The doctor talks about the main symptoms that can appear when the thyroid does not work well
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 750 million people suffer from it worldwide thyroid diseases. “The thyroid is a small gland located at the base of the neck that plays a crucial role in several functions of the human body, for example regulating hormones,” explains the Dr. Elaine Dias JKDoctorate in Endocrinology from the University of São Paulo (USP).
The doctor explains that women have five to eight times more likely to have thyroid problemsS.
Tiredness, changes in cholesterol, fluid retention, brittle nails, discouragement, hair loss, difficulty getting pregnant and tachycardia or bradycardia are some of the signs that may indicate problems with the gland.
There are various diseases that can occur in this gland, the most common of which are 1 hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules AND thyroid cancer. Others less common include subacute thyroiditis (De Quervain’s thyroiditis), postpartum thyroiditis, acute or suppurative thyroiditis, drug-induced thyroiditis, and Riedel’s thyroiditis.
Most common thyroid diseases
Hypothyroidism
The specialist points out that the main cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis causes the immune system to attack the thyroid cells, resulting in a decrease in the hormones produced by this gland, mainly T$ (tetraiodothyronine) and little T3 (triiodothyronine).
As a result, the person may report tiredness, discouragement, depression, fluid retention, bleeding during menstruation, infertility, miscarriage, difficulty losing weight, bradycardia, memory changes, hair loss, brittle nails, increased cholesterol and glucose, short stature,. cold intolerance, constipation, among other discomforts.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism can have several causes, but the most common is Graves’ disease, a condition characterized by the production of antibodies against the TSH receptors in the thyroid, which leads to the stimulation of these receptors and an increase in the levels of the hormones T4 and T3.
Tachycardia, weight loss, heat intolerance, sweating, extremity tremors, irritability, exophthalmopathy, diarrhea, amenorrhea (nonmenstrual), and sweating are among the most common signs of hyperthyroidism.
Nothyroid odules
Nodules form due to abnormal growth in the thyroid tissue. They can be malignant or benign. Dr. Elaine says only about 5-10% are cancer of the gland.
“To determine whether a nodule is benign or malignant, diagnostic methods such as ultrasound and fine needle aspiration (FNA) are generally used. Ultrasound classification of thyroid nodules is widely used to determine whether the nodule has benign or malignant characteristics, he claims.
The expert points out that there is a thyroid nodule classification system called TIRADS (Thyroid Imaging Data and Reporting System). It is based on several factors observed on ultrasound, including the composition of the nodule (solid, cystic or mixed), echogenicity, margins (regular, irregular or poorly defined), microcalcifications and shape (taller than wide or wider than tall).
“Normally, thyroid nodules are asymptomatic. They only present symptoms when they grow very large, such as suffocation, difficulty swallowing and aesthetic discomfort”, underlines the endocrinologist.
Thyroid cancer
Papillary carcinoma is the most common of thyroid tumors. Dr. Elaine says it grows slowly and rarely metastasizes. She has a good prognosis and, to cure her, in addition to surgical treatment, it may be necessary to combine iodine therapy.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
