![]() Your Thyroid Gland - British Thyroid Foundation. What is a thyroid gland? The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland in your neck. It makes two hormones that are secreted into the blood: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). ![]() Your appetite or taste buds are altered An increased appetite can be a sign of hyperthyroidism when too much thyroid hormone may have you feeling hungry all of the time. Hypothyroidism Diet The thyroid gland is a major organ in the human body that is responsible for the production of hormones necessary in regulating metabolism. Correct diet for your thyroid can offer many benefits like reducing the risk of hypothyroidism, which can lead to numerous health complications. These hormones are necessary for all the cells in your body to work normally. Thyroid disorders are very common and tend mainly to occur in women, although anybody - men, teenagers, children and babies, too - can be affected. About one in 2. 0 people has some kind of thyroid disorder, which may be temporary or permanent. The thyroid gland lies in the front of your neck in a position just below your Adam’s apple. It is made up of two lobes - the right lobe and the left lobe, each about the size of a plum cut in half - and these two lobes are joined by a small bridge of thyroid tissue called the isthmus. The two lobes lie on either side of your wind- pipe. What does my thyroid gland do? The thyroid makes two hormones that it secretes into the blood stream. One is called thyroxine; this hormone contains four atoms of iodine and is often called T4. The other is called triiodothyronine, which contains three atoms of iodine and is often called T3. In the cells and tissues of the body the T4 is converted to T3. It is the T3, derived from T4 or secreted as T3 from the thyroid gland, which is biologically active and influences the activity of all the cells and tissues of your body. What do my thyroid hormones do for me? The T4, or rather the T3 derived from it, and the T3 secreted directly by the thyroid gland influence the metabolism of your body cells. In other words, it regulates the speed with which your body cells work. If too much of the thyroid hormones are secreted, the body cells work faster than normal, and you have hyperthyroidism. If you become hyperthyroid because of too much secretion of the hormones from the thyroid gland, the increased activity of your body cells or body organs may lead, for example, to a quickening of your heart rate or increased activity of your intestine so that you have frequent bowel motions or even diarrhoea. On the other hand if too little of the thyroid hormones are produced (known as hypothyroidism), the cells and organs of your body slow down. If you become hypothyroid, your heart rate, for example, may be slower than normal and your intestines work sluggishly, so you become constipated. The thyroid gland in the neck is important for regulating the body's metabolism. With an underactive thyroid, also called hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland does not. Thyroid disease has become very prevalent in today's world, courtesy of a number of different lifestyle factors. An estimated 1 in 8 women aged 35 to. What can go wrong with my thyroid? Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) - not enough thyroxine is produced for the body’s needs. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) - too much thyroxine is produced for the body’s needs. Hypothyroidism is the most common disorder. What are the most common symptoms of the most common thyroid disorders that I might experience? Hypothyroidism: tiredness, feeling cold, weight gain, poor concentration, depression. Hyperthyroidism: weight loss, heat intolerance, anxiety, and, sometimes, sore and gritty eyes. Sometimes there are very few symptoms. A blood test from your doctor will confirm whether or not you have a thyroid disorder. What other disorders are there? Thyroid eye disease – this affects some people who have an overactive thyroid due to Graves’ disease. ![]() Nodules or swellings – these lumps can stop the thyroid gland from working properly, or are simply uncomfortable. Thyroid cancer – this is very rare, but it is important to ask your doctor to check any lump in your neck. Having a baby can sometimes trigger a thyroid disorder. This is known as post- partum thyroiditis. It is usually temporary but can return each time you have a baby. How is my thyroid gland controlled? There has to be some sort of mechanism that regulates very carefully the amount of T4 and T3 secreted by your thyroid gland so that the right - the normal - amounts are manufactured and delivered into the blood stream. The mechanism is very similar to that which regulates the central heating in a house where there is a thermostat in, say, the living room, which is set to a particular temperature and which activates the gas- or oil- fired furnace, or boiler that heats the hot water. In the case of the thyroid the . The pituitary senses the level of thyroid hormones in your blood stream, just as the thermostat in your living room senses the temperature. Under normal circumstances, if the level drops just a little below normal, the pituitary reacts by secreting a hormone called the thyroid stimulating hormone, also known as TSH, and this hormone activates the thyroid gland to put out more T4 and T3. Conversely, when the thyroid hormone levels rise above normal the . Most commonly the cause is due to autoimmune thyroid disease - a self- destructive process in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid cells as though they were foreign cells. In response the thyroid gland becomes underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism). You may find that other members of your family have thyroid problems or another autoimmune disorder. How are thyroid disorders diagnosed? Your doctor will be able to get a good idea about the activity of your thyroid gland by listening to your symptoms, asking you some questions and by examining your neck. However, by taking a small sample of your blood he or she can assess exactly your thyroid secretory state. On this single sample of blood, for example, the levels of the hormones involved can be measured in the laboratory. By this means it is possible to find out if too much or too little T4 and/or T3 is being secreted, and how active the pituitary is by measuring the TSH. A single blood test will normally confirm the diagnosis, but sometimes other tests are required. Can thyroid disorders be treated? Yes – your thyroid disorder and many of the symptoms, too, can be treated. Most thyroid disorders are treated with daily medication. There