What Causes Thyroid Issues and How to Manage Them? |
Posted: January 20, 2023 |
The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland and a part of the endocrine system. This gland is located at the base of your neck. As you know, the endocrine system coordinates many body activities and the thyroid gland is responsible for regulating the body’s metabolism. Problems appear when the thyroid gland produces too much or too little hormone. If the thyroid is provided with too much or too less hormone, it can cause various issues and you can face symptoms like fatigue, irritability, weight loss, weight gain, etc. Common issues associated with thyroid are Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, goiter, and thyroid nodules. HyperthyroidismThis is a type of condition when the thyroid gland gets overactive and starts producing too much thyroid hormone. Due to this many body functions speed up. This condition affects about 1-3 percent of people in the US and mainly appears in women. One common condition that often appears due to Hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease. People with an overactive thyroid often face this condition. Common causes of Hyperthyroidism
Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism
Treatment options for hyperthyroidismAntithyroid medication: Drugs like methimazole can help in preventing the thyroid from producing extra hormones and reduce other symptoms. Homeopathy: Dynamic medication can also treat hyperthyroidism issues. Look for a homeopathy doctor Pennsylvania and get the proper treatment. The doctor will ask a few questions in the first meeting regarding your diet, lifestyle, etc. He will prescribe medication that can reduce the symptoms and treat the condition. Homeopathy may take more time to treat but is fully safe and doesn’t have any harmful side effects. Radioiodine therapy: Taking large doses of radioactive iodine can damage the thyroid gland. Radioiodine pills or liquid are available. The thyroid gland takes in iodine and pulls in radioactive iodine that can damage the gland. Radioiodine is not safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Beta-blockers: Few beta-blockers are also available to manage the symptoms. However, these medications may not treat the condition. Surgery: If the condition is severe then you can remove the thyroid hand. It may return the thyroid level to normal. HypothyroidismThis condition is opposite to hyperthyroidism. In this condition, the thyroid gland becomes underactive and is unable to produce enough hormones. Due to this, many body functions start working slowly. Many people face hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It is a surgery to remove the thyroid gland. Common causes of hypothyroidism
Some other medical conditions such as type 1 or 2 diabetes, and lupus can also lead to hypothyroidism. Symptoms of hypothyroidism
Treatment options for hypothyroidismYou can diagnose hypothyroidism with blood tests and imaging tests. The doctor will ask for a blood test to measure TSH and thyroid hormone levels. If the TSH level is high and the thyroxine level is low then your thyroid is underactive. These levels also show that the pituitary gland is releasing more TSH to stimulate the thyroid gland for releasing more hormones. Imaging tests like ultrasound scans using radioactive iodine can also check thyroid function. The common treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone pills. But you need to take the correct dosage as taking too much thyroid hormone can cause hyperthyroidism symptoms. People who are pregnant and have hypothyroidism may need higher doses. Common thyroid problemsHashimoto’s thyroiditisThis condition is also known as lymphocytic thyroiditis and it is a very common cause of hypothyroidism. This condition can appear at any age. In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland and reduces hormone production. People with mild Hashimoto’s thyroid may not show any symptoms. Common symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Treatment for Hashimoto’s thyroiditisThere is no known cure for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Your doctor may prescribe hormone-replacement medication to increase the thyroid level. This medication can also help in reducing the symptoms. Graves’ diseaseThis is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland and results in hormone overproduction. This condition can be genetic and can develop at any age. Some other risk factors for Graves’ disease are stress, pregnancy, smoking, etc. Common symptoms of Graves’ disease
Treatment options for Graves’ diseaseBeta-Blockers: These medicines help to reduce symptoms like rapid heart rate, sweat, anxiety, etc. Radioactive iodine: It destroy all or a part of thyroid Antithyroid medications: These medicines prevent the thyroid from producing extra amounts of hormone. Surgery: Surgery involves removal of thyroid gland. Doctors suggest surgery only when other treatment options are not showing positive results. Thyroid nodulesThis condition is more common in women than in men. These are nodules that grow in the thyroid gland. The risk of developing thyroid nodules increases when the person is facing other thyroid related issues. Most thyroid nodules are benign but there can be some possibility of being cancerous. Symptoms of thyroid nodules
Treatment options for Thyroid nodulesSurgery: Removal of thyroid gland through a surgery Radiation therapy: This therapy can be used with or without surgery. Radioactive iodine: Doctor may suggest radioactive iodine after surgery. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is required only when the nodules are cancerous.
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