Language
Country/Area
No result found
The Mystery of Thyroid Disease: Do You Know What Causes These Symptoms?
Thyroid disease is a medical condition that affects the function of your thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck and is responsible for producing thyroid hormones that circulate through the blood and help regulate the functioning of many other organs, making it an endocrine gland. The main roles of thyroid hormone in the body include regulating energy use and the development of infants and children.
Thyroid disorders are usually divided into five categories: hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, structural abnormalities, tumors, and abnormal thyroid function tests without clinical symptoms.
In the United States, according to a report in 2002, the incidence rates of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism were 4.6% and 1.3%, respectively. With some types of illness, such as subacute thyroiditis or postpartum thyroiditis, symptoms may disappear and return to normal after a few months, but most thyroid disorders do not resolve on their own.
Common symptoms
Common symptoms of an underactive thyroid include fatigue, low energy, weight gain, cold intolerance, slow heart rate, dry skin, and constipation, while symptoms of an overactive thyroid include irritability, anxiety, weight loss, rapid heart rate, heat intolerance, and intolerance, diarrhea, and goiter.
Structural abnormalities usually cause no noticeable symptoms, but some people may still experience symptoms related to an underactive or overactive thyroid, or swelling in the neck.
Diagnostic Process
Diagnosis begins with a medical history and physical examination. Although screening for thyroid disease in asymptomatic patients is controversial, it is common practice in the United States. Once thyroid dysfunction is suspected, appropriate laboratory tests can be performed to support or exclude thyroid disease. Initial blood testing usually includes measurements of stimulated thyroid hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (T4).
If thyroid autoimmunity is suspected, a blood test for anti-thyroid autoantibodies may be done.
Autoimmune thyroid disease
Autoimmune thyroid disease is a condition in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. Its cause is not fully understood, but is thought to be partially genetic, with common examples including Graves' disease and Hashimoto's disease.
Treatment methods
The treatment of thyroid disease varies depending on the disease. For patients with hypothyroidism, the mainstay of treatment is levothyroxine, while hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease may be treated with iodine, antithyroid drugs, or surgical removal of the thyroid gland.
In some cases, thyroid surgery may be done to remove a thyroid nodule or to shrink an enlarged thyroid gland that is affecting nearby tissue.
Overall Situation
Thyroid disease has various causes that affect an individual's quality of life. Whether it is hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, the challenges brought by these diseases are areas that modern medicine should further explore and study. Family history, environmental factors, and even lifestyle habits may affect your risk of developing thyroid disease.
Think carefully, when faced with unexplained health problems, how should we seek effective solutions instead of ignoring the signs?
