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Thyroid Gland Problems
The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck in front
of the trachea, and below the larynx. It produces two thyroid hormones: tri-iodothyronine
(T3) and thyroxine (T4). These regulate how the body breaks down food to use
as energy. At the base of the brain is the pituitary gland. It produces
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to tell the thyroid gland to produce
thyroid hormones. They tell organs how fast or slow they should work.
Thyroid hormones also regulate the consumption of oxygen and the production
of heat.
You are at risk for thyroid gland problems if other family members have
thyroid or other immune-system problems, such as insulin-dependent diabetes,
rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, or pernicious anemia. Because more women than
men have thyroid problems, a woman is at risk if she is pregnant, a new
mother or over 50. Men over 60 are at risk.
How do you know you have a thyroid gland problem? Many symptoms of the
disease are similar to those of other diseases. If your thyroid is
underactive, you may feel tired, chilly or constipated. You might feel the
same symptoms from overwork, aging, or a number of other causes. Many people
with undiagnosed hypothyroidism are unable to lose weight even with the most
rigorous diet and exercise program. If you are stressed out, you might feel
tense and overworked. It might also mean, however, that you have
hyperthyroidism. Only your doctor and the proper blood tests can determine
the cause of your problems.
Hyperthyroidism
When the body produces too much thyroid hormone (TH), its metabolic rate
increases. At the same time, many body systems begin working abnormally.
This is called hyperthyroidism. It affects some 4.5 million Americans, but
nearly 600,000 do not know they have it. Graves' disease is the most common
form of hyperthyroidism in the United States. About 5% of patients with
Graves' disease have thyroid eye disease. When this occurs, the eyes become
inflamed and appear enlarged.
There are a number of treatments for hyperthyroidism, including atenolol or
propranolol, to make the body less responsive to TH. Other treatments,
including Tapazole and PTU, shut off iodine from the thyroid gland so that
it makes less TH. Long-term treatment calls for reducing the number of
hormone-making cells by using radioactive iodine or removal of part or all
of the thyroid.
Hypothyroidism
Another thyroid gland problem is hypothyroidism. More than 10 million
Americans have it and less 8 million know they have it. The body's
metabolism slows down because too little TH is being produced. On rare
occasions, hypothyroidism is the result of a pituitary tumor, which blocks
the production of TSH. When the body produces less TH, it uses less oxygen
and produces less heat. Both physical and mental processes become sluggish.
Synthetic T4 is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the
United States for hypothyroidism. It is safe, effective, and inexpensive.
Other medications are available if a patient cannot tolerate pure thyroxine.
Thyroid Nodules
Thyroid nodules are small swelling or lumps on the thyroid gland. They are
very common. Nearly 50% of the population will develop these nodules during
their lifetimes. Nodules more than a half inch across are found in about 5
percent of people. If you have nodules, you should consult a physician to
rule out the possibility of cancer. Some nodules produce too much TH and
cause hyperthyroidism. If they become too large, they can interfere with
breathing or swallowing and may cause neck discomfort.
Thyroiditis
Thyroiditis occurs when the thyroid gland becomes inflamed. This chronic,
progressive disease is also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. After
pregnancy, it is called postpartum thyroiditis. Subacute thyroiditis mimics
a viral infection. One of the more rare forms of the disease is acute
suppurative thyroiditis. This occurs when the thyroid is inflamed by a
bacterial infection. Patients with thyroiditis sometimes have so few
symptoms that the disease can go unnoticed for many years. Left untreated,
however, it may destroy so much thyroid tissue that hypothyroidism develops.
Goiter
When the thyroid gland becomes enlarged, you have a goiter. It occurs when
the thyroid becomes overactive (hyperthyroidism) or slows down
(hypothyroidism). A sudden painful swelling can indicate bleeding into a
nodule or a fluid-filled thyroid cyst. It may not be cancerous, but you
should visit your doctor to find out for sure what your goiter is and what
effect it might have on your health.
Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer generally refers to a lump or nodule in the thyroid gland.
Approximately 95% of most thyroid nodules are benign. To distinguish a
benign nodule from a malignant one, a biopsy of the thyroid nodule(s) is
necessary. Only then can a physician tell you if surgery is necessary. There
are many effective means of diagnosing and treating thyroid cancer. Most
thyroid cancer is easily curable with surgery.
References
The Hormone Foundation. (2008). Thyroid Disorders Overview. URL: http://www.hormone.org/public/thyroid/overview.cfm.
National Women’s Health Resource Center. (2007) Thyroid Disorders. URL:
http://www.healthywomen.org/healthtopics/thyroiddisorders.
Shomon, Mary. (2008). Quiz: Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat? About.Com. URL:
http://thyroid.about.com/library/quiz5/blthyroidquizi.htm.
Thyroid Foundation of America. (2004) When Should You Suspect Your Thyroid?
AllThyroid .org. URL: http://www.allthyroid.org/disorders/index.html.
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