Posts Tagged ‘Iodine’

Goitre and Thyroid Cancer – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland at the base of your neck and below Adam’s Apple and close to the collar bones. Thyroid secretes hormones T3 which is called thyroxine and T4 which is called triidothyronine. They control how fast and efficiently cells convert nutrients into energy. Thyroid gland is controlled by pituitary gland and it produces a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).

GOITRE – ENLARGED THYROID GLAND

The enlargement of thyroid gland is called goitre. It keeps on producing normal levels of thyroid hormones.
Symptoms include swelling in the neck. It causes cough, suffocating feeling during sleep and food stuck in throat.
The causes of goitre include an iodine deficient diet and an increased TSH which senses the decreased hormones produced by thyroid gland and turns on the heat. This stimulation causes the thyroid gland to enlarge.
The treatment for small to moderate sized goitre is done by oral thyroid hormones which reduces the production of TSH and stabilizes the gland size.
For large sized goitre, surgery may be needed which compresses the wind pipe and food pipe or if there is a suspicion of malignancy.

THYROID CANCER

It is the malignant tumor of the gland and is the most common malignancy of the endocrine system. It occurs three times more common in women and it is not age specific.
The symptoms for thyroid cancer include a painless solid lump in front of your neck which could be diagnosed during a physical examination.
The causes of thyroid cancer are unknown but risk factors include genes, exposure to environmental radiation or radiation therapy of neck, head or chest.
The diagnosis of thyroid cancer is done through blood tests, ultrasound of thyroid gland and biopsy of nodule.
The treatment for thyroid cancer involves surgery in which thyroid gland is removed and after sometime medication is given to replace thyroid hormone for life.

Avoid:
- food containing iodine.
- dairy products.
- eggs.
- seafood.
- cured meats.
- baker’s bread.
- soy.
Thyroid diseases are easily diagnosed and treated yet they are often ignored.

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What is Hypothyroidism or under active thyroid? What are its Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland at the base of your neck and below Adam’s Apple and close to the collar bones. The wings are connected in the middle and spread on each side of wind pipe. Thyroid gland controls the rate at which every cell, tissue and organ in the body functions from your muscles, bones and skin to your digestive tract, brain, heart and more.

Thyroid secretes hormones T3 which is called thyroxine and T4 which is called triidothyronine. They control how fast and efficiently cells convert nutrients into energy. Thyroid gland is controlled by pituitary gland and it produces a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and it pushes the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones in balancing quantities.

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces less T3 and T4 and the main reason is that the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. TSH is released by pituitary gland and it informs the thyroid gland to step up production. The gland enlarges and the body functions slow down. Women especially are affected more.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
- Feeling cold.
- Feeling drowsy, lethargic and exhausted.
- Poor memory.
- Depression.
- Anemia.
- Heavy menstrual flow.
- Infertility.
- Weight gain and bloating.
- Constipation.
- Hair thinning.
- Muscle cramps.
- Husky voice.

Causes of Hypothyroidism
- Thyroid surgery in which the gland is removed or treated.
- Iodine deficiency.
- Medication used to treat bipolar disease.
- Infections like viral and bacterial can harm the gland temporarily.
- Congenital in which you are born with thyroid hormone deficiency.

Treatment of Hypothyroidism
Diagnosis can be done with a blood test of thyroid hormones T3, T4 and TSH.
- Replacing the thyroid hormone to normalize levels.
- Symptoms get cured within couple of months.
- Left untreated, it can cause depression, heart failure and coma.

Hyperthyroidism or active thyroid – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland at the base of your neck and below Adam’s Apple and close to the collar bones. The wings are connected in the middle and spread on each side of wind pipe. Thyroid gland controls the rate at which every cell, tissue and organ in the body functions from your muscles, bones and skin to your digestive tract, brain, heart and more.

Thyroid secretes hormones T3 which is called thyroxine and T4 which is called triidothyronine. They control how fast and efficiently cells convert nutrients into energy. Thyroid gland is controlled by pituitary gland and it produces a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and it pushes the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones in balancing quantities.

Hyperthyroidism or active thyroid is the result from excess production of thyroid hormones particularly T3. The increased level of T3 pushes up the body’s metabolism which is the main reason for losing weight despite eating well.

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
- Anxiety
- Fast heart rate
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Muscle weakness
- Weight loss
- Hair loss
- Trembling hands
- Moist warm skin
- Heart intolerance
- Frequency of bowel movements increase
- Less or decreases menstrual flow
- Painful enlarged thyroid gland

Causes of Hyperthyroidism
- Hyperactive thyroid nodules
- Graves disease affecting people between age 30 and 50.
- Thyroiditis which is the inflammation of thyroid gland releasing excessive hormones and it is caused by virus.
- Over stimulated pituitary gland which produces too much TSH.
- Excessive iodine in the form of iodised salt, sea food, dairy products.
- Thyrotoxicosis is taking too much thyroid hormone while treating for hyperthyroidism.

Treatment for Hyperthyroidism
- Anti thyroid drugs interfere with gland’s ability to make T3 and T4 but they are accompanied by side effects like rash, itching, fever and very rarely liver inflammation and deficiency of white blood cells.
- Beta blockers to prevent symptoms of palpitations and tremors.
- Radioactive iodine treatment is done to damage and kill thyroid cells. The only side effect is the destruction of thyroid tissues.
- Surgery of land or nodules.