Dr. Jaime Goodman of Knox Community Hospital describes the thyroid as "a small gland with a big job to do."
It's located at the front of the neck and produces a hormone that is vital to the body, Goodman said. When the thyroid isn't working correctly, it can cause a long list of potential health problems.
"The thyroid is really a metabolic machine," Goodman explained. "It helps govern all types of metabolic activities and how well the body can do things."
If a thyroid is either overactive, which is hyperthyroidism, or underactive, which is hypothyroidism, the condition could be life-threatening, the physician said.
"With hyperthyroidism, people can have such a fast heartbeat that you can die from that," she said. "With hypothyroidism, your heart can slow down so that you require a pacemaker temporarily."
Thyroid problems can also affect the kidneys, sometimes even leading to patients having to have dialysis, said Goodman.
The COVID-19 virus can actually cause the thyroid to become inflamed, a condition called thyroiditis.
"Any time there is a stress to the body, the thyroid can become inflamed and it kind of dumps all the thyroid hormone that it has been making and storing," Goodman said.
"Ninety percent of the patients recover and return to normal thyroid function. About 10% are not able to recover and will remain hypothyroid."
She urges patients with a family history of thyroid problems to make sure their physicians are aware.
"Some of it is caused by genetics, but it doesn't have to be," said Goodman.
Possible symptoms of thyroid problems include sudden weight gain or weight loss and hair loss.
"People can feel cold; they can feel hot, sweaty," said Goodman. "They can be tired, not sleeping well, jittery or shaky. Some people get very hungry if they are hyperthyroid."
Treatments include medication, radioactive iodine and surgery.
There can also be nodules on the thyroid.
"Most of those are not cancer, but they can be," said Goodman.
Goiters, an enlarged thyroid, or nodules, which are masses in the thyroid, are conditions that, if very pronounced, can make it difficult for patients to swallow or even breathe.
Physicians can check thyroid activity with a simple blood test, and if needed, imaging, said Goodman.
