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You eat little, and yet you gain weight. You constantly feel asleep and tire quickly. You have problems with concentration and memory. Or vice versa. You lose weight even though you are eating for three. Everything makes you nervous. You can not sleep. You don’t feel like having sex. Do not underestimate these symptoms, but tell your doctor about them. Perhaps your thyroid is not working properly and needs to be tested and treated.
It is difficult to feel the thyroid gland under the fingers or to notice it, no matter how long they looked at each other in the mirror. However, when this gland becomes too large, a thickening appears on the neck, i.e. I prefer.
The thyroid gland – that’s what experts say about the thyroid gland – is located in front of the neck, just below the larynx. It is made of two side lobes connected by the so-called knot. The size and weight of the thyroid gland vary greatly. They depend on gender, age and even the environment in which we live. On average, thyroid disease weighs about 20-30 g. In women, it grows slightly during menstruation and pregnancy (it used to be evidence that a woman was expecting a baby before pregnancy became visible). When we turn fifty, this gland minimally begins to shrink.
Mutual feedback
The work of the thyroid gland is controlled by TSH (thyrotropic hormone – ed.), Produced by the pituitary gland. The thyroid itself produces three hormones: thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and calcitonin. If it produces too little, TSH signals that the thyroid gland increases its supply; if it produces too much of them, the hormone of the pituitary gland blocks its overproduction. Sometimes, however, this simple system fails.
A healthy thyroid gland absorbs iodine from food and air, stores it and converts it into hormones. They affect the work of the whole organism, incl. for growth, mental development, metabolism, maturation of the nervous and skeletal systems. Therefore, they are also necessary for the proper development of the fetus. From the 12th week of pregnancy, the thyroid gland of a developing baby begins to produce hormones on its own. Until then, the fetus receives them from the mother, which is why it is so important that the pregnant woman has the correct level of thyroid hormones.
Iodine in the lead role
A healthy thyroid is soft, has a slightly wavy surface, and consists of tiny follicles filled with iodine fluid. If we do not provide her with a portion of this element every day (from 150 to 300 micrograms; the upper dose for pregnant and breastfeeding women), she will start asking for it. He will do everything to get the right amount of hormones into the blood and make the body function well. If the thyroid does not get its nourishment and cannot do its job diligently, it will slowly begin to enlarge. This gland works according to the principle that more tissues can store more iodine and produce the hormones the body needs. When it has too little iodine for a long time, it grows to form goiter.
Although a slight enlargement of the thyroid gland usually does not cause any discomfort, it cannot be ignored. We usually go to the doctor with a large one, because, first of all, it does not look good, and secondly, it may compress the trachea and make breathing difficult (hence the shortness of breath). But even the small ones can herald dangerous changes. Untreated goiter can be the cause of both hypothyroidism and hyperfunction of this gland.
Hypothyroidism
Women have it 5 times more often than men. The disease can develop at any age, but usually appears between the ages of 40 and 60. Hypothyroidism, or too little hormone production, can have various causes. Most often it is:
iodine deficiency – then certain areas of the thyroid gland may stop producing hormones altogether. In these places, the so-called nodules cold. Sometimes, although not very often, cancer develops in them,
inflammation of the thyroid gland – can be caused by taking certain medications, irradiation or improper iodine treatment,
disorders of the immune system Although it is not known why, there are times when the antibodies produced by the immune system start to treat the thyroid tissue like a foreign body and gradually destroy it,
surgical removal of the thyroid gland (all or part of the gland).
The symptoms of hypothyroidism vary from person to person. They depend, among others on how severe the hormone deficiency is. Sometimes the symptoms are so unusual that even doctors have trouble diagnosing hypothyroidism.
What should you pay attention to?
In hypothyroidism, the metabolism is slower. It is for this reason that, even though we do not eat too much, we gain weight. We are constantly tired, we have problems with memory and concentration. We catch infections easily, we suffer from pain in muscles and joints. The mood is also not the best – we go to extremes from euphoria to depression. The timbre of our voice may decrease. Hypothyroidism is often accompanied by skin changes – it becomes pale, rough, breaks and hair falls out. The eyes are often puffy. Blood tests show that thyroid hormone levels are low, but cholesterol levels are elevated.
