Doctors urge getting your thyroid checked

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - The thyroid is a gland in your neck that controls metabolism, and helps regulate many other bodily functions. 

The symptoms can be obvious in some cases, but not always. Hypothyroidism is when low production occurs, and an overactive thyroid is diagnosed as hyperthyroidism.

The two conditions typically have different signs and symptoms.

"Fast heartbeat or feeling anxious. Feeling agitated. Having, you know, palpitations and having low thyroid, which is more common, has kind of more recognized symptoms, which would be feeling cold or feeling tired. Having weight gain, having constipation," said Dr. Laura Gutierrez, obstetrician and gynecologist at Las Palmas Medical Center.

Gutierrez adds while anyone can develop thyroid issues, especially with age, experts say it's much more common in women.

Doctors advice patients to keep track of their menstrual cycle if they want to have children, as the condition may make it difficult to get pregnant.

"If it's off, it doesn't necessarily mean that you're not going to get pregnant. But it can delay pregnancy to some extent. And so the sooner we optimize it, the sooner we control our thyroid levels and make sure that are in the right range, then we can expect that our health will improve, fertility will improve, and all pregnancy outcomes will be healthier," said Gutierrez.

A routine blood order could signal any problems and help your doctor determine treatment options.