Thyroid dysfunction

Posted by Dr. Eden Chang

What is thyroid dysfunction?

The thyroid gland is attached to your wind pipe and produces a hormone called thyroxin. It regulates the quantity of iodine in your blood stream. The thyroid gland controls the rate of metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the body. Deficiency of iodine in diet can affect thyroxin production, causing the gland to swell.

When it does not function properly, the gland may produce too much of thyroxin (hyperthyroid) or too less thyroxin (hypothyroid). Hyperthyroidism mostly affects women, about 2% compared to 0.2% men. Women are more prone to hypothyroidism as well with 2% as against 0.1% for men.

Both the conditions have many overlapping symptoms. But the early symptoms for hyperthyroidism may be as follows:

1.Loss of weight

2.Palpitation

3.Trembling

4.Anxiety

5.Muscle weakness

6.Intolerance to heat

7.Excessive sweat

8.Goitre of swelling of the gland

9.Irregular menstrual cycle

Hypothyroidism has the following symptoms:

1.Insomnia and tiredness

2.Difficulty in concentrating and memory loss

3.Sudden weight gain

4.Dry skin and scalp

5.Brittle nails

6.Constipation

7.Loss of sexual desire

8.Breathlessness and swollen feet

9.Hoarseness of voice

10.Intolerance to cold

11.Facial oedema

12.Heavy flow during periods

Causes and risks:

Hyperthyroidism is a very common disease which affects one in every fifty people. It can affect you at almost any age, mostly between 20 to 50 years. The reasons are numerous and only thorough investigations involving blood tests and body scans can reveal the root cause.

One of the possible reasons could be an autoimmune reaction by your body. Here, the defense mechanism of your body incorrectly identify the body tissues as invaders, and attack it. Autoimmune disease triggers the thyroid gland to produce excess thyroxin.

Excess hormone production may also result due to nodules in the gland. Patients on certain medication also tend to produce excess thyroxin.

Hypothyroidism, which is more commonly seen in women over 40, can lead to uncontrolled cholesterol levels, increasing the threat of heart disease. Though there are many other factors, aging increases the risk. Women are prone to hypothyroidism in the post menopausal period. Treatments for suppression of thyroid can sometimes cause hypothyroidism. Patients with genetic disorders like Down’s syndrome or Turner’s can face this condition during the course of their treatment.

Treatment and recuperation

Prevention of thyroid dysfunction is very difficult. Hypothyroidism can be treated only by supplementing the patient with thyroid hormone. The thyroxin level in the blood has to be regularly monitored, to regulate the dosage of the hormone. Hyperthyroidism is treated with hormone suppressors. Radioactive iodine is used in this treatment. Extreme cases may require thyroidectomy where part of the thyroid gland has to be surgically removed.

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