Thyroid symptoms, causes, and treatment
According to a study, 1 in 10 Indians suffers from a Thyroid disorder. But unfortunately, awareness among people about this disease is very low. Today through this article on www.rajinfotechy.com, my effort will be to understand this disease in simple language and if there are symptoms of thyroid, then it should be treated at the right time. So let's know that -
What is the thyroid?
The thyroid is the name of a gland located in the throat. This gland is present in the front part of the throat and its shape is like a butterfly. It is used to control many metabolic processes * of the body.
Chemical reactions in the body that are necessary for our life.
What are thyroid problems? / Thyroid Problems
The hormones produced from Thyroid Gland affect all metabolic processes that occur in the body. Thyroid disorders can range from minor illnesses like goiter to life-threatening cancer. But the most common thyroid problem is the lack of proper production of thyroid hormones. There are two types of problems in this -
Hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism/hyperthyroidism): excess hormones are produced
Hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism): production of less than necessary hormones
These problems can cause many problems, but if properly diagnosed and treated, they can be managed well.
Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid)
Sometimes doctors also call Hyperthyroidism as an overactive thyroid.
The hormones emanating from the thyroid gland affect almost all parts of the body, skin, brain, muscles, nothing is untouched by it. Their most important thing is to control the energy being used by the body, which we know as metabolism. How the heart beats in it, how the temperature of the body is controlled, and how we burn our calories; It is all included.
Causes of hyperthyroidism
1. Graves' disease
It is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. This is a type of autoimmune condition in which the immune system of our body creates an antibody which causes the thyroid gland to release more thyroid hormone. If one person in the family has this disease then other people may also have problems. Usually, this problem occurs in younger women.
2. Thyroiditis
Thyroid inflammation is called thyroiditis. In thyroiditis, a virus or a problem in the immune system causes the thyroid gland to swell and to leak hormones into the bloodstream.
Subacute
Thyroiditis occurring suddenly due to some unknown reason, which is cured on its own after a few months.
Postpartum / Postpartum
This type of Thyroiditis affects women after pregnancy. After the child is born, 1-2 out of 10 women have this problem. Usually, this problem persists for one to two months and after that, the problem of hypothyroidism arises for a few months. But the good thing is that after some time the thyroid returns to normal in most cases.
Silent
It is similar to postpartum thyroiditis, but it has nothing to do with pregnancy.
3. Thyroid nodule/thyroid nodule
In this problem, one or more lumps or nodules grow in the thyroid gland, which increases the activity of the gland and causes more thyroid hormone to be released in your blood.
4. Excess iodine/iodine sufficiency
If you consume iodine in excess, then the problem of hyperthyroidism can also arise.
Actually, our body uses iodine to make thyroid hormone and when it starts getting more and more then the hormone also becomes more and it becomes a problem.
5. Thyroid medications thyroid therapy
Hyperthyroidism can also occur if you take too much thyroid hormone medication. If you are undergoing treatment for hypothyroidism, never take an extra dose of medicine without asking a doctor, even if you have forgotten to take the medicine before.
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism / Hyper- Thyroid Symptoms
Often the symptoms of hyperthyroidism are not very clear and are similar to other diseases. If you have a very mild form of hyperthyroidism then you may not see any symptoms. But when this problem happens, then you have trouble doing daily things.
In most patients with hyperthyroidism, the thyroid becomes enlarged, which we also call goiter or goiter. In such a situation, you feel a lump in the front part of the throat.
In addition, these symptoms of hyperthyroidism may be:
- Anxiety, nervousness, and irritability
- Weight loss despite increased appetite
- Increase the frequency of bowel movement and loose stool
- Sleep problems
- Having double vision problems
- Eye drops
- Hair problems such as breakage, thinning and loss
- Heartbeat being irregular, especially among older people
- Changes in the menstrual cycle, including mild bleeding and decreased frequency of periods.
- Muscle weakness, especially in the thighs and upper arms
- Rapid fingernails
- Trembling hands
- to sweat
- Skin thinning
How is hyperthyroidism diagnosed? / Hyperthyroidism Diagnosis?
It can be found by these tests:
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) blood test
- Thyroid ultrasound
- Radioactive iodine uptake test
- Thyroid scan
- Hyperthyroidism Treatment / Hyperthyroidism Treatment
- Hyperthyroidism is treated by looking at your age, health, the severity of symptoms, and the real cause of overactive thyroid.
The doctor can give you treatment in these ways:
Anti-thyroid drugs
It contains drugs such as propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole (Tapazole), which prevent the thyroid gland from producing new hormones. However, it may have some side effects.
Radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment by radioactive iodine
This is the most common way to treat hypothyroidism in America. In this, the patient is given RAI in the form of a medicine pill that reduces or completely stops the process of thyroid hormone formation. Side effects of this treatment can cause a person to have hypothyroidism, but it should not be disturbed because it is much easier to control hypothyroidism than hyperthyroidism. This treatment cannot be given to pregnant women.
Treatment by surgery
Complete or part of thyroid removal by surgery, known as a thyroidectomy. In this method also the person has to treat the rest of life underactive thyroid.
Beta-blockers
They are used to reduce heart rate. There is no decrease in thyroid hormone levels but the heart rate is corrected.
