Australian Thyroid Foundation CEO Beverly Garside

Join Kathryn Gene and Beverley Garside , CEO Australian Thyroid Foundation chat on the testing for the now too common causes of symptoms like weight gain , depression etc ( look at list below) Hypothyroidism (Under active Thyroid) & Hashimoto's Disease Hypothyroidism (Under active Thyroid) is more common in women than men, with estimates that 10 times more women than men are affected. Hypothyroidism is usually gradually progressive with symptoms increasing as thyroid function deteriorates. Hashimoto’s Disease – Thyroid Auto-immune Disease, usually causes hypothyroid symptoms, however it is possible for Hashimoto symptoms to swing between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. If you suffer from Hypothyroidism, your symptoms could include: Lethargy/Fatigue Weight Gain and Fluid Retention Depression/Low Mood Sleep Disturbance Thinning of Hair and Eyebrows Increased sensitivity to cold Breathlessness Dry Skin Constipation Poor Concentration Muscle Pain and Weakness Enlarged Thyroid (Goitre) Low Libido/ Decreased Fertility Menstrual Changes For pregnant women, there is an increased risk of miscarriage and multiple obstetric complications Hyperthyroidism, Graves' Disease & Thyroid Eye Disease Hyperthyroidism, or Graves’ Disease, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. It is triggered by the immune system producing antibodies that stimulate the thyroid gland to increase the size of the gland and produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. If you suffer from Hyperthyroidism, your symptoms could include: Weight Loss/Increased Appetite Loose Bowel Motions/Diarrhoea Increased Sweating Difficulty sleeping Heart Palpitations Hand Tremor Tiredness/Weak Muscles, particularly around the upper arms and thighs Enlarged thyroid gland Menstrual Changes/Fertility Problems Restlessness/Nervousness Emotional/Irritability Shortness of Breath Protruding or Staring Eyes – (Thyroid Eye Disease Connected to Graves’ Disease) Thyroid Cancer Thyroid Cancer develops when thyroid cells divide in an abnormal way into one of the four types of thyroid cancer – Papillary, Follicular, Medullary and Anaplastic.