vendredi 15 mars 2013

Thyroid Gland: Functionality, Difficulties And Treatments

By Melvin Sheldon


Thyroid is the gland which is butterfly in shape and can be found in the neck's front. This works just like a factory which used iodine from the food that we eat for the production of thyroid hormones. The latter helps in regulating the metabolism of the body and also effect other bodily processes and functions such as growth. This rate of the production of hormone is regulated by another gland which is located in our brain and known as the pituitary gland.

If this gland is under active or if it is not properly regulated, this can result to thyroid problem known as hypothyroidism. The latter can be caused by autoimmune thyroiditis, inflammation of the gland after pregnancy or postpartum thyroiditis, silent thyroiditis and acute one. If this gland in our neck is overactive or is producing too much hormone, it can cause what is known as hyperthyroidism. This is cause by Toxic multinodular goiter, grave's disease, Hashitoxicosis, excessive iodine intake and toxic nodule.

Numerous signs and symptoms according to the level of hormone deficiency may show that one person has hypothyroidism. Mental forgetfulness and fogginess is common coupled with fatigue and feeling excessively cold. Some women may have long period of menstruation with severe bleeding and experience very dry skin. For those who suffer hypothyroidism, feeling of heat intolerance and too much sweating is common. The menstruation is very irregular and with scant flow. People above 70 and those whose condition are mild may not feel any of these signs until the problem has worsened.

There are also thyroid problems which can occur when it is the structure of the gland that is affected. These problems can range from benign and simple cyst to more serious ones like cancer which can either be follicular, papillary, anaplastic or medullary. The enlargement of this gland known as goiter may also form and vary in sizes from less noticeable to huge enough which will need surgical removal. Actual location of this gland may be in an abnormal area because of some abnormalities of people during developmental stage.

When the thyroid problem is because of the defect in its structure, one will also experience different sets of signs and symptoms. This can include compression in the esophagus and trachea which makes it difficult to breathe and swallow. Increase in the size of the gland can even lead to bleeding and the person may feel local pain. If one is inflicted with cancer in this gland, he is also likely to experience the common systemic symptoms such as night sweats, lack of appetite and significant weight loss.

Depending on problems being experienced, there are different ways being used to address it. Medications may be used to reduce the hormone production while others inject synthetic hormone to supply the inadequacy. Surgical treatment is done on over enlarge gland as when it compresses the airways. For those who are no longer responding to medication, radioactive ablation is usually being performed. This is also done for those who have certain form of cancer in this gland.




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