Thyroid disease is one of the most common hormonal health problems in the world with more than 50 million cases being reported every year all over the world, this high number exists independent of those cases that have not been reported and it has been found that approximately 60% of the population that suffers from thyroid is unaware of the condition.

 

As thyroid is a life-altering disease that plagues a huge percentage of the population, it has been researched and studied rigorously with new discoveries about the disease being made even today. As a result, a lot of information is available on the condition and it is vital that people be well-informed to either diagnose it on time or to better understand their disease.

 

If you are suffering from thyroid or are curious about what this prevalent and life-altering medical condition is all about – what it means, how it develops, what the symptoms are, and how it is treated – this guide will help you understand everything there is to know.

 

Let’s start by answering the basic and frequently asked question  “what is thyroid disease?” before moving on to the finer details and complexities of this medical condition.

 

 

WHAT THYROID IS ALL ABOUT

 

Thyroid disease derives its name from the gland that is responsible for its development – the thyroid gland.

 

The thyroid gland is an organ that wraps around the windpipe and is situated at the front of the neck. It is responsible for producing the thyroid hormone, which is vital for the proper and balanced functioning of the body as it regulates metabolism and how the energy is used up by the body.

 

Thyroid, the medical condition, refers to a disease in which the thyroid gland does not function as it is supposed to and produces either too much of the thyroid hormone or too little of it that it isn’t enough to do what it is supposed to do. Hindrance in the functioning of the thyroid gland, thus, leads to thyroid diseases.

 

Though there are 4 different types of thyroid diseases, only 2 are prevalent and well known – hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Let’s take a look at how the two differ from each other and what they entail.

TYPES OF THYROID DISEASES

 

Based on whether the thyroid gland produces too much or too little of the thyroid hormone, thyroid diseases can be classified into different categories. Two of the most common types of thyroid are:

 

  • Hypothyroidism – Hypothyroidism refers to a medical condition in which the thyroid gland produces too little of the thyroid hormone, which slows down metabolism and reduces energy levels in the body along with having other implications.

 

  • Hyperthyroidism – Hyperthyroidism refers to a medical condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much of the thyroid hormone, which harms the body by leading to excessive energy levels and an extremely fast metabolism that can cause unhealthy weight loss.

 

Now that we know the different ways in which thyroid can manifest based on type, let’s take a look at the factors that can lead to its onset.

 

 

RISK FACTORS AND CAUSES FOR THE ONSET OF THYROID

 

Though there are some common risk factors, the causes behind the development of the two types of thyroid are different. Let’s take a look at some of the common causes and risk factors before looking at the differing causes.

 

 

COMMON RISK FACTORS AND CAUSES FOR HYPOTHYROIDISM AND HYPERTHYROIDISM

 

The risk factors and causes that the two different types of thyroid diseases share are:

 

  • Genetics: You are more likely to develop thyroid if someone in the family has a history of thyroid disease and you are predisposed to it.

 

  • Medical history: Certain medical conditions can lead up to the onset of thyroid by disturbing the activity of the thyroid gland or becoming a catalyst for triggering

 

  • Gender: Women are more likely to develop thyroid as compared to men and the risk is ten times higher for them than it is for men.
  • Thyroiditis: It is a medical condition in which the thyroid gland swells up. This disrupts the production of the thyroid hormone and the body suffers either from a shortage or excess of stored thyroid hormones.

 

 

CAUSES OF HYPOTHYROIDISM

 

Hypothyroidism refers to the inhibition of the thyroid gland and a shortage of thyroid hormones in the body. This medical condition can arise as a result of the following:

 

  • Deficiency of Iodine: The thyroid gland needs iodine in plentiful amounts in order to produce thyroid hormones, a shortage of iodine can inhibit the functioning of the thyroid gland as it won’t have enough resources to produce the required amount of hormones.

 

  • Damage to the thyroid gland: This can result from an injury or can be hereditary, injuries or defects in the thyroid gland will not allow it to function properly and can lead to the onset of hypothyroidism.

 

  • Postpartum Thyroiditis: It refers to a condition in which women develop thyroid after childbirth due to the changes that the body goes through. Hypothyroidism resulting from postpartum effects affects 5-9% of women and is usually only temporary though it can develop more permanently in some women.

 

  • Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: It is an autoimmune disease that causes the cells in the body to attack the thyroid gland and prevent it from producing hormones properly.

