For such a little gland, the thyroid sure causes some big problems.
And those problems don’t just present personal challenges to the 20 million Americans with thyroid disease. They also impact millions of American workers with thyroid issues, creating struggles that can harm job performance: Decreased motivation, concentration, and focus are among the many faulty-thyroid symptoms that can put a real dent in an employee’s production.
“Thyroid issues can lead to many things that affect our health,” said Dr. Jeremy Wigginton, Capital Blue Cross Chief Medical Officer. “Those include weight fluctuations, fatigue, heart disease, loss of bone mass, depression, and even problems with pregnancy.”
This potentially pesky, butterfly-shaped organ wrapped around the windpipe. The thyroid makes and releases hormones that keep your body humming along normally – metabolism control, for instance, is among its main jobs. When something is askew, it can release too many or too few of these hormones.
And that can create havoc.
Two main types
The key, Dr. Wigginton said, is getting to your doctor for the right tests that lead to the right diagnoses, which then ripple to the right treatments and medications.
Trouble is, roughly 60% of Americans with thyroid conditions don’t even know they have them, according to the American Thyroid Association (ATA). The ATA also reports that 10% of Americans will develop thyroid issues in their lifetimes, and that they’re far more prevalent – by a factor of 5 to 8 times – in women than men.
While there are various thyroid-disease subtypes spanning a broad spectrum, there are two primary types: Overactive (or hyperthyroidism) and underactive (hypothyroidism) thyroids.
Here's how thyroid problems can harm job performance
So why should employers be concerned about staff suffering from thyroid disease? Because it lowers the some of the main qualities essential to quality performance.
Overactive thyroids make too much of the gland’s hormone, causing the body to burn energy more quickly than it should. Underactive ones produce too little of the hormone. This also makes you tired, but may lead to weight gain and an intolerance for colder temperatures.
Here’s a breakdown of potential effects on employees.
Overactive thyroid:
Difficulty focusing
Anxiety
Upset stomach
Feeling hot / excessive sweating
Underactive thyroid:
Lack of motivation
Struggle to meet deadlines
Poor memory
Impaired concentration
How to help employees
Employers can help their staff cope with and catch thyroid issues through educational campaigns that convey the many signals and perils of the problems, and by offering health plans that make necessary testing and treatments affordable.
While thyroid diseases can sometimes be difficult to diagnose because they mirror other conditions, blood tests, imaging tests, and regular physical exams can lead doctors to accurate conclusions. Offering health insurance that helps cover screenings and prescribed medications obviously goes a long way toward helping your employees contain their thyroid issues.
Capital Blue Cross offers many employer group and individual benefits that may cover a variety of thyroid screenings, treatments, and medications when medically necessary.
“Thyroid issues are very common, and although they are often lifelong, they can be effectively managed with the right treatment, which usually includes medication,” Dr. Wigginton said. “The most important way to prevent and treat thyroid disease is to have regular visits with a healthcare provider. Let them know how you are feeling, and about any new symptoms you may be having, or any changes in your activity or sleep. That combined with routine blood tests can often detect and determine the best course of treatment and monitoring to prevent serious impacts to your health.”