Understanding Thyroid- Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Outlook

When we say thyroid, we refer to the disease but it also refers to the small organ located in the front of our neck called the thyroid gland. It has a butterfly like shape and is a gland.

The thyroid gland secretes hormones that have a vital role to play in throughout the body. When a thyroid gland produces either too little or too much of these hormones, the condition is called a thyroid disease or disorder. This article can prove helpful to you or anyone who might be considering getting thyroid treatment in Dwarka from the best doctors for thyroid in Delhi.

First off, there are different kinds of thyroid disease like Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Thyroiditis, Goitre and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Graves’ disease.

When the thyroid gland doesn’t function properly, it can have an impact on the body. If the body produces excess thyroid hormone, you could develop a condition known as hyperthyroidism and in case your body makes too little of the thyroid hormone, it will be called Hypothyroidism called. Remember that both of these conditions are serious and you’ll need to be treated by the best endocrinologists in Dwarka to achieve satisfactory results.

What does the thyroid gland really do?

Thyroid is responsible for releasing and controlling our thyroid hormones which determine and control metabolism; the process by which the food we consume is converted into energy, which is used throughout the body for keeping quite a few of the body’s systems functioning properly. Your metabolism is like a power generator which takes in raw energy and powers your body with it.

The thyroid gland controls metabolism through specific hormones — T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine), both of these hormones are produced by the thyroid and dictate how much energy the body’s cells will use. When the thyroid gland is working properly, it will keep your metabolism functioning properly by producing the right amount of hormones.

Behind all of this is the Pituitary Gland, also called as Master Gland; present at the centre of the skull, beneath the brain, this gland monitors and determines the amount of thyroid hormones in our bloodstream. In case the pituitary gland begins to sense a lack of thyroid hormones or a higher than normal level of hormones in the body, it begins adjusting the amount with a hormone of its own called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and this is sent to the thyroid gland to tell it what needs to be done to get the body back to normal.

“Thyroid disease” is a term used generally to refer to a medical condition that prevents the thyroid gland from producing the correct amount of hormones. When the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, the body will use up energy too quickly, this condition is called hyperthyroidism and you’ll feel more tired than normal, your heart might beat faster, causing you to lose weight without even trying and it can also make you feel nervous. On the other hand, if the thyroid makes too little of thyroid hormone, it’ll be hypothyroidism. When we have too little of the thyroid hormone in our body, it can also make us feel tired, and there might be weight gain and a low tolerance for cold temperatures, females can have irregular periods, infertility (inability to conceive) and miscarriages.

Both of these are primary thyroid disorders and can be caused by number of conditions and can even be passed down through generations.

Who’s at risk? 

Thyroid disease can happen to anybody, men, women, children, teenagers and even the elderly. It can be from birth (mostly hypothyroidism) and it can also develop as we age (most often after menopause in women).

Thyroid disease is very common, with an estimated 43 million people in India having some type of thyroid disorder. Women are almost five to eight times more likely to be diagnosed with thyroid disease as compared to men.

You might be at greater risk of developing Thyroid disease if there is a family history of Thyroid disease or in case you have other preexisting medical conditions like Pernicious Anaemia, or Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 & Type 2), Primary Adrenal Insufficiency, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome and Turner syndrome or if you’re taking medicine that is high in Iodine. Your age is 60 or if you are older than 60, even then you are at risk of having Thyroid disease.

Conditions that cause hypothyroidism include Thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Postpartum Thyroiditis, Iodine deficiency and a non-functioning thyroid gland. On the other hand, the conditions that cause hyperthyroidism are Grave’s Disease, Nodules, Thyroiditis, and excess iodine.

At times, thyroid disease can prove to be difficult for diagnosing because the symptoms can be easily confused with other conditions. However, there are tests available that can help you determine if the symptoms you’re experiencing are being caused by a thyroid issue. Blood tests, Imaging tests and Physical examination can help your doctor diagnose your thyroid disorder and decide upon the right course of treatment for your disorder. So, get tested and then treated.