are other treatments for those thyroid disorders that cannot be controlled with medication. You can read more details under the specific thyroid disorders. Cartoon courtesy of J Delahaye - BTF member. Hypothyroid Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments. Hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid disease, is a common disorder. With hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland is located in the front lower part of your neck. Hormones released by the gland travel through your bloodstream and affect nearly every part of your body, from your heart and brain, to your muscles and skin. The thyroid controls how your body's cells use energy from food, a process called metabolism. Among other things, your metabolism affects your body’s temperature, your heartbeat, and how well you burn calories. If you don't have enough thyroid hormone, your body processes slow down. That means your body makes less energy, and your metabolism becomes sluggish. What Causes Hypothyroidism? The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder. With Hashimoto’s, your body produces antibodies that attack and destroy the thyroid gland. Thyroiditis may also be caused by a viral infection. Other causes of hypothyroidism include: Radiation therapy to the neck area. Treating certain cancers, such as lymphoma, requires radiation to the neck. Radiation damages the cells in the thyroid. This makes it more difficult for the gland to produce hormone. Radioactive iodine treatment. This treatment is commonly prescribed to people who have an overactive thyroid gland, a condition known as hyperthyroidism. However, radiation destroys the cells in the thyroid gland. This usually leads to hypothyroidism. Use of certain medications. Certain medicines to treat heart problems, psychiatric conditions, and cancer can sometimes affect the production of thyroid hormone. These include amiodarone (Cordarone), lithium, interferon alpha, and interleukin- 2. Thyroid surgery. Surgery to remove the thyroid will lead to hypothyroidism. If only part of the thyroid is removed, the remaining gland may still be able to produce enough hormone for the body's needs. Too little iodine in the diet. The thyroid needs iodine to produce thyroid hormone. Your body doesn't make iodine, so you need to get it through your diet. Iodized table salt is rich in iodine. Other food sources of iodine include shellfish, saltwater fish, eggs, dairy products, and seaweed. Iodine deficiency is rare in the U. S. Continued. Pregnancy. The reason isn’t clear, but sometimes, inflammation of the thyroid occurs after pregnancy. This is called postpartum thyroiditis. Women with this condition usually have a severe increase in thyroid hormone levels followed by a sharp drop in thyroid hormone production. Most women with postpartum thyroiditis will regain their normal thyroid function. Problems with the thyroid at birth. Some babies may be born with a thyroid gland that did not develop correctly or does not work properly. This type of hypothyroidism is called congenital hypothyroidism. Most hospitals in the U. S. Rarely, a problem with the pituitary gland can interfere with the production of thyroid hormone. The pituitary gland makes a hormone, called thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH), which tells your thyroid how much hormone it should make and release. Disorder of the hypothalamus. An extremely rare form of hypothyroidism can occur if the hypothalamus in the brain does not produce enough of a hormone called TRH. TRH affects the release of TSH from the pituitary gland. Primary hypothyroidism is caused by a problem with the thyroid gland itself. Secondary hypothyroidism occurs when another problem interferes with the thyroid's ability to produce hormones. For example, the pituitary gland and hypothalamus produce hormones that trigger the release of thyroid hormone. A problem with one of these glands can make your thyroid underactive. Sometimes, an underactive thyroid that results from a problem with the hypothalamus is called tertiary hypothyroidism. Who Is at Risk for Hypothyroidism? Women, particularly older women, are more likely to develop hypothyroidism than men. You are also more likely to develop hypothyroidism if you have a close family member with an autoimmune disease. Other risk factors include: Symptoms of Hypothyroidism. Symptoms of hypothyroidism may be vague and can often mimic other conditions. They may include: Continued. Babies with hypothyroidism may have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they can include: Make an appointment with your health care provider if you or your baby has any of these symptoms. It is important to note that these symptoms can be due to other medical conditions. How Is Hypothyroidism Diagnosed? If you have symptoms of hypothyroidism, your doctor will order blood tests to check hormone levels. These may include: Thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH)T4 (thyroxine)Lower- than- normal T4 levels usually mean you have hypothyroidism. However, some people may have increased TSH levels while having normal T4 levels. This is called subclinical (mild) hypothyroidism. It is believed to be an early stage of hypothyroidism. If your test results or physical exam of the thyroid are abnormal, your doctor may order a thyroid ultrasound, or thyroid scan, to check for nodules or inflammation. How Is Hypothyroidism Treated? If you have hypothyroidism, your doctor will prescribe a synthetic (man- made) thyroid hormone T4. You take this pill every day. Certain other medications can interfere with how your body absorbs synthetic thyroid hormone. Make sure you doctor knows about all the medicines, herbs, and supplements you take, including over- the- counter products. You will need regular blood tests to check your thyroid hormone levels. Your doctor may need to adjust your medication dose from time to time. Complications of Hypothyroidism. Untreated, hypothyroidism may cause: Thyroid problems in a pregnant woman can affect the developing baby. During the first three months of pregnancy, the baby receives all thyroid hormone from its mother. If the mother has hypothyroidism, the baby does not get enough thyroid hormone. This can lead to problems with mental development. Extremely low levels of thyroid hormone can cause a life- threatening condition called myxedema. Myxedema is the most severe form of hypothyroidism. A person with myxedema can lose consciousness or go into a coma. The condition can also cause the body temperature to drop very low, which can cause death. Sources. SOURCES: The Hormone Foundation: .
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