1:05 AM
Don’t ignore thyroid!
Thyroid can play havoc with your health, but timely treatment can be helpful
The thyroid gland is situated in front of the neck and is quite visible when enlarged, especially during swallowing. It is an endocrine gland, discharging a secretion called thyroxin directly into the blood stream. Thyroid hormone regulates cellular metabolism throughout the body, it stokes the fire of metabolic furnaces located in each cell.
Symptoms
The symptom is goitre, ie, enlargement of the gland. If the gland is hypersecreting, there is weight loss, palpitations, increased sweating, nervousness and heat intolerance. Decreased secretion of thyroid is called hypothyroidism, which is a highly prevalent disorder. All thyroid diseases are more prevalent in females as compared to males. In hypothyroidism, the symptoms are almost opposite, like weight gain, dry skin, slow heart rate and cold intolerance.
Prevention
Diagnosis is confirmed by doing estimation of thyroid hormone concentration (T3, T4, TSH) in the blood. A low T3, T4 and high TSH confirms the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. At times, in many thyroid diseases, a sonography and radioactive scan of thyroid are required. Thyroid nodules occasionally require a fine needle aspiration biopsy. The procedure is safe and virtually painless.
The most important preventive measure has been iodination of salt. It has prevented goitre and hypothyroidism in iodine deficient areas. It has been one of the most effective preventive measures.
Treatment
Treatment of hypothyroidism is simple as thyroxin tablet can be given by mouth daily morning in appropriate dosage. This is a replacement therapy, hence in correct dosage it is entirely devoid of sideeffects. Most patients require doses of 50-150 microgram orally, which should be taken before breakfast. In most patients, it needs to continue throughout life, but occasionally, the disease reverses, allowing discontinuation of the medication. Hyperthyroidism is treated by tablets of Thionamide group (methimazole, carbimzole, propylthiouracil) or radio iodine or surgery.
Thyroid can play havoc with your health, but timely treatment can be helpful
The thyroid gland is situated in front of the neck and is quite visible when enlarged, especially during swallowing. It is an endocrine gland, discharging a secretion called thyroxin directly into the blood stream. Thyroid hormone regulates cellular metabolism throughout the body, it stokes the fire of metabolic furnaces located in each cell.
Symptoms
The symptom is goitre, ie, enlargement of the gland. If the gland is hypersecreting, there is weight loss, palpitations, increased sweating, nervousness and heat intolerance. Decreased secretion of thyroid is called hypothyroidism, which is a highly prevalent disorder. All thyroid diseases are more prevalent in females as compared to males. In hypothyroidism, the symptoms are almost opposite, like weight gain, dry skin, slow heart rate and cold intolerance.
Prevention
Diagnosis is confirmed by doing estimation of thyroid hormone concentration (T3, T4, TSH) in the blood. A low T3, T4 and high TSH confirms the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. At times, in many thyroid diseases, a sonography and radioactive scan of thyroid are required. Thyroid nodules occasionally require a fine needle aspiration biopsy. The procedure is safe and virtually painless.
The most important preventive measure has been iodination of salt. It has prevented goitre and hypothyroidism in iodine deficient areas. It has been one of the most effective preventive measures.
Treatment
Treatment of hypothyroidism is simple as thyroxin tablet can be given by mouth daily morning in appropriate dosage. This is a replacement therapy, hence in correct dosage it is entirely devoid of sideeffects. Most patients require doses of 50-150 microgram orally, which should be taken before breakfast. In most patients, it needs to continue throughout life, but occasionally, the disease reverses, allowing discontinuation of the medication. Hyperthyroidism is treated by tablets of Thionamide group (methimazole, carbimzole, propylthiouracil) or radio iodine or surgery.
