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Thyroid Disease
The thyroid gland, the butterfly-shaped gland located in the lower part of the neck, secretes hormones that travel to various parts of the body. The main hormones released, triiodothyronine and thyroxine (commonly known as T3 and T4), deliver energy cells to the body. Thyroid disease is most commonly a result of the gland malfunctioning and either producing too many hormones or insufficient hormones – in either case, disrupting the body’s metabolism.
Hypothyroidism is the problem caused by the thyroid producing insufficient thyroid hormones. The resultant lack of these hormones in the bloodstream slows the metabolic rate of the body, thus compelling the body to use too much energy. Symptoms of this problem can include weight gain, constipation, excessively feeling the cold, depression, a slowing of the heart rate, changes in the condition of the skin and hair, concentration difficulties, heavy, irregular periods and constant tiredness.
Hyperthyroidism is the converse condition in which the thyroid produces and releases too many hormones into the bloodstream, which has the impact of speeding up the metabolic rate and the body uses up energy more quickly. Symptoms of this thyroid problem will include losing weight despite having an apparently bigger appetite, excessive sweating, an increased heart rate and possibly palpitations, mood swings, diarrhoea, infrequent, lighter periods, muscular problems and swollen and red eyes. One of the most common causes of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune condition which attacks the thyroid.
Both of these thyroid conditions can usually be successfully treated, when treatment is considered necessary.
Occasionally the thyroid can become enlarged, which is known as a goitre. Again, this usually responds to medical treatment.
It is also possible for there to be solid or liquid filled lumps, bumps, cysts and tumours in the thyroid, known as thyroid nodules. A thyroid nodule sometimes disappears of its own accord and they can often be left untreated. However, there are medical treatments possible, should they be required. Often, of course, it might well be necessary to perform a biopsy on a nodule to ensure that it is not cancerous.
Thyroid cancer is one of the rarest cancer types and, providing it is diagnosed and treated early, it is often possible to treat it effectively and totally, leading to a perfectly normal life span. If the thyroid has to be surgically removed because of cancer, thyroid hormone replacement medication will be necessary for the remainder of the patient’s life but this is not generally problematic. Surgery is also occasionally necessary in the treatment of goitres or nodules and even hyperthyroidism, but these cases are very much the exceptions.
The final most common thyroid disease is thyroiditis, when the gland becomes inflamed and swollen because of the patient contacting a bacterial or viral illness. Again, there are successful thyroiditis treatments available.