We all have that one friend who can seemingly eat anything and everything they want without it affecting their bodies (yeah, we’re just as frustrated as you are).
Why is it that your friend can eat pizza, pasta, and dessert without so much as changing a single digit on the scale? It’s all thanks to a fast metabolism from a well-working thyroid.
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck whose main job is to control the speed of your metabolism, converting food into energy for the body.
But what happens when your thyroid fails to work as it should? Whether you have a family history of thyroid concerns or are beginning to spot some warning signs, it’s essential to know how you can use the latest technology to keep you happy and healthy for years to come.
What is the Thyroid and What Does it Do?
In addition to its responsibility for controlling the speed at which your body uses energy, the thyroid gland affects other critical bodily functions, including:
- Heart rate
- Breathing
- Digestion
- Body temperature
- Brain development
- Skin and bone maintenance
- Fertility
- Mental activity
If you experience thyroid issues or develop thyroid disease, your body’s ability to perform necessary functions may be at risk.
Common Thyroid Issues and Diseases
Your body is a machine, and like any machine, you may experience problems at some point.
Problems can arise in your thyroid, from producing too many hormones to not enough of them. From hyperthyroidism to thyroid cancer, here are some of the most common conditions that can affect your thyroid gland.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism refers to an overactive thyroid–one that produces too much thyroid hormone that your body doesn’t know what to do with.
Affecting between 1 and 3 percent of American people, it can lead to symptoms of restlessness, irritability, racing heart rate, thin skin, muscle weakness, and weight loss, among others.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism creates the exact opposite problem compared to hyperthyroidism. In other words, your thyroid gland is not producing enough hormones, causing the body’s functions to slow down.
This condition is often a result of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder that causes cells in the body to mistakenly attack the thyroid.
Goiter
Goiter is a noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland and is often caused by an iodine deficiency. Goiters can often go unnoticed, presenting no noticeable symptoms until they grow in severity. As it begins to grow in size, you may start to experience swelling or tightness in your neck, difficulty breathing, coughing, or a hoarse voice.
Goiters are often a symptom of hyperthyroidism and are often linked to other highly treatable thyroid disorders.
Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer is the growth of abnormal cells that begins in the thyroid gland. Similar to goiters, thyroid cancer typically doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms until it grows, potentially resulting in the following:
- A lump (nodule) that can be felt through the skin
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Pain in the neck and throat
- Changes to your voice
Causes of thyroid cancer are the result of changes to your cell’s DNA. As with many other types of cancer, it remains unclear what causes the DNA change that leads to cancer development.
How to Diagnose Thyroid Cancer and Other Problems: Can a Full Body MRI Help?
A full-body MRI is an imaging test that scans the entire body and creates images of your internal organs to spot any abnormalities or conditions. When you undergo a whole-body MRI screening in Charleston, SC, our technology allows us to screen 13 organ systems and detect nearly 500 conditions–including those related to the thyroid. No radiation or contrast dye is used in these screenings.
Full-body MRI scans are becoming a preferred method for safe, painless, and faster disease detection and prevention. With this latest technology available to you, you can now take control of your healthcare journey rather than sit idly by.
Spot the Warning Signs From Your Thyroid with MRI Wellness
At MRI Wellness, we help you not only understand your body but also take a proactive approach to protecting it. If you’re at risk of developing thyroid cancer or other thyroid problems, schedule a full body scan near you today.
With an MRI experience engineered for accuracy, speed, and comfort, we aim to ensure that you receive a comprehensive overview of your body without the wait and worry.
To schedule a Charleston full body scan, go online to schedule an appointment, or give us a call today!
