The Los Angeles Directory of Thyroid Doctors features physicians that specialize in treating Thyroid Disorders in Los Angeles. Men and women in the Los Angeles area can choose from a wide selection of Thyroid Doctors in order to improve their thyroid conditions and regain their health. Diseases of the thyroid gland are especially invasive because the thyroid gland controls almost all aspects of metabolism. The gland works to control growth and development, energy metabolism, and temperature regulation. When the thyroid gland is not functioning properly, several of these functions may become impaired. The thyroid gland also secretes thyroid hormone, which works to carry out many of the thyroid’s actions, and if this hormone is not produced correctly, numerous health conditions may be the result.
Hashimoto’s & Thyroiditis
Thyroiditis is a common health conditions that can occur when the thyroid gland becomes inflamed, and this inflammation can be painful or not produce any symptoms at all. Inflammation of the thyroid gland may be due to Hashimoto’s disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that can have symptoms of both an underactive or overactive thyroid gland. In Hashimoto’s disease, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, which may prevent it from producing an adequate amount of thyroid hormone, and it typically affects middle-aged women. However, both men and women of all ages may develop Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. When the symptoms of Hashimoto’s occur due to an underactive thyroid gland, patients may encounter fatigue, hair loss, irregular periods, cold limbs, intolerance to cold, weight gain, and constipation. In the cases of Hashimoto’s that present with an overactive thyroid gland, patients may experience nervousness, palpitation, anxiety, scanty menstrual periods, and weight loss, goiter, and bulging eyes.
Hypothyroidism
Although Hashimoto’s disease is the leading cause of hypothyroidism, which is an underactive thyroid gland, men and women may also experience a lack of thyroid hormone production due to aging, environmental factors, stress, and poor nutrition. Hypothyroidism is common in women that have already gone through menopause, and this may be due to the fact that hormones are interconnected. In women, the ovaries have receptors for thyroid hormone, and when they decline, it can adversely affect thyroid hormone utilization in the body. In men, waning hormone levels may also affect the body’s ability to produce thyroid hormone. For this reason, it is important that the levels of all important hormones be balanced. Some of the symptoms that may occur in both women and men may include:
- Brittle Nails
- Thinning Hair
- Hard Stools
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Aversion To Cold
- Heavy Periods
- Pale Complexion
- Achy Joints
- Muscular Pain
- Drastic Weight Gain
- Muscle Atrophy
A Los Angeles Thyroid Doctor that specializes in thyroid conditions can utilize bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to help women and men to correct thyroid imbalances and improve overall hormone balance.
Hyperthyroidism & Grave’s Disease
Hyperthyroidism is the reverse conditions of hypothyroidism, and it occurs when thyroid hormone is produced in excessive amounts. In people that have an overactive thyroid gland, metabolic functions are sped up, which can be dangerous to internal organs, especially the heart. One of the complications of hyperthyroidism is an increased heart rate, which can raise the risk for heart disease. It may also cause a lump in the neck to develop, which is known as goiter, and some goiters may reach the size of a small bowling ball. Because of the increase in metabolism, several other health concerns may occur.
In women under forty, Grave’s Disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, and in this disease, the immune system malfunctions and starts to kill a particular type of cell in the thyroid gland. Grave’s disease is an autoimmune disease, and it causes the body to release an antibody that overrides the signal from the pituitary gland as to how much thyroid hormone to produce. For this reason, the body cannot regulate how much thyroid hormone is produced. One of the trademark symptoms of Grave’s Disease is bulging eyes, and this occurs because the antibody that attacks the thyroid gland cells also affects tissues around the eyes, causing carbohydrate like substances to build up behind the eyes, which causes them to protrude. Several other symptoms can appear with Grave’s Disease, and they are mostly similar to the symptoms that occur with hyperthyroidism.
Some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism and Grave’s may include:
- Tremors
- Inability To Gain Weight
- Heart Palpitations
- Weight Loss
- Aversion To Heat
- Increased Bowel Movements
- Panic Attacks
- Anxiety
- Increased Sweating
- Nervousness
- Goiter
- Bulging Eyes
- Insomnia
- Amenorrhea
Men and women can chose from a large selection of thyroid hormone doctors that have expertise in treating thyroid imbalances and using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to rebalance the thyroid gland. A Los Angeles Thyroid Hormone Doctor can help men and women suffering from thyroid disorders in Los Angeles.
