The Thyroid and Its Diseases

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.