Hypothyroidism is more dangerous for the fetus and baby than it is for an adult. However, it should always be treated. If a woman suffering from thyroid hormone deficiency becomes pregnant and is not under the constant care of an endocrinologist or a thyroid specialist (thyroid specialist), the fetus may suffer from severe physical and mental developmental defects (even cretinism). The same applies to young children – their development can also be disrupted by hormonal deficiencies.
Untreated hypothyroidism can cause anemia and problems with the work of the heart and lungs. Women can have a disturbed menstrual cycle and sometimes menstruation stops altogether. Hypothyroidism can cause infertility, which is why gynecologists recommend thyroid hormone levels to women who are having trouble getting pregnant. On the other hand, in men, hypothyroidism is sometimes the cause of decreased libido.
Hypothyroidism is manageable. However, the therapy is long-term. Sometimes for many years, and sometimes for a lifetime, you need to take iodine tablets and replenish the deficiencies of hormones.
Also read: What is worth knowing about the thyroid gland?
Overactive thyroid gland
Its symptoms are easily confused with neurosis. Since the metabolism is accelerated, we lose weight, despite a good appetite. Everything irritates us, we feel the so-called inner restlessness. My heart is knocking and my hands are trembling. Headaches are quite common. The eyes may sting and water, and in the case of Graves’ disease (this is one of the causes of hyperthyroidism) – it develops proptosis. You can also sweat excessively. Women have menstrual cycle disturbances, including stopping periods.
As with most diseases, there are many causes of ailments in the case of hyperthyroidism.
Graves’ disease – A malfunctioning immune system causes the thyroid gland to secrete an excessive amount of hormones. In women, this happens often in the so-called hormonal storms, i.e. during puberty, pregnancy or menopause.
Plummer’s disease – is the so-called hyperactive nodular goiter. Lumps, called hot ones, arise in the thyroid gland enlarged due to iodine deficiency. They stop listening to the pituitary gland’s recommendations and start producing hormones on their own.
Overdose of thyroid hormones or incorrect iodine administration.
Hormonal overactivity of some pituitary tumors – this is another reason for an overactive thyroid gland.
Treatment of hyperthyroidism takes quite a long time, sometimes up to two years. Drugs are used that reduce the secretion of hormones or radioactive iodine (once, orally), which destroys the diseased cells of the gland. Sometimes surgery is necessary.
In the hands of a surgeon
Thyroid operations are less and less frequent, but there are times when it is essential. For example, when the goiter is not subjected to medication and enlarges so much that it obstructs breathing and causes problems with blood circulation. Or when hot lumps respond neither to hormone-inhibiting drugs nor to radioactive iodine. Or when doctors suspect thyroid cancer. Then they reach for the scalpel. For benign nodules or goiter, usually only part of the thyroid gland is removed. However, when cancer cells are detected during the biopsy, the entire gland is excised. Sometimes it is only during the operation that it is known how much tissue needs to be removed.
The operation is performed under anesthesia. To get to the thyroid gland, the surgeon makes a transverse incision at the base of the neck on the line defined by the collarbones. After the gland or part of it is removed, it sutures the wound. After the surgery, you need to stay in the hospital for a few more days. After about 5 days, the sutures are usually removed. It takes about a month to recover. Avoid physical exertion and sun exposure during this time, otherwise the scar will be more visible.
Under control
After thyroid surgery, it is necessary to visit an endocrinologist or a thyroid doctor for a check-up every six months and undergo tests. It is important:
— analysis of the concentration of hormones in the blood. If only part of the thyroid gland has been cut out, the level of thyroid hormones may be normal and there is no need to take L-thyroxine, i.e. thyroid hormone in tablets. If the entire gland has been excised, pharmacotherapy is essential.
— controlling the level of calcium in the blood. It is necessary to check whether the so-called parathyroid gland. These are tiny glands like peppercorns that lie behind the thyroid gland. They are responsible for regulating calcium levels in the body. After surgery, the function of the parathyroid glands is temporarily disturbed and then you need to take calcium with vitamin D. In the case of permanent damage to the parathyroid glands – this replacement therapy is needed for the rest of your life. Otherwise, osteoporosis will not be avoided.
Text: Anna Jarosz
Also read:
- What does the thyroid gland suffer from?
- New methods of safe thyroid surgery