 

 

CAUSES OF HYPERTHYROIDISM

 

Hyperthyroidism refers to a condition in which the thyroid gland is overactive and produces more thyroid hormones than are required by the body. This medical condition can arise as a result of the following:

 

  • An Abundance of Iodine: Iodine is required by the thyroid gland to produce the thyroid hormone. If the body has too much iodine, the gland will use it to make more hormones and this will lead to an abundance of thyroid hormones in the body.

 

  • Nodules: The thyroid gland is composed of some nodules that help in the production of hormones. If the nodules present in the gland become overactive or are present in large amounts, they will produce more hormones.
  • Grave’s Disease: It refers to a medical condition in which the thyroid gland becomes enlarged and works more due to being overactive and having the capacity to produce more hormones, this condition is also called the enlarged thyroid gland.

 

It might seem like the only problem with thyroid is having too much or too little of a hormone. It is, however, much more complex than that and has implications that can change how a person lives life and engages in daily activities. Let’s take a look at some of the symptoms of thyroid diseases.

 

 

HOW THYROID DISEASES IMPACT OVERALL HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE: THE SYMPTOMS

 

Some thyroid symptoms are common across the two different types but some are so drastically different that they are exact opposites. Let’s take a look at some of the common symptoms before moving on to the specific symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

 

 

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF THYROID DISEASES

 

  • Enlarged thyroid gland

 

  • Fatigue

 

  • Exhaustion

 

  • Muscular pain and weakness

 

  • Compromised cognitive capacity and memory impairment

 

 

SYMPTOMS OF HYPOTHYROIDISM

 

  • Puffiness in the face and sunken eyes

 

  • Increase in overall body weight to an unhealthy level

 

  • Digestive and metabolic disorders like constipation and indigestion

 

  • Inflammation and pain in the body, especially the joints

 

  • Dry and dehydrated skin

 

  • Increased blood sugar and cholesterol levels

 

  • Sensitivity to cold environment

 

  • Vulnerability to mental health problems like depression

 

  • Disturbed sleep patterns, usually sleeping a lot

 

 

SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTHYROIDISM

 

  • An unhealthy and dangerous level of weight loss

 

  • Sunken face with bulging eyes

 

  • Increased digestive and metabolic functions leading to frequent bowel movements

 

  • Thinning of the skin and appearance of fine lines

 

  • Sensitivity to heat and profuse sweating

 

  • vulnerability to mental health problems like anxiety and irritability

 

  • Disturbed sleep patterns, insomnia being the most common

 

Being aware of the symptoms of thyroid diseases can help with timely diagnosis, let’s take a look at what the diagnosis procedure entails.

 

 

HOW THYROID DISEASES ARE DIAGNOSED

 

As mentioned earlier, about 60% of people who have thyroid are unaware of their condition. This is for good reason as the symptoms of thyroid are so generic that they can easily be confused with impacts of everyday life stresses or other conditions.

 

Feeling fatigued, exhausted, or sleepy? Had a lot of work and not enough rest.

Can’t sleep? Must not be tired enough.

Feeling too hot or cold? Fluctuating temperature.

Stress or anxiety? Feeling uncertain about the future.

There are so many possibilities for feeling a certain way that no one jumps straight to thinking of thyroid or is simply unaware of the fact that a condition that can so drastically affect such minor aspects of life exists. In order for thyroid diseases to be diagnosed, people who have it have to consider the possibility of having thyroid and approach a doctor. Being aware of the symptoms and seeing if you have them is the first step.

 

The next step is to get tested and you can choose between getting a blood test or an imaging test. Let’s take a look at what these include.

 

 

  • Blood tests:

 

The most surefire way of determining whether you have thyroid or not is through a blood test as it can help determine whether you have thyroid or not by checking for the amount of thyroid hormones in the blood. These can also help see what type of thyroid disease you have.

 

Some specific tests are done to check for thyroid diseases, these are:

 

  • TSH or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone – TSH is a hormone that regulates the amount of thyroid hormones in the blood. If you have an elevated level of TSH, you have hypothyroidism. If the level of TSH in your blood is lower than the normal range, you have hyperthyroidism.

 

  • T4 Thyroxine test – This test is used to solidify the findings from a TSH test and is used to monitor the treatment for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

 

  • T3 Triiodothyronine test – This test is used to find out the severity of the condition.

