An ant is enough to cause trouble for an elephant! It’s an old saying as well as a scientific fact. In the same context, a small butterfly-shaped gland in the lower-front position of our neck, called the thyroid, is enough to cause multiple health ailments. These can range from weight gain or loss issues to something as severe as life-threatening cancer. The thyroid releases hormones that affect every part of our body, and any imbalance in their quantity leads to various complications. As per several studies, as much as 32% of the Indian population suffers from thyroid-related ailments, primarily the women who are majorly affected by it.
There are two major thyroid-related disorders. When thyroid hormones are underproduced, the disorder is called hypothyroidism; when they are overproduced, it is called hyperthyroidism. There are multiple causes for several thyroid-related issues, and some of the major ones are as follows:
- Iodine deficiency
- Pregnancy
- Genetic disorder
- Autoimmune disease conditions
- Inflammation of the thyroid gland caused by any virus or bacteria
- Cancerous tumours
- Any side effects of radiation therapy, surgery or any particular medicines
- Intake of Lithium
A lot of times, thyroid disorder isn’t observed on an obvious basis. It shows up while treating for other ailments. However, they do have certain specific symptoms. If you experience any of these, go ahead and consult a medical expert. Let’s have a look at the signs for Hyperthyroidism:
- Feeling anxiety and irritability
- Weight loss
- Insomnia
- Issues related to sight
- Menstrual problems
- Feeling fatigued and experiencing tremors and muscle weakness
- Goitre
Following are some of the hypothyroidism symptoms to keep an eye on:
- Sudden and unexpected weight gain
- Experiencing excessive hair fall
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Feeling tired all the time
- Problems related to vocal chord
On the surface level, none of these seem to be life-threatening or causing any severe damage, but deep down, these point towards thyroid issues. If untreated for a long, they can start affecting your health adversely. Since thyroid hormones affect almost the entire body, it can also affect crucial body organs like the heart and kidneys. That can suddenly turn the simple symptoms into life-altering kinds and turn up the danger to life. That is why it is advised to be mindful of any sudden and unnatural changes happening in your body and report it to your doctor for timely intervention and treatment.
However, diagnosis requires several blood tests as well as other investigative reports. Also, compared to other diseases, thyroid treatment takes longer, which makes the entire process quite a drag on your finances. Unless you have a health insurance policy to cover thyroid, you might find it challenging to get timely and adequate medical help. However, the right health insurance plan to cover endocrinal disorders like the thyroid can help you fight the disease without causing financial hardships.
A lot of insurers cover thyroid, and some of the benefits of these plans are:
- The plans cover not just the patient but their family as well because thyroid illness is passed on genetically as well.
- A cashless component is involved so that you don’t have to worry about day-to-day medical costs and focus on getting treatment first and paying later.
- Most plans cover many day-care procedures because the thyroid can affect different body organs, and not all may require hospitalisation.
- Many health plans also cover free medical check-ups for you and the family.
- The health insurance plan that you will buy will help you get a rebate under section 80D.
The one thing that you need to look closely at in the health plan you choose is the waiting period. Pre-existing diseases aren’t covered until the required waiting period is over, which at times could be as long as 24 to 48 months from the purchase of the policy.
The thyroid isn’t a serious medical condition unless it goes undetected for a long. It’s better to nip it in the bed. In other words, don’t let the ant dance in the elephant’s ears; rather, keep it aside in its place. Figure out the right health plan that covers the thyroid and keeps the medical costs associated with it firmly in check for you to live a relaxed and healthy life.