Thyroid Awareness Month

/ Medsana News / By

The month of May is Thyroid Awareness Month. This month we are raising awareness of Thyroid disorders.

What is the Thyroid Gland?

The Thyroid Gland is a soft, small bow-shaped gland, located in the front of the neck, below the voice box or larynx (Adam’s Apple) on either side of the trachea (windpipe). It is part of the endocrine system and produces the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The Thyroid Gland is controlled by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland at the base of the brain and manufactures hormones that regulate your body’s metabolism.

What are Thyroid Disorders?

Several different disorders can arise when your thyroid produces too much hormone (hyperthyroidism) or not enough (hypothyroidism). Four common disorders of the thyroid are Hashimoto’s disease, Graves’ disease, Goiter, and Thyroid nodules.

The many causes of thyroid disorders include:

  • Iodine Deficiency
  • Autoimmune Disease
  • Viral and bacterial inflammation causing thyroiditis (subacute thyroiditis)
  • Familial Disorders
  • Nodules which have formed on the Thyroid Gland
  • Benign and Malignant (cancer) tumours on the Thyroid Gland

Are Thyroid Disorders Common?

  • Ten times more women than men worldwide will be diagnosed with some form of thyroid disorder.
  • Thyroid disorders, especially hypothyroidism – or an underactive thyroid, becomes more common as we grow older.
  • Statistics show 1 million Australians have an undiagnosed thyroid disorder.

Symptoms of an Unhealthy Thyroid 

 

For more information, please see the Australian Thyroid Foundation’s website at https://thyroidfoundation.org.au/

Please visit your GP or call Medsana Medical Clinic at (07) 385204878 to test your thyroid and check your neck.

Timely PCR Swab Service

Available between 8:30am – 9am

 

  1. Short Telephone Consult with the patient – bulk billed if Medicare eligible. Private fees with no Medicare rebates apply if the patient has not seen us in the last 12 months.
  2. The doctor will request a respiratory panel for viruses and bacteria (where clinically appropriate).  For example, Influenza, Covid, RSV, mycoplasma, pertussis and so forth.  Not all possible infections are on this panel.  The doctor may decline the request if it is not appropriate and direct the patient accordingly.
  3. Normal fees will apply if more than swabbing is requested.  Clinical examination and other requests requires a normal consultation at another time.
  4. Patient arrives at the car park next to Building 10 before 11am.  Or takes the pathology request to another 4Cyte collection centre.
  5. Patient calls reception to notify of their arrival so the 4Cyte Pathology Collector can gown up and go the patient’s car to swab the patient.
  6. PCR swab gets sent to 4Cyte.  The processing times varies according to workflows.
  7. 4Cyte will SMS the patient with the Covid results.  Positive PCR test results for other respiratory viruses or bacteria are not named.  A negative PCR result doesn’t mean the patient is infection free.  These swabs narrow down the possibilities and guide appropriate treatments.
  8. An appropriate appointment needs to be made for results in person, via video or via phone.  Normal fees applies for these consult.  Normal fees applies if the doctor calls the patient for further clinical advice and management.  
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