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The thyroid gland is one of the most important body organs that help in controlling metabolism and growth. It is a fairly small gland that has two halves. It is shaped like a butterfly and is located below a person’s Adam apple.

Thyroid Gland – the Function and Diseases The thyroid gland generally secretes three kinds of hormones, the thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and the calcitonin. These hormones primarily help in the body’s proper consumption of energy and creation of protein.

There are various diseases of the thyroid which may result from the excessive production of thyroid hormones or the inability of the thyroid to produce enough thyroid hormones. Thyroid diseases may be life threatening or not. Most of the time, if not treated, they could impair the body’s normal function. Eventually, long-term thyroid impairment may gradually result to a life threatening disorder.

Thyroid Treatment for Various Types of Thyroid Diseases As symptoms vary for various kinds of thyroid diseases, so does treatment. Treatment of thyroid diseases, however, is quite

One of the most important body organs is the thyroid. It is actually a small gland that is shaped like a butterfly which is located below the neck’s front skins and muscles or the Adam’s apple. The thyroid appears brownish red and it divided into two lobes or halves.

The Thyroid Function The thyroid is a pretty small organ, but it has an amazingly huge function. It is one of the vital organs that help in controlling the body’s metabolism and growth. It actually secretes the hormones that help in these functions. These hormones are the thyroxine or the T4 and the triiodothyronine or T3. These hormones primarily control the body’s consumption of energy and the production of protein. In order to function properly, the thyroid needs iodine. It combines iodine with an amino acid, tyrosine in order to create the two hormones T3 and T4. The thyroid gland also secretes calcitonin which regulates the calcium in the blood by slowing down the bone’s calcium reabsorption and increasing the kidney’s calcium excretion.

When the thyroid releases the hormones, they travel through the bloodstream and enter the body cells. The thyroid is especially important during puberty. It helps in the sexual and growth development as well as other body functions. What are Thyroid Diseases? Thyroid diseases are conditions or afflictions that ultimately affect the thyroid function. Thyroid diseases occur when the gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones to facilitate normal body function. These diseases also result from the excessive secretion of thyroid hormones. Thyroid diseases could take various forms and could manifest varying symptoms like weight gain, constipation, puffy skin, dry skin, fatigue, cold intolerance, menstrual irregularity and other symptoms. Thyroid diseases can be dangerous, especially for children as thyroid dysfunction or disease can cause stunted growth and sexual development. It is even more dangerous for infants or newborns as it could result to mental retardation. It is not surprising that thyroid testing has been included in the standard newborn blood screening programs. This is to detect thyroid disorders and prevent long-term damage.

Kinds of Thyroid Diseases There are various forms of thyroid diseases. The common form of which is hyperthyroidism. This thyroid disease is caused by the excessive production of thyroid hormones. This causes accelerated body functions as the body uses up more energy than it normally should. The symptoms of hyperthyroidism include anxiety, difficulty sleeping, diarrhea, irregular menstrual periods, increased heart rate, nervousness, heat intolerance, tremors, weakness and weight loss. Most people suffering from hyperthyroidism will also experienced eye puffiness and oftentimes eye bulging. The eyes may not be able to function normally. A person suffering from hyperthyroidism may appear to be staring most of the time.

A person suffering from hyperthyroidism may have enlarged thyroid gland, a condition called goiter. This is fairly common in some countries where people do not get proper nutrition. People who have iodine deficient diet usually develop hyperthyroidism and goiter.

When the thyroid does not produce enough hormones, this result to a condition called hypothyroidism. Unlike hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism produces mild symptoms of the condition. Initially, the person may not feel anything at all. It is only when the disease progress to a dangerous level that symptoms may begin to appear. Hypothyroidism symptoms might include weight gain, depression, stumped growth, delayed sexual development, muscle weakness, hair loss, irregular menstruation, poor concentration and memory.

Hypothyroidism can cause Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This is an autoimmune disease where the immune system of the body attacks the thyroid cells. The thyroid then tries to create more hormones which unfortunately causes goiter.

