The importance of the thyroid gland in our body is difficult to overestimate. It produces hormones (thyroxine, triiodothyronine and thyrocalcitonin), which affect the work of the whole organism, energize each of our bodies. The hormones produced by the thyroid gland are responsible for the metabolism in each organ and every cell of our body. Without them, it is simply impossible to proceed with such processes as breathing, movement, eating, sleeping. Our heart beats, the lungs pump the air, and the brain generates impulses precisely because of the hormones of the thyroid gland. And if we talk in more detail about the work of the brain, the thyroid hormones participate both in the formation of the brain in the fetus, and in the subsequent work of the brain throughout the life of a person. Our logical thinking, the ability to quickly analyze the situation and even many of the artistic talents that are considered to be the gift of God, depend to a large extent on the work of this particular body.
Hormones of thyroxine and triiodothyronine actively participate in the process of child's growth, the development and strengthening of the skeleton, the growth of bones depend on them. The thyroid gland takes part in the formation of mammary glands in women, is responsible for the water-salt balance of the body and the maintenance of normal body weight. The thyroid gland also helps the work of other hormones, participates in the formation of certain vitamins, helps the immune system of our body. The aging of our body is also associated with changes in the thyroid gland.
Proper functioning of the thyroid gland plays a particularly important role in the female body. The thyroid gland participates in all the restructuring of the female body during the life of a woman. The normal functioning of this organ is very important during puberty, for conception and bearing of a child, during childbirth and in the postpartum period, and even in the period of menopause. Problems with conceiving and bearing a child can be associated with improper functioning of the thyroid gland, any deviations in the functioning of this organ from the mother can negatively affect the newborn baby.
In most cases, thyroid disease is hereditary, but it can also occur in people who do not have a genetic predisposition to them. The malfunctioning of the thyroid gland can manifest itself in different ways, depending on it, the symptoms by which the disease can be recognized, and the methods of treatment.
Since the thyroid gland affects all the systems of the body, and not any single organ, it is not so easy to recognize irregularities in its functioning. Symptoms of thyroid gland diseases we are accustomed to not notice or write off for fatigue, stress, congestion at work or family problems. Many people do not even assume that the cause of their bad mood, fast fatigue, irritability or depression can hide in this small, butterfly-like organ.
Many women do not pay any attention, for example, to the irregularity of the menstrual cycle, and this can be one of the signs of thyroid disease and this is more than serious.
Here are the main symptoms, at the appearance of which it is necessary to immediately check the functioning of the thyroid gland:
- Fatigue and fatigue, a sense of weakness even immediately after sleep.
- Significant changes in body weight.
Depressive and melancholic conditions.
- Problems with memory.
- Feeling of heat or cold in the extremities.
- Painful joints, arthritis.
Pain or muscle cramps.
- Disturbance of digestion, frequent constipation.
- High cholesterol in the blood.
Also, thyroid disease can give off a small swelling in the neck.
The appearance of all or some of these signs may indicate the presence of subclinical thyroid dysfunction in a person. This condition means that abnormalities in the thyroid gland are already occurring, but the level of hormones in the blood is still within normal limits. Such violations are very difficult to detect with standard diagnosis and often they are left unattended by the doctor, and treatment begins only at later stages of the disease. However, it is worthwhile to apply to a medical institution.
In many cases, the external symptoms of the disease manifest themselves very little, even in the last stages. Diseases of the thyroid gland can be divided into several groups. These are diseases associated with excessive hormone production, also known as Basedova disease or hyperthyroidism, and inadequate hormone production or hypothyroidism. The amount of hormones can be regulated through hormonal means, changes in diet and lifestyle, and the use of homeotherapy. In any case, it is necessary to be examined at the endocrinologist.
There is another type of disease: the formation of nodes or tumors. Which can be both benign and malignant. In such serious cases, there are several principles of diagnosis and treatment.
The first principle is the mandatory conduct of a fine needle aspiration biopsy performed under ultrasound control. Its conduct is the basis of the diagnosis, since it depends on these results whether a tumor is malignant or benign.
The second principle is surgical intervention up to complete removal of the thyroid gland in case of malignant node detection. In our country, the practice of preserving part of the gland during surgery is widespread, but in the world such tactics have not been supported. And on the contrary - if a benign tumor is detected, it is possible to avoid surgery. The indication for an operation intervention in this case is only the rapid growth of the nodes and the difficulties experienced by the person in connection with this. However, this phenomenon is rare. In medical practice, a benign tumor is also called the "Colloidal Node", and it occurs more often than malignant. Contrary to common misconceptions, a benign tumor does not become malignant. Therefore, the non-surgical treatment of this ailment is becoming increasingly popular.
The third principle relates to the treatment of malignant nodes. This is the need for combined treatment, combining surgery with subsequent radioiodine therapy. The purpose of such therapy is the destruction of tumor tissue in the human body. It is the combined treatment that will reduce the likelihood of recurrence and spread of the malignant process in the body. Nevertheless, malignant tumors of the thyroid gland belong to the group of oncological diseases, which can be completely cured. They should in no case be a "sentence" to the patient. As surgeons say "if you are destined to develop cancer, then let it be thyroid cancer."
The fourth principle of treatment is the observation of patients for a long time. People who have benign nodes that do not cause complaints, just once a year to conduct ultrasound of the thyroid gland, as well as take a blood test for hormones and visit an endocrinologist. Patients who have undergone a malignant tumor need to visit the doctor who controls his treatment more often and conduct diagnostics.
Because of the diffuse symptoms and hidden course of thyroid diseases, it is difficult to accurately estimate the extent of the spread of these diseases. But, even taking into account only the cases that have been revealed, it can be precisely said that the number of people suffering from these diseases of the thyroid gland is in line with diabetes and diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Despite the fact that the study of this body is carried out for a long time, scientists can not precisely name the causes of the appearance of thyroid diseases until now. It is believed that a significant role is played by genetic predisposition, as well as the influence of the environment. In our time, the constantly changing environmental situation can not accurately predict how an event can affect the human body. For example, it is noted that the Chernobyl catastrophe caused a surge of thyroid cancer, with the greatest number of diseases not in the first years after the disaster, but was postponed for 10 years, and the main mass of the sick were children.
Among the main causes of the appearance of thyroid diseases, in addition to genetic diseases, there are iodine deficiency, which the person receives less from food. The largest content of iodine is found in products of marine origin, such as sea fish and sea kale. In some regions of the planet, such products are almost inaccessible and are rarely used for food. Diseases of the thyroid gland in these regions are noted ten times more often than in the coastal countries, where traditionally a lot of iodine products are used for food.
For solving the problem of iodine deficiency, both in our and in other regions, the chemical and food industries have taken up. Now they produce products specially enriched with iodine, for example, iodized salt, bread, water. On the shelves of drugstores appeared a lot of drugs that are designed to prevent a deficiency of iodine in the body. The intake of such drugs is especially recommended for children and women during pregnancy and lactation. Now you know everything about thyroid disease: the causes, symptoms, the prevention of which should be timely.