The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that is located in front of the windpipe in the neck. This gland makes hormones that help control the many parts of your metabolism. According to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), “an estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease” and about “60 percent of those who have thyroid disease are unaware of their condition.” In addition, ATA also states that women are more likely to have thyroid problems than men. Iodine deficiency, inflammation of the thyroid, and cancerous tumors of the thyroid gland are only to mention a few of the possible causes of thyroid disease. Today, we will discuss a few types of thyroid disease and their symptoms: 1. Underactive thyroid gland One of two common problems associated with the thyroid is an underactive thyroid gland. In hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland does not make enough of the crucial hormones that are necessary for the body to run normally. In addition to the causes previously mentioned, hypothyroidism can also be caused by an autoimmune disease, congenital, and damage to the pituitary gland. Signs or symptoms can vary from person to person and may go unnoticed during its early onset. Low levels of hormones produced by the thyroid can affect the body’s systems in many ways.

The cervix is the part of the woman’s body where the lower part of the uterus connects to the vagina. Cervical cancer occurs when the cells in the cervix become abnormal and multiply rapidly. Most of the cases of cervical cancer are caused by a specific virus, the human papilloma virus, or HPV. It is an insidious cancer that doesn’t cause a lot of signs and symptoms until the cancer has advanced. The condition nowadays can be screened and treated during its early stages. There are some early warning signs of cervical cancer and they include the following: 1. Pain during sex When engaging in sexual activity with your partner, you may feel some pain and discomfort during the process. It is advisable to see your doctor for further screening of what is ailing you. Pain during sex is one of the early indications that you might be suffering from cervical cancer. 2. Bleeding during intercourse Another early sign of cervical cancer is bleeding during sexual intercourse. Sometimes the bleeding might be accompanied by pain and itching. Vaginal bleeding during sex can be due to dryness, but it is good to seek further advice from your doctor when you experience such signs.

Multiple myeloma, also referred to as plasma cell myeloma, is a type of cancer that affects blood cells, particularly white blood cells, which generally produces antibodies. At the early stages, the condition rarely shows any noticeable symptoms. As it progress, back pains, anemia, frequent infections, and easy bleeding may be experienced. If left untreated, the condition may lead to a complication known as amyloidosis. The cause of multiple myeloma is unknown. However, risk factors of multiple myeloma include obesity, genes, and exposure to radiation and chemicals. Multiple myeloma is considered treatable, but not curable. Remissions may be brought about through chemotherapy, the use of steroids, targeted therapy, and stem transplant. To reduce bone pain, bisphosphonates, and radiation therapy are recommended. Multiple myeloma is a prevalent condition in America, affecting approximately 6.5 per 100,000 people annually, and about 0.7 percent of people are affected throughout their lifetime. So what are the early warning signs of multiple myeloma? 1. No symptoms It is not easy to detect the signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma. During the early phase of cancer, you will likely experience no symptoms. As the disease advances, symptoms vary greatly, and one person’s experience may be different from the other person.

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement. The substance dopamine is responsible for coordinated muscle movements and when levels are reduced the symptoms of Parkinson’s begin to appear. Symptoms can include tremors, slow and imprecise movements, muscle rigidity, and the loss of balance. With medication it is possible to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Dyskinesia, defined as uncontrollable, abnormal, and involuntary movements, is another disorder that is a side effect because of long-term use of a Parkinson’s medication, levodopa. 1. Dyskinesia This disorder will occur when other typical Parkinson’s symptoms are under control. When the person is feeling stressed or excited it can increase. Someone who is diagnosed with this disorder can have one body part, one side of the body, or entire body movements. The movements may look like fidgeting, wriggling, head bobbing, writhing, or body swaying. There are many people who prefer this over the stiffness and decreased mobility of Parkinson’s. Even though the cause is uncertain, it has been linked to long-term use of medications. It is possible to help the symptoms by adjusting dosages of medication or even the timing. Sometimes adding an extended release form of the medication will aid in the severity because levels will remain more stable.

Lymphoma is a disease that occurs when the white blood cells that inhabit the body become cancerous. Just like blood, lymph circulates throughout the body and helps the immune system fight against infections; this same substance is how white blood cells move throughout the circulatory system. Lymph nodes should clean and replenish lymph as it travels, however lymphoma causes complications in this process. Some lymphoma symptoms are hard to detect. Yet below are a few common early warning signs of lymphoma that may indicate cancer within the lymphatic system: 1. Swelling of the lymph nodes Cancerous white blood cells will have difficulty moving through the lymph nodes. These nodes are designed to filter out waste from the lymph system, so when an enlarged cancer cell enters it becomes trapped. As the severity of lymphoma increases and more white blood cells turn cancerous, the number of trapped cells can become great enough to cause swelling. This swelling may not be painful, as this is a natural part of the immune system’s behavior, but intense swelling in multiple areas may be a sign of serious illness. 2. Fatigue Fatigue, which primarily stems from a problem in red blood cell count or efficiency, is a symptom of many cancers.