The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that site in the neck under the Adam’s apple. It regulates the body’s metabolism by sending the hormone to the organs through the blood.
Your thyroid creates and produces hormones that play a role in many different systems throughout your body. When your thyroid makes either too much or too little of these important hormones, it’s supposed to be a disease.
There are several different types of thyroid disease, including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Two conditions, an overactive gland (hyperthyroidism) and an underactive gland (hypothyroidism) can result when the thyroid isn’t working right.
The diseases are characterized by hyperfunction (hyperthyroidism), hypofunction (hypothyoidism) or inflammation (thyroiditis) of the thyroid gland or the presence of nodules, which can be benign or cancerous. All of these disorders can result in an enlarged gland that causes swelling of the neck, a so-called goiter. It controls your metabolism with a few specific hormones — T4 (thyroxine, contains four iodide atoms) and T3 (triiodothyronine, contains three iodide atoms).
These two hormones are created by the thyroid and they tell the body’s cells how much energy to use. When your thyroid works properly, it will maintain the right amount of hormones to keep your metabolism working at the right rate. As the hormones are used, the thyroid creates replacements.
You may be at a higher risk of developing a thyroid condition if you:
Have a family history of thyroid disease.
Have a medical condition (these can include pernicious anemia, Type 1 diabetes, primary adrenal insufficiency, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome and Turner syndrome).
Take a medication that’s high in iodine (amiodarone).
Are older than 60, especially in women.
Have had treatment for a past thyroid condition or cancer (thyroidectomy or radiation).
Types of disease:
The two main types of thyroid disease are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Both conditions can be caused by other diseases that impact the way the thyroid gland works. Thyroid diseases are characterized by hyperfunction (hyperthyroidism), hypofunction (hypothyoidism) or inflammation (thyroiditis) of the thyroid gland or the presence of thyroid nodules, which can be benign or cancerous. All of these disorders can result in an enlarged thyroid gland that causes swelling of the neck, a so-called goiter.
Hyperthyroidism
An overactive thyroid gland generates too much thyroid hormone, which speeds up metabolism. Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
- rapid heart rate
- frequent bowel movements, even diarrhea
- excessive perspiration
- weakness
- insomnia
- irritability and anxiety
- increased appetite
- weight loss
The first line of treatment for an overactive thyroid gland is drug therapy. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, a dose of radioactive iodine may fix the problem by destroying thyroid cells. Sometimes the treatment damages so much of the gland that it can’t produce enough thyroid hormone and it becomes necessary to take thyroid hormone. Surgery to remove some of the thyroid gland can be an option when other treatments don’t work or aren’t advisable.
Hypothroidism
An underactive thyroid gland doesn’t generate enough thyroid hormone. This condition, which slows metabolism, is increasingly common with age. It can also be caused by Hashimoto’s disease, a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland, or by thyroiditis, an inflammation of the gland.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
- fatigue
- constipation
- dry skin
- muscle pain
- hair loss
- weight gain
Hypothyroidism is usually treated by taking thyroid hormone.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS :
How to do a self-exam of your thyroid.
How is thyroid disease diagnosed?
Sometimes, thyroid disease can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are easily confused with those of other conditions. You may experience similar symptoms when you are pregnant or aging and you would when developing a thyroid disease. Fortunately, there are tests that can help determine if your symptoms are being caused by a thyroid issue. These tests include:
Blood tests.
Imaging tests.
Physical exams.
Blood tests {TSH , T3 ,T4 , Thyroid profile total , Thyroid profile free(hypersensitive)} https://mlsdiagnostics.com/test/46
Additional blood tests might include:
Thyroid antibodies: These tests help identify different types of autoimmune thyroid conditions. Common thyroid antibody tests include microsomal antibodies (also known as thyroid peroxidase antibodies or TPO antibodies), thyroglobulin antibodies (also known as TG antibodies), and thyroid receptor antibodies (includes thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins [TSI] and thyroid blocking immunoglobulins [TBI]).
Calcitonin: This test is used to diagnose C-cell hyperplasia and medullary thyroid cancer, both of which are rare thyroid disorders.
Thyroglobulin: This test is used to diagnose thyroiditis (thyroid inflammation) and to monitor treatment of thyroid cancer.
MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT
How is thyroid disease treated?
Your healthcare provider will help your body to maintain thyroid hormones level. This can be done in a variety of ways and each specific treatment will depend on the cause of your thyroid condition.
If you have high levels of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism), treatments may include:
Anti-thyroid drugs (methimazole and propylthioracil): These are medications that stop your thyroid from making hormones.
Radioactive iodine: This treatment damages the cells of your thyroid, preventing it from making high levels of thyroid hormones.
Beta blockers: These medications don’t change the amount of hormones in your body, but they help manage your symptoms.
Surgery: A more permanent form of treatment, your healthcare provider may surgically remove your thyroid (thyroidectomy). This will stop it from creating hormones. However, you will need to take thyroid replacement hormones for the rest of your life.
If you have low levels of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism), the main treatment may be done is :
Thyroid replacement medication: This drug is a synthetic (man-made) way to add thyroid hormones back into your body. One drug that’s commonly used is called levothyroxine. By using a medication, you can manage thyroid disease and live a normal life.
Are there different types of thyroid removal surgery?
If your healthcare provider determines that your thyroid needs to be removed, there are a couple of ways that can be done. Your thyroid may need to be completely removed or just partially. This will depend on the severity of your condition. Also, if your thyroid is very big (enlarged) or has a lot of growths on it, that could prevent you from being eligible for some types of surgery.https://blogs.mlsdiagnostics.com/