T.J. Samson | Destination Health | June 2021

Allergy shots: Do you need them? Could allergy shots help me? That’s a question you might ask your primary care provider if medications and other steps to control your aller- gies don’t seem to be working. Allergy shots are usually made just for you.They contain tiny amounts of allergens—things that you’re allergic to—and work like vaccines. Your body reacts to an increasing amount of a specific al- lergen, given in gradually increasing doses.Then you develop an immu- nity or tolerance to that allergen. The shots work for allergies to: ● Pollen from trees, weeds and grasses. ● Mold spores in the outside air. ● Cat or dog dander (tiny flakes of fur, hair and skin). ● Dust mites (tiny insects found in dust). Your provider may also suggest allergy shots if you’ve had a seri- ous reaction to a sting from a bee or other insect. But they aren’t effective against allergies to food, latex or medicines. HOW LONG SHOULD YOU TAKE THEM? Most people take allergy shots for three to five years. But some people may need to take them longer. It’s important that you don’t stop get- ting the shots without an OK from your provider. Otherwise, you might not get their full benefit. Sources: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; UpToDate Thinking about giving immunotherapy a shot? Our symptom self-assessment can help you decide. Visit tjregionalhealth.org/ allergyshot . Your thyroid may be just one gland of many in your body, but it controls a lot of important functions. It governs how your body uses energy. It helps your body stay warm. And it keeps your brain, heart, muscles and other organs working the way they’re supposed to. The thyroid does all of this by producing hormones, which are secreted into the blood and sent everywhere throughout the body. So if your thyroid goes awry and produces too few or too many of these hormones, you can have seri- ous health problems. A thyroid that makes too few hormones is underactive, and the condition is called hypothyroidism. A thyroid that produces too many hormones is overactive, and that condition is called hyperthyroidism. Here is what you need to know about both disorders. ALL ABOUT HYPOTHYROIDISM Hypothyroidism is the most com- mon thyroid disorder, according to the Endocrine Society. It occurs more often in women and people over age 60, and it tends to run in families. Symptoms of hypothyroidism can include: ● Tiredness or sluggishness. ● Depression. ● Feeling cold. ● Weight gain. ● Dry skin and hair. ● Constipation. ● Menstrual irregularities. Hypothyroidism also can in- crease the risk for heart disease. It’s particularly dangerous if it occurs during pregnancy or is present in newborns. All babies are tested at birth for hypothyroidism. The disorder is diagnosed by a blood test that measures hormone levels. How it’s treated. Fortunately, hypothyroidism is easily treated by taking synthetic (man-made) hor- mone medicine. Most people need to take hormone replacement medicine for life. Your doctor will check your hormone levels regularly to make sure you’re on the right dosage. ALL ABOUT HYPERTHYROIDISM When your thyroid produces too much hormone it’s usually because of a condition called Graves’ dis- ease.This type of hyperthyroidism occurs most often in young women and, like hypothyroidism, tends to run in families. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include: ● Feeling too hot. ● Increased sweating. ● Muscle weakness. ● Trembling hands. ● Rapid heart rate. ● Tiredness or fatigue. ● Weight loss. ● Diarrhea. ● Irritability. ● Anxiety. ● Eye problems. ● Menstrual irregularities. ● Infertility. As with hypothyroidism, hyperthy- roidism is diagnosed through a blood test that measures hormone levels. How it’s treated. Treatment for hyperthyroidism depends on its cause, your physical condition and how severe the problem is. Differ- ent treatments include: ● Antithyroid medications to lower the production of thyroid hormones. ● Radioactive iodine. This may destroy the thyroid and result in taking thyroid replacement medica- tion for the rest of your life. ● Surgery to remove the thyroid. This is a tricky surgery best per- formed by a surgeon with experi- ence in thyroid removal. ● Beta blocker medications to con- trol symptoms like rapid heartbeat, trembling and anxiety. Additional source: American Thyroid Association Wellness Tiny, but powerful. Do you know all the ways the thyroid gland affects your health? Test yourself at tjregionalhealth.org/thyroidquiz . thyroid problems The highs lows of   & June 2021 3