Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Parrish Medical Center - (Page 42)

Your road map to detect, inspect or dodge a potential hazard—a thyroid disorder GEAR GET IN N estled below your voice box, your butterfly-shaped thyroid gland looks quite innocent. But proceed with caution. Weighing in at less than an ounce, it’s a potential hazard. Think of it as your body’s accelerator. If it’s not up to speed, your thyroid can leave you feeling exhausted, depressed or just plain stupid. You’re too wiped out to get off the couch—at 2 p.m. on a leisurely Sunday. You can’t concentrate, and your boss is nagging about the report that was due last week. You can’t remember last night’s dinner conversation or whom you promised to meet for lunch today. It’s tough to connect with your husband and kids when you feel wiped out. But your thyroid also can shift into overdrive. Picture yourself sitting in a car that’s idling quietly at a stoplight—until you ﬂoor the accelerator. You feel all revved up, and you didn’t even order a double shot of espresso in your café latte. As your thyroid pumps out excess hormones, your metabolism revs up. Seriously, who can complain about weight loss without dieting? But an overactive thyroid produces unwanted symptoms as well, from excessive sweating and nervousness to insomnia and hand tremors. While thyroid disorders are generally easy to treat, they’re also easy to miss or misdiagnose. So before you get caught in one of health’s common speed traps, use this road map to detect, inspect and dodge possible trouble. By Lori K. Baker ILLUSTRATION BY PHOTOLIBRARY 42 Vim & Vigor · SUM M ER 2 011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Parrish Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Parrish Medical Center
Contents
Tasty Tips
Opening Thoughts
Community Calendar
What’s New?
Navigating the Healthcare Waters
Girl Talk
Say What?
Action Plan
Like This? Try That!
On the Cover
A Day in the Life of Your Heart
Unexpected Heroes
Get in Gear
A Real Lifesaver
Extras, Extras
Community Health
Thriving With Diabetes
Foundation Focus
Ask the Expert

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Parrish Medical Center