 

 

When you go for a blood test, it is ideal to get them all done instead of having just one to make sure you get the full details and know the extent of your thyroid condition.

 

  • Imaging tests:

 

In imaging tests, an ultrasound of the throat area over the thyroid gland is conducted to see whether the thyroid gland is of normal size or not and whether it contains an excessive amount of nodules.

You are made to lay flat on an examination table with your head tilted back so the throat is uplifted and a warm gel is applied to it, an ultrasound probe is placed over the neck to look at the thyroid gland.

 

While both methods of diagnosis are reliable, blood tests are more definitive as they directly measure the amount of the thyroid hormone in the blood which is meant to be standard for every individual. The size of the thyroid gland, however, can differ without it being enlarged.

 

Now that we know all the basics there are to know about thyroid diseases of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, let’s take a look at the treatment and prevention plans available for people who are either susceptible to the problem or are suffering from it.

 

 

TREATMENT PLANS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH THYROID

 

Even though there is no permanent cure for the disease, there are some treatment plans that can help manage and control the problem and help people with thyroid lead a somewhat normal life

 

The aim of any thyroid treatment is to bring the level of thyroid hormones in the blood to the normal range. There are treatment plans available for this and depend on the type of thyroid a person is suffering from.

 

Let’s take a look at the treatment plans available for the treatment of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

 

 

TREATMENT OF HYPOTHYROIDISM

 

If you have an abnormally low level of the thyroid hormone in your blood and need to bring it up, there is only one way to do so as per modern medicine and research:

 

  • Thyroid Replacement Therapy: In this treatment plan, a replacement for thyroid hormones in the form of synthetic drugs is used to substitute for the missing amount so it can be brought up to the normal range. The potency of the medicine used depends on the severity of the condition.

 

People suffering from thyroid have to take these synthetic drugs every single morning without fail to make sure the level of thyroid hormone in the blood remains within the normal range and does not fall to avoid dealing with serious symptoms.

 

TREATMENT OF HYPERTHYROIDISM

 

If you have an abnormally high level of the thyroid hormone in your blood and need to bring it down to fit in the normal range, you have the following treatment plans available:

 

  • Antithyroid drugs: To make sure your thyroid gland does not produce more hormones than necessary, you can take medicines to suppress its function and prevent it from overworking. These medicines are meant to be taken every day to ensure that the gland does not act up throughout the day.

 

  • Beta-blockers: While beta-blockers will not help with inhibiting the thyroid gland or reducing the amount of thyroid hormones in the blood, they can help fight the symptoms.

 

  • Radioactive iodine: As mentioned earlier, the thyroid gland needs iodine to make thyroid hormones. Radioactive iodine can work to damage the thyroid cells and excessive nodules to prevent the gland from producing an unnecessarily high amount of thyroid hormones.

 

 

MEASURES TO PREVENT THE ONSET OF THYROID

 

If you believe that you are prone to developing thyroid because of your family history or personal medical history, you can take some preventive measures to reduce the possibility. Here is a list of some preventive measures that can help reduce the risk of developing thyroid:

 

  • Avoid smoking: Cigarettes contain a lot of toxins and it has been found that some of them can harm the thyroid gland. Studies reveal that smoking can lead to elevated levels of T4 or thyroxine in the blood and a decreased levels of TSH or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, which are both related to thyroid diseases.

 

  • Reduce the intake of soybeans: This is one of the most controversial tips when it comes to thyroid prevention but studies reveal that soybeans are especially harmful to people with thyroid as they can prevent the body from absorbing and making appropriate use of thyroid hormones.

 

  • Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight leads to hormonal imbalances in the body. Maintaining a healthy weight will help ensure homeostasis and reduce the chances of the thyroid gland’s functioning getting disrupted, which will prevent the onset of thyroid diseases.

While following these tips cannot guarantee that you won’t develop thyroid, they can help prevent the onset of the condition as much as possible – maybe for a lifetime – and prevent the condition from worsening if you already have it.

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

Thyroid diseases are very common and major health concerns with their ability to impact the quality of life even in the smallest of ways – eating patterns, sleeping patterns, and general temperament, etc.

 

Even if it cannot be cured, it can be managed and brought under control. It is important to understand this disease to treat it effectively and make sure it doesn’t take over your life.