Body temperature extremes or change in weight might be the result of a thyroid imbalance.
The condition is treatable, said Dr. Frank Velez, head and neck surgeon at St. Joseph Medical Center.
Dry skin, constipation and rapid heart beats are other symptoms, he said.
Treating a hypothyroid ? an under-active gland ? is easier than treating an overactive, or hyperthyroid, Velez said, but both are treated with medication.
“Thyroid imbalance is four times more prevalent in women than men,” Velez said.
A hypothyroid is boosted with thyroid medication and is relatively easy to regulate, he said. Hyperthyroidism is controlled with medication that gives a dose of radiation to slow the thyroid.
For people who experience these symptoms, Velez recommends your family doctor can screen for thyroid imbalance with blood work.
For information, visit www.womentowomen.com.
