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Thyroid Problems
Description - The
thyroid gland in the neck produces thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone acts like a
carburettor determining how fast the body ticks over. Too much thyroid hormone
– hyperthyroidism- and the body runs too fast resulting in loss of weight (in
spite of an increased appetite), nervousness and anxiety, diarrhoea, fast pulse
and palpitations, feeling too hot. Too little thyroid hormone – hypothyroidism
–and the body runs too slow resulting in weight gain, mental slowness,
constipation, dry skin, slow pulse and feeling too cold. Thyroid diseases of
both these forms is much more common in women, tends to run in families and
hypothyroidism is much more common than hyperthyroidism. Thyroid problems can
easily be detected by blood tests but it is not uncommon for hyperthyroidism to
be mistaken for anxiety and hypothyroidism for depression. Untreated
hypothyroidism can lead people to be considerably slowed down, prone too
hypothermia and a raised cholesterol and all that entails. In the extreme
untreated case hypothyroidism can end in the sufferer going into a fatal coma.
Women with hypothyroidism can also be subject to heavy periods and become
anaemic as a result. Patents with hyperthyroidism often have obvious signs such
as protruding eyes (exophthalmos) and an enlarged thyroid, goitre. Goitres are
found in all types of thyroid conditions but may be associated with no other
abnormality of function. Patients with hyperthyroidism are at risk in that the
body, particularly the heart, becomes exhausted as “the engine” is being run
so fast.
Management - Management
of hypothyroidism is simply giving thyroid hormone (thyroxin) in the correct
amount to make the subject function normally. This is called “replacement
therapy”. This is usually a life-long exercise once started. Management of
hyperthyroidism is to cut down the excessive amount of thyroid hormone produced
by the thyroid gland, either by medication (the usual method), surgery (removal
of part of the thyroid tissue) or radioactive iodine treatment (which destroys
thyroid tissue). Drug treatment is usually intermittent and sometimes only has
to be given for one or two courses. It is not life-long like the treatment of
hypothyroidism with thyroid hormone. Following surgery or radiation, thyroid
replacement therapy is given, as necessary, to achieve a normal bodily function.
Regular monitoring, with easily available and inexpensive blood tests, enables
the management of both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
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