Few thyroid nodules produce any symptoms, so people will usually only find them by chance. Far more often, they will be detected by your doctor during a routine physical exam or by an imaging study (ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance scan) that is looking at some other condition in the head or neck.
The likelihood of a thyroid nodule being cancerous is greater in those who are less than 20 years old or who are older than 70. The risk of this cancer is also higher in individuals who had undergone radiation of the head and neck, once a common treatment for acne.
How worried should you be if a nodule is found on your thyroid? Not very. About 90 percent to 95 percent of thyroid nodules are not cancerous. Also reassuring: Most common types of thyroid cancer are curable and rarely life-threatening. Nonetheless, nodules require further evaluation to determine whether cancer is present.
If a nodule is easily felt, the physician can usually evaluate it in the office under a local anesthetic by using a thin needle to perform an aspiration biopsy. A small needle is inserted into the nodule several times, each time in a different place, so that the cells withdrawn will be a representative sampling. For nodules that are difficult to feel, the biopsy is done using real-time ultrasound images to guide the needle into the lump. A pathologist then examines these cells under a microscope for cancer.
The biopsy of a thyroid nodule may be interpreted as being either benign, malignant, or indeterminate (suspicious). For benign nodules, only an occasional follow-up exam is required. Malignant nodules, however, are most often treated by removing nearly all of the thyroid gland. Removing the thyroid condemns the patient to a lifetime of taking thyroid hormone pills. The major risks of this surgery are the inadvertent removal of the parathyroid glands, which are closely associated with the thyroid, and damage to the laryngeal nerve.
For nodules considered suspicious, thyroid hormone pills may be administered in an attempt to suppress progression of possible cancer; more often, the suspicious nodules are removed surgically.
While some nodules can be felt easily, I have learned that many doctors are not adept at finding thyroid nodules that are located low down in the gland or buried deep in the thyroid tissue. Also, keep in mind that the utility of any fine-needle aspiration depends on the experience of the doctor who carries out the procedure and of the pathologist who examines the cells.
Well, here are 10 stress busters to help you cope with anxiety:
1. Eat A Healthy Diet. Feeding your body the right foods is essential for managing stress. Be sure to follow a healthy eating plan. During stressful situations, people have a tendency to skip meals. Try to avoid this if at all possible.
When you are already feeling nervous energy coursing through those veins, you want to keep an eye on your caffeine intake. If you keep drinking coffee all day long, it's bound to put you on edge. Green tea has less caffeine than coffee, so it might be a better alternative. Also, instead of resorting to sugary sodas, have a glass of water. Your nerves will thank you. Another way to keep calm is to pack plenty of healthy snacks. Processed foods and sugary candy bars will make you feel strung out. Fresh fruits and vegetables will make you feel much better.
2. Get Plenty of Exercise. Try to fit exercise into your schedule at least three to four times a week for at least 30 to 45 minutes each session. Not only will it keep you in shape, but working out is a great way to blow off steam.
3. Get Plenty Of Rest. Listen to your mother and get a good night's sleep. A proper amount of rest will make it easier to cope with whatever challenges life throws your way tomorrow. Most people need at least seven or eight hours of sleep every night in order to function at their best. Unfortunately, anxiety is one of the leading causes of insomnia. If you find yourself tossing and turning at night, try using relaxing music to try and reclaim your precious Zs. Get yourself into a regular sleep pattern by going to bed at the same time every night. Schedule your bed time as you would an important appointment and try to stick to it.
4. Organization. Are you always trying to get organized? Do you frequently find yourself staying up all night on April 14 to finish your tax return? Well, that situation is very stressful, but it's also avoidable. Planning, scheduling and organizing your time may seem more stressful at first, but it will make your life much easier to manage in the long run.
5. Take a Deep Breath. Breath in, breathe out. As simple as it sounds, using deep breathing can be one of your greatest weapons against stress. Step away from the stressful situation. Close your eyes and breathe deeply and quietly for a few minutes. Just a few minutes of deep breathing is a great way to decompress. As little as three to five minutes of this exercise can make a tremendous difference.
6. Meditation. Though it is foreign to those of us in the West, meditation has been scientifically proven as an effective way to reduce anxiety and put us in touch with our inner strength. If you are new to meditation, you may want to work with a group. Many gyms, churches and civic centers offer meditation classes. If you can't find a meditation course in your area, there are plenty of guided meditations on DVD and CD for you to choose from.
7. Develop A Support Network. As the popular song says, "we all need somebody to lean on." Don't try to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Ask for help from your friends and relatives -- that's what they are there for. And, if you are looking to build your support network, why not join a support group? It is a great way to make new friends and meet people facing the same difficulties.
8. Take Time For Yourself. Be sure to schedule time for fun. It is always easier to cope with stress when you have something to look forward to.
9. Keep Your Sense of Humor. As Oscar Wilde once said, "Life is too important to be taken seriously." Keeping a sense of humor about things and not taking yourself too seriously is one of the most effective coping strategies available. Remember that wherever there is laughter, there is hope.
10. Seek Professional Help. Sometimes all of these strategies may not be enough. If you have been suffering from panic attacks or experiencing high levels of anxiety that just won't go away, seeking professional help may be the best option.
Here are 4 simple tips--things we can do now to prepare our bodies for the long, healthy haul!!
If You Can't Spell It, Don't Eat It! Processed foods age us fast! By overworking our pancreas and digestive system, fake foods just don't work well with our bodies. Stick with the basics by using fresh ingredients first. Eat whole grains, fruits, veggies, and high quality proteins and fats such as beans, nuts, salmon. Shop the perimeter of the food store, and when you absolutely have to buy food in a box, look at the ingredients list. If you can't pronounce the ingredients or have no clue what they are, skip it Switch it Out! All foods are not created equal. For example, yogurt can be a healthy option, but if you're yogurt is filled with sugar or chemicals, you may as well eat a candy bar, right? We're lucky, though, because we have SO many choices. Switch to plain all-natural yogurt and add fresh fruit. Or, if you only eat white pasta or bread, try whole grain varieties instead. If you switch out your "staple" foods for higher quality options, your body will thank you in years to come! Slip it In! Ok, so you may not be ready to do a 180 when it comes to food. I totally understand. But filling your body with antioxidants will make you glow from the inside-out! Trick yourself by "slipping in" healthy ingredients to your everyday choices. For example, flax is a powerful antioxidant that's so easy to add to almost anything! Use it when you're making chicken fingers, add it to your cereal, sneak it in to your morning muffins. Muscle Matters! Strong muscles and healthy bones can add years of high energy, high quality living! Make sure to build your muscle and protect your bones by doing stretching, strength training, or even water exercises. And, if you're complaining about your metabolism slowing down as you age, don't worry- strength training can rev that up, too!! You'll become a strong, healthy, fat burning machine in no time!
