Thyroid Problems? Take a Closer Look

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If you’ve ever typed your symptoms into Google, you’ll know how quickly “thyroid problems” pop up as the culprit.

According to Doctor Google (the unofficial archenemy of many GPs), your thyroid is often to blame for everything from fatigue to weight gain.

But the reality is a little more nuanced.

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that sits at the front of your neck, just below your Adam’s apple. Its “wings” wrap gently around your windpipe.

Despite its size, it plays a big role. The thyroid regulates your metabolism by releasing hormones that travel through your bloodstream to every cell in your body.

ON THIS PAGE

• Symptoms of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
• What do these symptoms mean?
• Diagnosis and treatment
• Visit your GP if concerned
• About Dr Rachael Sutherland

In simple terms, it helps control how quickly (or slowly) your body uses energy.

• Too much thyroid hormone speeds things up: This is called hyperthyroidism.
• Too little thyroid hormone slows things down: This is called hypothyroidism.

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism

Here’s where things can get confusing: Many symptoms of thyroid disorders are also everyday physical and psychological events that healthy people experience from time to time.

Hyperthyroidism symptoms may include:

• Weight loss
• Sensitivity to heat
• Heart palpitations
• Anxiety
• Tremors
• Insomnia

Hypothyroidism symptoms may include:

• Weight gain
• Sensitivity to the cold
• Fatigue
• Dry skin
• Constipation
• Depression

Sound familiar? That’s exactly the point.

What Do These Symptoms Mean?

Experiencing one (or even a few) of these symptoms doesn’t automatically mean you have thyroid disease, despite what some wellness bloggers, Instagram influencers, or online forums may suggest.

Unsurprisingly, many of those “diagnoses” come with recommendations for expensive detox products, herbal supplements, or perhaps even healing crystals.

In reality, these symptoms are often caused by factors completely unrelated to your thyroid.

Take hypothyroidism, for example. It affects around 6–10% of women under 65 years old. Yet far more women than that experience weight gain, dry skin, or constipation at some point in their lives.

That’s not to say you should ignore your symptoms — far from it.

If you’re experiencing multiple symptoms at once, or you simply feel that something isn’t right, that’s a very good reason to chat with your GP.

Diagnosis and Treatment Are Usually Straightforward

When you visit your GP, we’ll take a thorough history, examine you carefully, and consider any lifestyle factors that could be contributing to your symptoms.

Sometimes the issue is related to iodine intake; too much or too little can affect thyroid function. The thyroid uses iodine to produce its hormones.

If we suspect a thyroid condition, testing and treatment are generally quite straightforward.

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)

Hyperthyroidism is primarily diagnosed through blood tests that measure thyroid hormone levels.

We also check thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH is produced by the pituitary gland and tells your thyroid to make hormones. Low TSH levels in your blood may indicate that your thyroid is producing too much hormone.

Treatment depends on the cause and severity and may include:

• Anti-thyroid medications
• Radioactive iodine therapy (yes, it’s perfectly safe)
• Surgery in more severe cases

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)

We diagnose hypothyroidism with blood tests and sometimes an ultrasound or radioactive iodine scan.

I see many more cases in women than men, particularly older women, and it’s also common in pregnancy.

Treatment involves hormone replacement tablets to restore normal thyroid hormone levels.

In some cases, iodine deficiency contributes to the problem. Including foods such as fish, seaweed, eggs, and dairy can help maintain healthy iodine levels.

A word of caution: many thyroid supplements and iodine boosters are heavily marketed. The problem is that too much iodine can actually trigger hyperthyroidism.

More is not always better.

Visit Your GP if Concerned

So, don’t panic if you exhibit symptoms like those listed above. Chances are, it has absolutely nothing to do with a poorly functioning thyroid.

My door is always open to all concerns about your health, no matter how small or what the cause.

A wonderful part of my job is reassuring patients that they have nothing to worry about and will live to see another day.

And maybe Doctor Google the flick. I reckon they should’ve been deregistered years ago.

Dr Rachael Sutherland is a senior GP at Doctors of South Melbourne.

Rachael has special interests in women’s health, pregnancy care, and shared care.

She is currently only seeing new patients for pregnancy planning and shared care. If you’re a new patient and would like to book an appointment with Rachael for these services, please call the clinic.

Alternatively, you can make an appointment online with another GP or call us on 8579 6838.