Nowadays, due to the rush of daily life, we put our bodies through a very aggressive routine, demanding and straining our bodies and how they function. Studies, work, social life, time for family, and many other tasks we commit to accomplishing. Of course, in the midst of all this, some things get neglected and go unnoticed when it comes to our health, such as thyroid disorders which do not always show clear signs.

What is the Thyroid?

The thyroid is a gland located at the lower part of our neck and plays a very important role in the development of our metabolism. Any change in this gland can cause many different problems for a person, often without them realizing it.

And exactly because thyroid disorders can cause so many different problems, we often don’t even consider that the issues we’re dealing with could be coming from this gland.

That’s why it’s necessary to know and understand how the thyroid works and what diseases changes in it can bring. This way, we will always be alert to address them as quickly as possible.

What is a Thyroid Disorder

Anything that affects the thyroid gland can be considered a disorder. Because it is a gland responsible for producing very important hormones for the body, such as thyroxine and triiodothyronine, these disorders can cause various parts of our body not to function properly, leading to several types of problems.

Thyroid disorders tend to occur more frequently in women between the ages of 20 and 40 but can occur in both sexes at different stages of life.

We should also remember that this gland is directly related to the brain, which prompts the production of thyroid-stimulating hormones if it detects low levels of triiodothyronine or thyroxine in the body.

The hypothalamus is responsible for producing these hormones. A thyroid disorder occurs, then, when the gland ends up producing more or fewer hormones than the body needs. Problems within the gland can also arise from issues with the hypothalamus, as they are directly connected.

Types of Thyroid Diseases

Since there are different types of thyroid disorders that disrupt the proper functioning of this gland, there are several types of diseases this can cause in a person. The main types of thyroid disease known today are:

  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Thyroid Cancer
  • Goiter and Benign Thyroid Nodules

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is nothing more than the excessive production of thyroid hormones. Since these hormones are responsible for the body’s metabolism, it ends up causing someone with this disease to have a slower metabolism.

Some of the main consequences are gaining weight easily and having difficulty losing it, as well as increased fluid retention and the various problems this can cause in the long term, such as lower levels of attention and concentration, osteoporosis, and some types of heart problems as well.

Hypothyroidism

This is exactly the opposite of the previously mentioned issue, meaning it occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones for the body’s needs. This lack of hormones can cause delayed growth in a person, which can become very serious, and may also cause intellectual disability.

Another consequence that hypothyroidism can bring is depression, especially in adulthood. This disease may be congenital, meaning a flaw in the thyroid gland present from birth, or caused by external factors such as the improper use of medications or a lack of iodine in someone’s diet.

Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer happens when malignant nodules or tumors appear in the gland. There are some factors that may cause the disease, such as advanced age, family history of the disease, or treatments using radiation to the head.

A major problem is that this disease usually does not show any symptoms, which means most patients only discover it when it is at an advanced stage. Thyroid cancer, like any other type of cancer, requires exhausting and difficult treatment that can be very harmful to a person, as well as the significant risk of death the disease brings.

Goiter and Benign Thyroid Nodules

Although thyroid cancer exists, most nodules that appear in the gland are benign and do not pose significant health risks, which makes the main concern their growth and whether they might become malignant. In cases of goiter and benign thyroid nodules, it is always very important to have regular medical follow-up.

Symptoms of Thyroid Disorders

Although there are several diseases caused by a thyroid disorder, hormonal changes affecting metabolism can present similar symptoms. The main symptoms of a thyroid disorder are:

  • Discomfort or pain in the neck
  • Nodules or lumps in the neck
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Sudden weight gain or loss
  • Forgetfulness
  • Dry skin

Other symptoms such as reduced sweating, drowsiness, muscle pain, fatigue, high blood pressure, constipation, depression, and increased bad cholesterol can also occur in cases of thyroid disorder.

Of course, some of these symptoms are somewhat generic and could mean many things, but it is important to watch out for a combination of them and see a doctor if they are interfering with your life in any way.

Diagnosis of Thyroid Disorders

The diagnosis of a thyroid disorder is made through simple tests involving a regular blood sample. With the test results in hand, a doctor can determine the level of thyroid disorder a person has and suggest the best type of treatment.

Treatment of Thyroid Disorders

Because there are several different diseases that can be caused by a thyroid disorder, there are also several different treatments for each one of them. Depending on the disease and its level of complexity, treatment for a thyroid disorder can range from medications to control hormones to radioiodine therapy or even surgery.

Many times just medical supervision and dietary changes can resolve the problem, but each case must be analyzed individually to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.

As you can see, thyroid disorders are not as uncommon as we usually think and may not be as harmful as many imagine. Because it is a complex issue that can affect several aspects of our bodies, we end up not knowing exactly what it is about, but that is precisely why it is so important to have regular exams.

Glandular or hormonal problems can often appear silently or with symptoms that seem harmless at first, but can have many long-term consequences in our lives. The best thing to do is to be proactive and pay attention to everything happening with our bodies to avoid being caught off guard.

See also: Trying to Conceive, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism and Pregnancy

Photo: Arnavaz