Thyroid disorders

Introduction: Thyroid disorders

The thyroid gland produces various hormones used by the body and thyroid disorders cause various symptoms. The two main types are hypothyroidism (too little hormone) such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and hyperthyroidism (too much hormone) such as Graves' disease. Both conditions can be difficult to diagnose because they product relatively mild symptoms. Hence, thyroid disorders are often misdiagnosed as depression, aging, or other causes of tiredness, fatigue, or forgetfulness. Therefore, a thyroid disorder is a possibility that must be ruled out in diagnoses of conditions such as depression, fibromyalgia, lupus, sleep disorders, and various other conditions. Fortunately, diagnosis of thyroid problems is relatively specific by blood tests of thyroid hormone levels. Thyroid disorders are treatable, but can be serious if untreated, so any suspicion of thyroid problems needs to be confirmed promptly by a doctor.

Symptoms of Thyroid disorders

• Symptoms of hyperthyroidism:
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Nervousness
  • Unexplained weight loss

See full list of 33 symptoms of Thyroid disorders

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Thyroid disorders:

• Home Thyroid Tests
• Home TSH Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about Thyroid disorders

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Thyroid disorders?

• Misdiagnosis of Thyroid disorders
• Failure to diagnose Thyroid disorders
• Underlying causes of Thyroid disorders (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Failure to diagnose Thyroid disorders

Misdiagnosis and Thyroid disorders

Undiagnosed causes of weight gain and obesity: Although obesity may be related to lifestyle issues, there are also a number of medical $causes of weight gain...more »

Thyroid disorder misdiagnosed as anxiety disorder: The book "A Dose of Sanity" reports on a case where as woman was diagnosed with panic disorder, and had been taking a variety of anti-anxiety medications...more »

Cluster of diseases with difficult diagnosis issues: There is a well-known list of medical conditions that are all somewhat difficult to diagnose, and...more »

Thyroid disorders greatly under-diagnosed: One study found that about 10% of people had undiagnosed thyroid disorders, mostly hyperthyroidism, but also hypothyroidism. The symptoms of thyroid disorders...more »

Misdiagnosed weight-related causes of infertility: A woman's weight status can affect her level of fertility. Although obesity or overweight can in themselves...more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Thyroid disorders

Causes of Thyroid disorders

Read more about causes of Thyroid disorders.

More information about causes of Thyroid disorders:

• Medications, drugs, or substances causing Thyroid disorders (6 listings)
• Drug interactions causing Thyroid disorders (78 listings)
• Thyroid disorders as a complication caused by other conditions
• Thyroid disorders as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Thyroid disorders

Videos for Thyroid disorders

Patient Surveys for Thyroid disorders

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Thyroid disorders
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Reseach about Thyroid disorders

Visit our research pages for current research about Thyroid disorders treatments.

Clinical Trials for Thyroid disorders

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Thyroid disorders include:

• Health-Related Quality of Life of Thyroid Patients - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Study of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone in Normal Volunteers and in Patients With Thyroid or Pituitary Abnormalities - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - TRH (Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone)
• Mohawk Culture, Behavior, Toxicant Exposure and Health - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Thyroid and Glucose and Energy Metabolism - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Liothyronine (T3),Levothyroxine (T4)
• Scientific Protocol for the Study of Thyroid Cancer and Other Thyroid Disease in Belarus Following the Chernobyl Accident - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

See full list of 66 Clinical Trials for Thyroid disorders

Statistics for Thyroid disorders

• Medical statistics for Thyroid disorders
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Thyroid disorders
• Death and Mortality statistics for Thyroid disorders
• Society statistics for Thyroid disorders

Types of Thyroid disorders

• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hashimoto's thyroiditis - an autoimmune form of hypothyroidism.
• Graves' disease - an autoimmune form of hyperthyroidism.
• Thyroid cancer

See full list of 15 Types of Thyroid disorders

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Thyroid disorders, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.