Thyroid
Thyroid gland plays a crucial role in your body by producing and managing thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism. Your body converts the food you eat into energy through a process called metabolism. Your body uses this energy to maintain the proper operation of many different systems. Consider your metabolism to be a generator. It absorbs raw energy and transfers it to a larger object.
T4 (thyroxine, which includes four iodide atoms) and T3 (triiodothyronine, which contains three iodide atoms) are two particular hormones produced by the thyroid that regulate metabolism. Accordingly, the thyroid produces these two hormones, which instruct the body's cells on how much energy to use. Your thyroid will maintain the proper level of hormones to keep your metabolism operating at the proper rate when it is functioning properly.
Types of Thyroid Diseases
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are the two primary forms of thyroid illness. Both problems can be brought on by other illnesses that affect the thyroid gland's functionality.
Hypothyroidism
The following conditions can result in hypothyroidism:
- Thyroiditis: This illness causes the thyroid gland to inflame and enlarge. It can reduce your thyroid's ability to generate hormones.
- Thyroiditis due to Hashimoto's: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a non-painful autoimmune illness in which the thyroid is attacked and harmed by the body's cells.
- Five to nine percent of women experience postpartum thyroiditis after giving birth. It normally only lasts a short while.
- Lack of iodine: The thyroid needs iodine to make hormones. Around the world, many million people suffer from an iodine shortage.
- A non-functioning thyroid gland: Occasionally, the thyroid gland is not functioning from birth. As a result, the child may have physical and mental problems in the future if untreated. In the hospital, a screening blood test is administered to all infants to check their thyroid function.
Hyperthyroidism
The following conditions can result in hyperthyroidism:
- Graves' disease: The thyroid gland as a whole may be overactive and generate excessive amounts of hormone in this condition.
- Nodules: Excessively active thyroid nodules might result in hyperthyroidism. A goiter with many nodules is referred to as a toxic multi-nodular thyroid nodule, whereas a single one is known as a toxic autonomously functioning thyroid nodule.
- Thyroiditis: This condition may or may not cause any pain. The thyroid releases hormones the stored hormones. This may continue for several weeks or months.
- Iodine overdose: The thyroid produces more thyroid hormones than it needs when the body contains too much iodine, a mineral that is utilized to manufacture thyroid hormones. Cough syrups and some drugs, such as the heart medication amiodarone, contain excessive iodine.
Treatment of Thyroid Diseases
Treatment options for hyperthyroidism, or elevated thyroid hormone levels, can include:
Methimazole and propylthiouracil are anti-thyroid medications: These drugs prevent the thyroid from producing hormones.
Radioactive iodine therapy damages the thyroid, which prevents it from producing many thyroid hormones.
Beta-blockers: These drugs help you manage your symptoms, but they do not alter the number of hormones in your body.
Surgery: Your healthcare professional might surgically remove your thyroid as a more long-term therapeutic option (thyroidectomy). As a result, it will not produce hormones. On the other hand, you will always need to take thyroid replacement medication.
The main course of treatment for hypothyroidism, or low thyroid hormone levels, is:
Thyroid replacement therapy: Using this treatment, your body can reintroduce thyroid hormones in a synthetic (fabricated) manner. You may manage thyroid disease and lead a normal life by taking medicine.