Description
Isabel Guzman Garcia
How are thyroid disorders diagnosed, and what diagnostic tests commonly evaluate thyroid function? How do nurse practitioners interpret these tests to diagnose and manage thyroid disorders?
Thyroid disorders are usually diagnosed through blood tests. The provider would diagnose thyroid issues by testing TSH T4, T3, and thyroid antibody tests. Nurse practitioners interpret these tests and can give the patient a diagnosis. A low TSH level is diagnosed as hyperthyroidism or having an overactive thyroid (NIH, 2023). High TSH can mean the patient has hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid (NIH, 2023). When T4 is high, this can also indicate hyperthyroidism and vice versa. T3 test can be done to confirm a diagnosis. If T3 is high, this can help diagnose hyperthyroidism (NIH, 2023). Thyroid antibody tests can also be used to diagnose autoimmune disorders. Various tests can assist healthcare providers in diagnosing an abnormal condition in the thyroid. This includes referring the patient to an ultrasound, thyroid scan, and radioactive iodine uptake test.
Nurse practitioners can interpret the results of these tests and explain to the patient what was found. If anything is abnormal, Nurse Practitioners can explain what treatment and lifestyle changes are needed to manage their can. A Nurse Practitioner can also do a focused physical exam on the patient by palpating for any lumps or bumps. If a node is found, the provider can send their patient to have a biopsy done to check for any cancerous cells in the thyroid. Depending on if there is a diagnosis, the provider should be able to fully explain every diagnosis to their patient and explain if there is any medication that must be started for management of the new diagnosis.
Soo Jin Kim
What are the health consequences of obesity, and how do these conditions impact overall health and wellness? Discuss your experience managing the potential complications and comorbidities associated with obesity, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea.
People who are overweight (defined as a BMI of 25 or higher) or obese (defined as a BMI of 30 or higher), compared to those with healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions (CDC, 2022). The complications include hypertension, Dyslipidemia, Type 2 DM, Coronary heart disease, Stroke, Gallbladder disease, Osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, breathing problems, many types of cancer, low quality of life, mortality, mental illness (depression, anxiety, or other mental disorders), and body pain and difficulty with physical functioning (CDC, 2022).
According to the CDC, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight includes healthy eating, physical activity, optimal sleep, and stress reduction (2023). It seems very simple, but achieving and maintaining a healthy weight in real life is tough. As for my experience with managing potential complications and comorbidities associated with obesity, I would like to share about how I have overcome diabetes resulting from being overweight. I was diagnosed with DM2 and fatty liver in April this year because I was overweight and had abdominal obesity. At that time, I hadn’t exercised for a long time except walking with my dog around my neighborhood occasionally. Also, I hadn’t watched my diet while eating much food with high carbohydrates and drinking beer almost daily. As a result, I became one of the diabetes patients. I was shocked to hear the bad news but determined to change my lifestyle. First, I have stopped drinking beer. Second, I have avoided high-carbohydrate food. Lastly, I started a yoga class and have done yoga with my husband for 1 hour at least three times a week. My husband agreed to do yoga together to help me not miss the yoga class (family support is essential for lifestyle modification). After three months of lifestyle modifications, I lost 18 lbs, my A1c level dropped to 5.4 from 6.6, and my liver returned to normal in the ultrasound test. From my experience, I learned that firm determination and consistent efforts are the most critical factors in achieving a healthy weight. Now, I am very confident in educating my patients on how important lifestyle modification is when they manage potential complications and comorbidities associated with obesity.
