The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland that is found in the front of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple. The thyroid is roughly butterfly-shaped, and is tasked with making hormones all over your body. The thyroid’s hormones assist in regulating things like the burning of calories in your body, the rate of your body’s metabolism, and controls the body’s growth from birth to old age.
Diseases that can affect the thyroid
There are several diseases and disorders that may impact the thyroid, which tend to lead either to producing excess or deficient amounts of hormones the body requires, which then create other issues elsewhere.
Some of the problems that may occur to the thyroid are:
Hyperthyroidism
Otherwise referred to as overactive thyroid, the condition is when the thyroid gland secretes excessive amounts of the thyroid hormone. Too much of the hormone may cause numerous issues, including changes in mood, anxiety, tiredness and heart palpitations among others.
Hypothyroidism
The reverse of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism occurs when insufficient of the thyroid hormone is being made, and the symptoms are constipation, coldness and tiredness, and lack of concentration. If one is experiencing hypothyroidism at an early age, it can result in growth issues, delayed puberty, and irregular menstrual periods.
Goitre
This is the word used for an enlarged thyroid, and is linked with an improperly functioning thyroid. It has the potential to bring about coughing, difficulty swallowing and even shortness of breath in certain cases.
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid lumps are more troubling in the extremes of age. Thyroid cancer is more prevalent in smokers and those with a family history of thyroid cancer, although it may occur in anyone.
Thyroiditis
This is the generic term for an inflamed thyroid. It can be used to describe a variety of conditions including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Postpartum thyroiditis, and Subacute thyroiditis. All of these conditions occur in different age groups, and with different types of symptoms, though the shared symptom is swelling of the thyroid gland.
How are thyroid problems treated?
Treatment of a thyroid condition depends on the nature of the condition. Some can be treated with medication, while others can be treated with surgery.
Medication can be used to restore the hormone levels secreted by the thyroid gland, like to produce more hormone in the event of hypothyroidism, or to limit the amount of hormone secreted with hyperthyroidism.
If surgery is needed, it will normally be to take out part of the gland, or to take out part of the swelling or goitre. The operation to treat patients with thyroid cancer is good, with most patients recovering completely if the cancer is discovered early.