How do I know whether I am at risk of having thyroid
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland, about the
hormonal imbalance and how can it be diagnosed?
size of two thumbs, located in front of the
High or low thyroid hormone levels can be easily diagnosed through a blood test.
windpipe. Its main function is to produce, store
It is recommended that all females above the age of 35 years old to go for a routine
and release thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones
thyroid blood check every five years to detect thyroid hormonal imbalance. Women
Knowing About Thyroid Hormonal Dysfunction
regulate many cellular processes in the body,
at risk of developing thyroid hormonal problems include those with:
governs not only our metabolic rate but also
impacts the fat, cholesterol and sugar usage,
hence affecting the overall balance of energy in
• Recent pregnancy and within a year of post-partum• Drug usage (such as lithium, amiodarone)
• Autoimmune disorders such as Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus (SLE), Rheumatoid Arthritis
Women with fertility issues should also get their thyroid hormone screened as
Endocrinologists from
dysfunction refers to imbalance in the thyroid
thyroid dysfunction can lead to infertility, miscarriage, preterm labour, foetal and
Mount Elizabeth Hospital and
hormone level, which is usually regulated closely
Parkway East Hospital,
in our bloodstream. In a diseased state, thyroid
Dr Chia Su-Yin and Dr Ho Su
I have a lump at my neck. How do I know if it is a
(hyperthyroidism) or too low (hypothyroidism). Chin understand the concerns
It is easy to do a neck check. The thyroid is located in between the Adam’s apple and
development of lumps (or nodules) inside the
the collar bone. Stand in front of a mirror, tilt your head backward slightly and
swallow, focusing your attention on the area mentioned above. A thyroid lump or
independently or in multiples; and vary in size
nodule moves with swallowing. If you detect a swelling which moves with swallowing,
from less than 1cm to 6-8cm. Depending on the
you should confirm it with your doctor.
size and location, these nodules may be easily seen or felt in the neck while others could only be
If the thyroid lump/nodule is not causing any trouble,
Most thyroid lumps are benign. Approximately five percent of thyroid nodules are
cancerous. Thyroid cancer often presents as thyroid lumps/nodules and they often do not cause any pain or discomfort. Rarely does it lead to hoarseness of voice,
difficulty in speech or swallowing when the cancer is advanced. Thus it is difficult to
differentiate between benign (harmless) thyroid nodules from thyroid cancer based
weight loss despite increased appetite, excessive
nervousness, anxiety, tremulousness, rapid
heartbeat, insomnia, weakness in arm and thigh
muscles, as well as irregular scanty menstruation.
lethargy, weight gain, edema, muscle ache,
intolerance to cold, constipation, dry skin,
coarse hair, hoarse voice, heavy menstruation and depression. ParkwayHealth Patient Assistance Centre 24-Hour Helpline: (65) 6735 5000
Email: [email protected] • Websites: www.ppac.sg | www.womenandchildren.sg
Connect with us on at www.facebook.com/parkwayhealth
Gleneagles Hospital • Mount Elizabeth Hospital • Parkway East Hospital (Best Healthcare Experience)
Encyclopedia of Death and the Human Experience . Clifton D. Bryant & Dennis L. Peck (Eds), pp. 152-155. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE. In its most general meaning caregiving is the providing of what is needed. Caregiving is used both as a noun and as a verb. As a noun, it refers to the organisation of healthcare. As a verb, caregiving refers to both ‘taking care of’, which means tha
FDA Doc Claims Fen-Phen Cover-Up The drug company that manufactured "fen-phen," a diet medication linked to heart ailments, covered up problems with the drug that emerged during Food and Drug Administration testing, a former FDA scientist tells CBS News. Fen-phen was removed from the market in 1997. Thousands of people who took the drug have sued American Home Products of
How do I know whether I am at risk of having thyroid
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland, about the
hormonal imbalance and how can it be diagnosed?
size of two thumbs, located in front of the
High or low thyroid hormone levels can be easily diagnosed through a blood test.
windpipe. Its main function is to produce, store
It is recommended that all females above the age of 35 years old to go for a routine
and release thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones
thyroid blood check every five years to detect thyroid hormonal imbalance. Women
Knowing About Thyroid Hormonal Dysfunction
regulate many cellular processes in the body,
at risk of developing thyroid hormonal problems include those with:
governs not only our metabolic rate but also
impacts the fat, cholesterol and sugar usage,
hence affecting the overall balance of energy in
• Recent pregnancy and within a year of post-partum• Drug usage (such as lithium, amiodarone)
• Autoimmune disorders such as Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus (SLE), Rheumatoid Arthritis
Women with fertility issues should also get their thyroid hormone screened as
Endocrinologists from