Thyroid Specialist

When you have ongoing fatigue that makes it hard to get through the day, or you just can't stop feeling nervous, jittery, or anxious, you may have an underactive or overactive thyroid. The doctors at Boerne Family Medicine in Boerne, Texas, have years of experience accurately diagnosing thyroid problems and creating customized treatment plans. The doctors encourage you to call or make an appointment online if you have thyroid symptoms so you can start treatment and begin to feel like yourself again.

Thyroid Q & A

When the thyroid or thyroid hormones are mentioned, it usually refers to the other two hormones - triiodothyronine, or T3, and thyroxine, or T4 - which are responsible for regulating your metabolism.

Thyroid hormones affect every system in your body, including:

Breathing and heart rate
Protein production
Nervous system
Body weight
Muscle strength
Body temperature
Cholesterol levels
Menstrual cycle

Various health conditions can cause your thyroid to produce too little or too much T3 and T4. It's critical to properly treat an underactive or overactive thyroid because both conditions significantly impact your health.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormones, causing the body to slow down. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

Fatigue
Dry skin
Weight gain
Sensitivity to cold
Puffy face
Hoarseness
Muscle aches and joint pain
High cholesterol
Thinning hair

Hyperthyroidism

Your metabolism speeds up when your thyroid gland produces too much hormone. Hyperthyroidism causes symptoms such as:

Weight loss
Rapid heartbeat
Nervousness, anxiety, or irritability
Sweating
Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)
Tremor in your hands and fingers
Difficulty sleeping
Thinning skin

Untreated hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause serious heart problems. In addition to high cholesterol, hypothyroidism can lead to an enlarged heart. Hyperthyroidism causes an irregular heart rhythm and congestive heart failure.

Hyperthyroidism also increases your risk for osteoporosis and eye problems. Additional complications associated with hypothyroidism include goiter, depression, and infertility in women.

The primary treatment for hypothyroidism consists of thyroid replacement therapy. For most people, it only takes about two weeks of treatment with thyroid hormones to begin feeling better.

Several treatments exist for hyperthyroidism, so your doctor at Boerne Family Medicine recommends the best option based on your age, health, the underlying cause of your thyroid condition, and your personal preference.

Call the team at Boerne Family Medicine or make an appointment online if you have a question about your metabolism or have symptoms associated with thyroid conditions. They're available to answer questions and schedule an appointment to screen you for thyroid problems.