Has it been a while since you’ve felt well? Are you always too tired to enjoy family activities? Perhaps instead you feel constantly irritated, jumpy, have frequent sweats, insomnia, and a rapid heartbeat.
You may have thyroid disease. Your thyroid is a small gland in your neck that produces hormones vital for bodily functions like metabolism and heart rate.
Thyroid disease occurs when your thyroid produces an excess of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism) or when it doesn’t produce sufficient hormones (hypothyroidism).
Hormone specialist Dr. Christopher Joseph Riegel treats many patients with thyroid imbalance. Dr. Riegel uses specially compounded natural bio-identical hormone therapy to restore your body’s natural hormone balances.
Are you tired all the time? Although it could also be from other causes, it’s a hallmark of hypothyroidism. Your thyroid gland isn’t producing an adequate amount of thyroid hormones.
If you have hypothyroidism, at first you may not understand that the slight changes in your body are due to a health condition. The disease can develop gradually. As it progresses, the symptoms become more pronounced.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism frequently include:
If others in your family have had hypothyroidism, you’re at increased risk; your genes play a role in your risk level. The condition occurs most often in women over the age of 60. It can also occur during or after pregnancy.
Do you feel jumpy much of the time? Your thyroid hormones control metabolism.
If you have hyperthyroidism, your body produces an excess of thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism symptoms can mimic some heart conditions. Common symptoms include the following:
Women have a higher risk of hypothyroidism than men. Genes play a role in your chances of developing the condition just as with hyperthyroidism.
Dr. Riegel reviews your medical history by having you complete a comprehensive questionnaire, reviews your medications and supplements, and analyzes your blood test to determine your levels of estrogen, cortisol, and thyroid hormones. All of this information helps determine whether you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, two of the most common types of thyroid imbalance.
Other thyroid conditions that Dr. Riegel treats include:
If you have hypothyroidism, Dr. Riegel treats you with bioidentical hormones to increase the hormone levels in your thyroid so they’re in the right balance.
If you have hyperthyroidism, you may take antithyroid medication to limit the amount of hormone your thyroid produces. Dr. Riegel also uses bioidentical hormone therapy to help ease your symptoms and improve your quality of life. The therapy eases symptoms of muscle weakness, insomnia, irritability, and more to help you feel like yourself again.
If any of the symptoms above sound familiar, it’s time to see a specialist who can determine if you have a thyroid imbalance. For a professional diagnosis and expert treatment options, call the office of Christopher Joseph Riegel, MD, or request an appointment online through our online portal.
