism - Essay Example

There are two main disorders and are known as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism occurs when the production of the hormone is in excess while hypothyroidism occurs when the level of hormone production is lower (Cleveland Clinic, 2014). In the United States, a significant number of populations have these disorders. About 20 million people in the country have been found to have some form of the disorder (Cleveland Clinic, 2014). It can affect anybody in the population. However, women have a higher chance of getting thyroid problems as compared to men (Cleveland Clinic, 2014). The paper will cover symptoms that may be present in hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.  It will also establish tests necessary for diagnosis as well as the initial treatment plan for both conditions.

Various symptoms characterize the disorders. In the case of hypothyroidism, there is slow development of symptoms. The initial symptoms are feeling of tiredness and being sluggish (Office on Women’s Health, 2015). In later stages, there is the development of more signs and symptoms. They include feeling cold, constipation, weak muscles, increased weight, and pain in joints and muscles (Office on Women’s Health, 2015). Others include dryness of skin and hair, reduced heart rate, change in voice, and unusual menses. Likewise, the development of signs and symptoms is slow in the case of hyperthyroidism. They include weight loss, nervousness, muscle weakness, insomnia, heat sensitivity, reduced eyesight, and irregular menses (Cleveland Clinic, 2014).

There are various tests done on the diagnosis of thyroid disorders. The first is blood tests. The tests are done on the patient to identify the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the patient blood (Office on Women’s Health, 2015).  The test may help in first identifying whether the thyroid is overactive or underactive. The other is the radioactive iodine uptake test. This is done by swallowing a liquid or capsule with a small amount of radioactive iodine (radioiodine) (Office on Women’s Health, 2015). This also helps in measuring the level of radioiodine. The level may help in identifying the type of disorder. The other form of diagnosis is through a thyroid scan. It uses the radioiodine dose. The test is done by a special camera that captures an image of the patient's thyroid and helps in showing the pattern of iodine uptake (Office on Women’s Health, 2015). Thyroid ultrasound is another test. It makes use of sound waves to make a photo of the thyroid on a computer screen (Office on Women’s Health, 2015). This helps the doctor to determine the type of nodule present in the patient.

There is a comprehensive treatment plan for both conditions. The initial plan is to ensure that the patient restores normal blood levels of thyroid hormones. In the case of hypothyroidism, a drug known as levothyroxine is used to offer treatment (Cleveland Clinic, 2014). It helps the affected person to have a normal level of the hormone. There are challenges when it comes to treatment of hyperthyroidism. However, there are various treatments to correct the anomaly. They include drug therapy that aims at stopping hormone production, the use of radioactive iodine to immobilize the gland, and surgery (Cleveland Clinic, 2014).