Dr. Peter M. Kadile is Board Certified in Family Medicine. He has an integrative, osteopathic medical practice and is also known as the local, house call doctor; Desert House Call Physician. He is on staff at Eisenhower Medical Center and medical director for Serenity Hospice. His office is located in beautiful Old Town La Quinta, 78-100 Main Street, Suite 207, La Quinta, CA 92253. (760) 777-7439. Deserthousecalls@aol.com.
www.deserthousecalldoc.com.
Dr. Kadile will be writing a regular column for CV Weekly. Please send any medical questions you have to editor@coachellavalleyweekly.com for him to answer.
By Dr. Peter M. Kadile
The thyroid is the small butterfly shaped gland located in the front of your neck. The hormones that the thyroid produces are responsible for many of the body’s metabolic functions. The thyroid is sometimes referred to as ‘the master gland”.
When the gland is underactive and not producing enough thyroid hormone or not performing optimally, it is hypothyroid. When it is overactive and producing too much thyroid hormone, it is called hyperthyroid.
The symptoms of each condition can vary, but generally, Hypothyroidism can manifest with:
fatigue
sluggishness
depression
difficulty concentrating
weight gain
dry skin
thinning hair
feeling cold
muscle cramps
low body temperature
Hyperthyroidism
nervousness
irritability
increased sweating
thinning skin
muscle weakness
insomnia
racing heartbeat
weight loss
If you suspect you have an underactive or overactive thyroid, your doctor can diagnose you with a thorough history and physical exam along with some blood tests. Depending on the cause of a patient’s hypo- or hyper-thyroid, treatment may be as simple as taking prescription medication and being routinely monitored by your physician.