Another form of thyroid disease is the Graves disease. This is an autoimmune disease which results from hyperthyroidism. The immune system of a person with Graves disease creates abnormal antibodies which prompts the thyroid gland to secrete more hormones which the body does not need. A person suffering from Graves disease may also suffer from goiter. This is an abnormal condition which is more common among women than men.

Another thyroid abnormality manifests as a nodule or an enlarged lump in the thyroid gland. People generally do have nodules in the neck. Oftentimes, this can be pretty harmless. A patient with a lump or a nodule would need further examination if he would like to know how his thyroid gland is working. He may have to undergo blood tests, thyroid scan, or even a fine needle biopsy. A person with nodule in the thyroid may or may not be afflicted with thyroid cancer.

Sadly, there is an increasing number of thyroid cancer reported each year with women most likely to be afflicted by it. Initially, the patient would present with a nodule and rarely does symptoms of thyroid cancer manifest at this stage. Eventually, symptoms of thyroid cancer would manifest. These symptoms may include neck pain, hoarseness, and enlarged lymph node. This may need long-term treatment for cancer.

Disorders of the thyroid gland are the most common problems encountered by people in the young and middle adulthood. Women have a higher incidence rate for thyroid disorders. The problems experienced by people with thyroid gland disorders can be really life-threatening so early and appropriate interventions should be given. The appropriate diagnostic tests are essential for proper diagnosis of the disease.

Diagnostic Tests for your Thyroid Gland Blood Test: The test needed to determine if your thyroid has any deviations or performing normally is through blood test. The Serum T3 or triiodothyroxine as well as T4 or thyroxine is the indicators for any disorders of the thyroid. If the T3 and T4 level are low, then a person may be diagnosed of hypothyroidism. On the other hand, if the thyroxine levels are high, then a person may be experiencing hyperthyroidism or Grave’s disease. To determine if thyroid cancer is a concern, the thyroglobulin for follicular adenocarcinoma can become markers for the disease.

Ultrasound: Another diagnostic test is the ultrasound. It is used to determine the structure and consistency of the thyroid gland. They are essential to determine if the nodules of the thyroid are benign or malignant. The ultrasonic waves of the machine produce a highly defined picture of the thyroid gland. To consider a thyroid gland as benign, it should have smooth borders and hyperechoic (more echogenic than the surrounding tissues). On the other hand, a nodule is malignant if it has irregular borders, hypoechoic (less echogenic than the surrounding tissues), microcalcifications or the formation of calcium deposits in the nodules and significant intranodular blood flow. But ultrasound is not considered as a reliable source to determine the existence of cancer. It can be used for the determination of the enlargement of the thyroid.

Radioactive Scanning: A more accurate means to determine disorders of the thyroid is the radioactive scanning and uptake. The radioactive scanning is performed with the use of a radioactive iodine medium. This radioactive medium collects or stays in the thyroid gland before it is excreted in the urine. With the use of the radioactive scanning, you can determine the shape and the activity of your thyroid gland. An abnormality in the gland may be seen through the irregularity of the uptake as well as the location of the gland. For instance, if a portion of the gland is overactive causing to inhibit the actions of the rest of the glands, this could be diagnosed as an adenoma. This disorder can easily be prevented through surgery. On the other hand, if the gland is under active. This may be diagnosed as thyroid cancer because a part of the gland ceases to function normally. The radioactivity exhibited by the gland will determine or serve as an indicator of the metabolic capacity of the gland. The radioactive uptake demonstrates 8 to 35 percent of the gland’s activity. It can determine with 24 hours after administration of radioiodine. If the uptake is low, it can predispose to hypothyroidism. If it is high, this can be diagnosed as hyperthyroidism.

For those who have are at risk of having thyroid cancers, you can submit to biopsy to determine if the nodules of your thyroid gland are benign or malignant.

These are the diagnostic test you can use to determine if your thyroid gland is in its optimal condition or not. “Prevention is better than cure!” so you should take good care of your body. Eat the right kind and amount of foods daily, perform exercises and control all your stresses in life. These things may contribute to a healthier living and may prevent any foreseeable crises that may arise.