Thyroid Awareness Week

January is observed as the thyroid awareness week to increase the awareness of thyroid associated diseases and to increase awareness among the elderly and pregnant women to have their thyroid test done periodically to avoid further complications. Thyroid is hormone secreted by the thyroid gland which is buttefly shaped and is located below the neck, in front of the larynx. This small organ pretty much controls most of the important functions like regulating body temperature, digestion, keeping the heart muscles working, increases glucose metabolism, maintains bone calcium levels, regulates other hormones, in short it keeps our body in synchronization.

Thyroid gland produce thyroid hormones ( T3 and T4 ) that regulates protein synthesis, how quickly the body uses various energy sources. T3 and T4 regulate the growth and rate of function of other organs in the body.

Thyroid hormone helps in metabolism and is essential for every cell in tissues and organs to work. Since the body is dependent upon this hormone maintain normal levels of this hormones is very crucial. A disease or any condition to the thyroid gland can cause an imbalance and lead to overactive or an underactive thyroid gland. Thyroid problems include goiter, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules and thyroiditis.

Diagnosis of thyroid diseases can be conducted by a general practitioner, they will check the patients medical history, conduct physical examination, and if required may opt for a thyroid tests or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) test to check of levels of the hormone in the blood. They may sometimes also use a biopsy or conduct ultrasound of the thyroid gland. The treatment depends on the problem, but may include medicines, radioiodine therapy, or thyroid surgery.

Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid does not make enough thyroid hormones. It is also called underactive thyroid. This slows down many of your body’s functions, like your metabolism. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is due to Hashimoto’s disease, where the persons own immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid. This attack damages the thyroid so that it does not make enough hormones. Hypothyroidism also can be caused by treatment of certain cancers and thyroid removal Hypothyroidism is treated with medications that provides body with the thyroid hormone it needs to work normally. With current advancements in medicine, hypothyroidism can be successfully treated but not be cured. Patient with hypothyroidism condition will likely need to take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of their life. Hypothyroidism that is not treated with medicine during pregnancy can cause anemia, preeclampsia (a serious condition starting after 20 weeks of pregnancy, it causes high blood pressure and problems with the kidneys and other organs. The only cure for preeclampsia is childbirth. In newborns it leads to fast heart rate, which can lead to heart failure, poor weight gain, or an enlarged thyroid that can make it hard to breathe), Low birth weight (smaller than 5 pounds), miscarriage, problems with the baby’s growth and brain development. Hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism is a condition when one’s thyroid gland is overactive. Hyperthyroidism causes the thyroid to make more thyroid hormone than what is required by the body. Hiher levels of thyroid hormone in the circulation increases metabolism and many body’s functions, like your glucose intake and heart rate. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is due to Graves’ disease. Graves’ disease is a problem with the immune system. With this disease, your immune system attacks the thyroid and causes it to make more thyroid hormone than your body needs. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism do not show initially. But, over time, a overreacting thyroid gland can cause symptoms such as weight loss, palpitation of the heart, feeling nervous or anxious, feeling irritable, trouble sleeping, increased sweating, muscle weakness, fewer and lighter menstrual periods than normal. Hyperthyroidism raises the risk for osteoporosis, a condition that causes weak bones that break easily. Hyperthyroidism is most commonly associated with women who have gone through menopause or who are already at high risk of osteoporosis. Your doctor’s choice of treatment will depend on the cause of your hyperthyroidism. Treatments include antithyroid medication that will block your thyroid from making new thyroid hormones, Beta-blockers block the effects of thyroid hormone on your body and regulated hear rate but Beta-blockers do not reduce the amount of thyroid hormones that are made or thyroid surgery to remove most or all of the thyroid. This may cause permanent hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism that is not treated with medicine during pregnancy can cause premature birth (birth of the baby before 39 to 40 weeks, or full-term), preeclampsia, Low birth weight and miscarriage. It can be harder to diagnose thyroid problems during pregnancy because of the change in hormone levels that normally happen during pregnancy. But it is especially important to check for problems before getting pregnant and during pregnancy. Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can cause problems for both mother and baby. Thyroiditis  Thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid. It happens when the body’s immune system makes antibodies that attack the thyroid. Causes of thyroiditis in most cases include autoimmune diseases, certain side effect of medication, viral or bacterial infection. Two common types of thyroiditis are Hashimoto’s disease and postpartum thyroiditis. Postpartum thyroiditis, or inflammation of the thyroid after giving birth and as per studies it affects 10% of women. It often goes undiagnosed because symptoms that may follow delivery. Women with postpartum thyroiditis may feel very tired and moody. Goiter A goiter is an unusually enlarged thyroid gland. It may happen only for a short time and may go away on its own without treatment. Or it could be a symptom of another thyroid disease that requires treatment. goiter is more common in women than in men and especially in women before menopause. Some common causes of goiter include Hashimoto’s disease, graves’ disease, thyroid nodules, thyroiditis, thyroid cancer. Usually, the only symptom of a goiter is a swelling in your neck. It may be large enough that you can see it or feel the lump with your hand. A very large goiter can also cause a tight feeling in your throat, coughing, or problems swallowing or breathing. Thyroid Cancer Thyroid cancer happens when cancer cells form from the tissues of the thyroid gland. Most people with thyroid cancer have a thyroid nodule that does not cause any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may have swelling or a lump in your neck. The lump may cause problems swallowing. Some people get a hoarse voice. Pregnancy-related hormones raise the level of thyroid hormones in the blood. Thyroid hormones are necessary for the baby’s brain development while in the womb.