marketplace BAHRAIN SPECIALIST HOSPITAL
Underactive Thyroid, Know the Signs Are you feeling tired? Puffy in the face or eyes? Have you gained a few kilos recently? Then you may have a borderline underactive thyroid. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck and produces a hormone, thyroxin, which regulates many functions related to cellular metabolism. Under production of thyroxin is called hypothyroidism, explains Dr Sunil J Rao, internal medicine specialist at Bahrain Specialist Hospital. Your physician will investigate for symptoms suggestive of hypothyroidism including fatigue, dry skin, hairfall, puffy eyes, mood changes, aches and pains, period problems and weight gain. The condition may also cause elevations in your cholesterol profile. Initial investigation will be a blood test, the thyroid stimulating hormone or TSH test which
monitors a hormone, produced by the pituitary gland, which triggers production of thyroxin. An elevated TSH level is an initial indication that the thyroid gland is producing less thyroxin. This is later confirmed by the free thyroxin or FT4 test which measures the free thyroxin levels in the blood, which will usually be on the lower side of the normal range. This finding on laboratory analysis suggests a slight underproduction of thyroxin which is known as subclinical hypothyroidism. The condition affects up to eight per cent of adults, it is more common in women and the elderly and frequently goes unrecognised by physicians. Subclinical hypothyroidism is usually caused by an antibody produced in the blood which attacks the thyroid gland causing mild thyroid failure. Your physician may order blood tests to
Tom, Bruce & Kyle
Dr Sunil J Rao
measure levels of this antibody and an ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland may also be considered. A decision on whether to treat with thyroxin or not is made on a personalised basis depending on a combination of symptoms, the thyroid function results and the levels of thyroid antibodies. Call 13 381-338.
Kareena & Thiago
Travis & JP
Chuckle Club The last leg of the September tour of Chuckle Club saw Kyle Grooms, Bruce Devlin & Tom Toal perform at various venues across Bahrain. Bruce
Helen, Justina & Grace
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Saleh & Hassan
Andrea, Casper & Alain
Rodney & Michelle
Ramy & Julie
Jo, Kristina & Garett
Jad & Dana
Ahmed
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