Complications caused by hyperthyroidism
If you have hyperthyroidism, it is very important to treat it properly. Failure to do so can lead to serious and fatal problems.
The major complications associated with hyperthyroidism are:
Irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation) irregular heart rate
Heart failure
Abortion
Osteoporosis and breakdown of bones (hyperthyroidism causes calcium to dissipate faster than bones)
The rapid deterioration of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism is called a Thyrotoxic crisis and it is very important to get it treated immediately.
It may cause the following symptoms:
- Fainting
- Be confused
- Loss of awareness
- Have fever
- Restlessness, and
- Pulse run
Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid)
Hypothyroidism is also called underactive thyroid. The thyroid gland of a person suffering from this disease does not produce the proper amount of thyroid hormone. If these hormones are reduced in the body, then the process of the body slows down. That is, the body produces less energy and our metabolism slows down.
It can be of two types:
- If Hypothyroidism occurs due to a problem in the thyroid gland directly, it is called Primary Hypothyroidism.
- If any other problem impedes the thyroid gland's ability to produce thyroid hormone, it is called Secondary Hypothyroidism.
Causes of Hypothyroidism / Hypothyroidism Causes?
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This is a type of autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the thyroid gland. When Hashimoto's thyroiditis occurs, the body produces antibodies that attack the thyroid gland and destroy it. Thyroiditis can also be caused by a viral infection.
Other causes of hypothyroidism are:
1. Radiation therapy around the throat: which can be given while treating cancer.
2. Radioactive iodine treatment: If RAI is used in the treatment of an overactive thyroid gland, the cells of the thyroid gland are destroyed due to radiation, and hypothyroidism occurs.
3. Due to some special medicines: Some medicines used in the treatment of heart, cancer, and psychiatric problems such as -amiodarone (Cordarone), lithium, interferon-alpha, and interleukin-2; The thyroid reduces or inhibits the production of hormones, thus the problem of hypothyroidism starts.
4. Thyroid surgery: If the thyroid gland is removed in treatment, for example: to treat hyperthyroidism then the person becomes hypothyroidism.
5. Iodine deficiency in food: Our body does not make iodine itself, so we should take it in food. For this, iodized salt, eggs, fish, and dairy products should be consumed.
6. Pregnancy: After pregnancy, the production of thyroid hormone increases in many women, leading to hyperthyroidism first and hypothyroidism after falling production. In most cases, this problem ends in a few months.
7. Thyroid disease at birth: In some children, the thyroid gland does not develop properly or does not work properly since birth. This condition is called congenital hypothyroidism.
8. Disorders in the Pituitary gland: This is very rare, but sometimes thyroid hormone production gets messed up when there is a problem in the pituitary gland. Actually, the pituitary gland produces thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) that tells the thyroid how much hormone to produce and release.
9. Hypothalamus disorder: This is also very rare, in which the hypothalamus in the brain does not produce TRH hormone, due to which the Pituitary gland TSH hormone gets affected and ultimately the production of thyroid hormone is disturbed.
Who is at risk of hypothyroidism?
Mostly these problems occur to women, especially older women. If someone in your home has an autoimmune disease, you can still suffer from hypothyroidism.
Some more risk factors are:
- Species (being white or Asian)
- Age (older)
- Premature gray hair
- Autoimmune disorders, such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, Addison's disease, pernicious anemia, or vitiligo
- Bipolar disorder
- Down syndrome
- Turner syndrome
Symptoms of hypothyroidism / Hypo - Thyroid Symptoms
Its symptoms are not very clear and can match other diseases:
- Changes in the menstrual cycle
- Constipation (Read: Ayurvedic and home remedies to relieve constipation)
- Depression (Read: Depression - Causes and Prevention)
- Hair loss
- Dry skin
- Exhaustion
- Be more sensitive to cold (Read: How to treat cold-cold, phlegm & cold?)
- Slow heart rate
- Thyroid gland swelling (goiter)
- Sudden weight gain or difficulty in losing weight.
- Symptoms of hypothyroidism in children are not detected early. Some of the symptoms are:
(Hypothyroidism symptoms in children)
- Cold feet
- Constipation
- Too much sleep
- Hoarse cry
- Low or no increase
- Frequent jaundice
- Swollen face
- Abdominal bloating
- Tongue swelling
How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?
To detect this, there are some blood tests in which hormone levels are detected. The doctor may ask you for these tests:
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- T4 (thyroxine)
- Thyroid ultrasound
- Thyroid scan
- Hypothyroidism Treatment?
You can prescribe synthetic (man-made) thyroid hormone T4 for the treatment of hypothyroidism. Which you can take as a pill. Keep in mind that before taking it, you must tell the doctor about the remaining medicines or food-supplements and diet.
In the event of this disease, you have to periodically undergo a blood test to check the thyroid hormone level and take medicines according to the current hormone level.
Complication due to hypothyroidism
- Heart problems heart disease
- Infertility or infertility
- Joint pens
- obesity
- In pregnant women, this problem can inhibit the development of the infant. In the first month of pregnancy, the child receives thyroid hormone from his mother and if the mother has this problem, there may be a problem in the mental development of the baby.
- If the thyroid hormone levels are very low, then the person may have the most severe form of hypothyroidism as myxedema. In this condition, a person can go into a coma or his body temperature may fall too low, which can also lead to death.
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