diseases of the thyroid gland

We have known for a long time that the function of every organ in the human and animal body has an effect on the entire organism. The same is true of the thyroid. As soon as its function is disturbed, vital processes are adversely affected to a decisive extent, even completely inhibited in some cases. The most modern examination methods even showed that almost every cell in the body is affected by such functional disorders.

Functioning of the thyroid

Infogram on the anatomy and location of the thyroid gland, as well as the symptoms of overactive and underactive thyroid glands. See AbbreviationFinder for abbreviations related to Hypothyroidism Disease.

The thyroid weighs 25 to 30 grams, making it the largest endocrine gland with significant inherent reserves. It is subject to a well-balanced control mechanism that emanates from central points located in the diencephalon. The pituitary gland (hypophysis) sends impulses to the thyroid gland with the help of a certain hormone, which stimulate the thyroid gland function. The thyroid then produces its own hormones, which then affect the entire organism. The peripheral areas of the organism in turn signal to the central points whether there is too much or too little thyroid hormone. From here, the decisive impulses are then passed on to the thyroid again.

It is therefore evident that the thyroid gland does not work independently, but adapts to the body’s need for thyroid hormones. The response of different body cells to this hormone is never constant, even in a healthy person; it always depends on the living conditions, which are different at different times – for example during puberty, during pregnancy or during the so-called menopause. If the thyroid gland is removed from an adult mammal, the signs of failure are initially hardly recognizable from the outside. Adults can also live without a thyroid gland, but this leads to severe physical and psychological impairments.

So, if you will, the thyroid is not a vital organ in adulthood. It influences the extent of metabolic processes, but maintenance and basic control can also be taken over by other mechanisms. It is completely different during the development of the human and animal organism: here the thyroid gland is a vital organ. Animals without a thyroid gland come to a standstill in their development: they do not reach sexual maturity, they are unable to adapt to extreme environmental conditions, such as temperature changes and hunger, and ultimately perish.

Hypothyroidism diseases

The same applies to humans. Children who were born without a thyroid gland do not reach puberty at most without medical treatment. However, if the thyroid gland is present in childhood, but its function is greatly reduced, the clinical picture of cretinism develops, which is associated with mental aberrations. Deafness and developmental disorders of the skeleton also occur. To compensate for the lack of hormones, the thyroid gland constantly receives work impulses from the pituitary gland. However, since she cannot cope with production, she reacts with tissue proliferation, which means she expands her production facility.

Cretinism occurs primarily where there is little iodine in the environment, but especially in drinking water, which the thyroid gland urgently needs to build up hormones. Furthermore, a higher frequency of goiter could be observed, especially in people who live in poor economic and hygienic conditions. However, substances have also been found in various foods, especially in most types of cabbage, carrots and turnips, which block the formation of hormones and can thus cause goiter. These substances are also found in animal feed; they pass into cow’s milk and can in turn be ingested by humans.

It is therefore necessary to avoid a completely unbalanced diet with the foods mentioned over a long period of time. If the goiter-producing substances come into contact with an adult organism, the clinical picture of cretinism does not develop at all. However, there is often an enlargement of the thyroid gland and in some cases symptoms of hypothyroidism, which can also have other causes. If one recalls the regulatory circuit in which the thyroid gland is embedded, it becomes clear that any disruption in any part of this circuit – be it in the body periphery, in the diencephalon, in the pituitary gland or in the thyroid itself – an underproduction of hormones can cause.

Symptoms, Ailments & Signs

In other words, the hormones produced are not sufficient to meet the body’s needs. The main causes of hypothyroidism, in addition to those already mentioned, are acute and chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland, which causes destruction of the glandular tissue, and conditions following surgical removal of the thyroid gland. The most important symptoms of hypofunction are general weakness, apathy, sensitivity to cold, lack of sweating, dry and rough skin and weight gain.

The activity of the patient is sometimes so reduced that he cannot even make up his mind to go to the doctor. As the disease progresses, slow speech becomes noticeable; the tongue is thickened, speech seems lumpy. Swelling of the face, legs or hands may also occur. The patients look remarkably pale. However, it must be emphasized that only the combination of several symptoms speaks for the presence of a hypothyroidism, but not the occurrence of individual ones.

As already mentioned, the adaptability of our organism depends on the functioning of the thyroid gland. In certain phases of life we can observe a particularly high consumption of hormones, which the thyroid is not always able to cope with. So it needs to expand. High demands exist – this has already been indicated – during puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding and the menopause, in general, the hormone requirements of females are greater than those of males. For example, the enlargement of the thyroid gland in young men goes away after puberty, while it often persists in girls.

Hyperthyroidism diseases

It is precisely the life situations mentioned in which an overactive thyroid gland can develop. In chronic hormone deficiency situations, the thyroid gland can enlarge to such an extent that feelings of tension and pressure in the throat arise. Sometimes it grows down into the chest cavity and causes the trachea and esophagus to be squeezed. The result is swallowing and breathing difficulties. In such cases, the person concerned must immediately consult a doctor so that an operation can be avoided.

A special word should apply to those patients who had to undergo thyroid surgery. The removal of thyroid tissue consequently results in a hormone deficiency. However, since there is always a remnant of the thyroid gland, it can enlarge again under the influence of higher-level signals, sometimes even reaching the same dimensions as before the operation. Unfortunately, the doctor can never fully predict in which patients this secondary enlargement will occur. It is therefore absolutely necessary to treat all patients over a longer period of time in order to cover the thyroid hormone deficiency with medication.

Certainly some patients do not feel comfortable taking one tablet a day for years. However, this is unavoidable if the secondary diseases are to be avoided and is ultimately only in the interest of the thyroid gland operator. It is a painful fact for physicians that a large part of the comprehensive prophylactic measures in different countries fail because the majority of patients who have had thyroid surgery do not recognize the necessity. While there are understandable explanations for the hypofunction and enlargement of the thyroid gland with normal hormone production, the mechanism of the overfunction, also known as hyperthyroidism or Basedow’s disease, has not yet been fully clarified.

Thyroid diseases can lead to a variety of complications if left untreated. An enlargement of the thyroid gland, known as a goiter, often leads to swallowing difficulties, shortness of breath and congestion in the neck vessels simply due to unhindered growth. Malignant degeneration of the proliferating tissue is also possible. In the case of hypothyroidism, the risk of premature vascular calcification increases, which can result in heart and circulatory diseases, circulatory disorders and reduced kidney function.

Cardiac arrhythmias and long-term enlargement of the heart muscle can also occur as part of an underactive thyroid. In rare cases, a myxedema characterized by tissue swelling can develop into a myxedema coma associated with breathing problems and a slow heartbeat, which requires immediate intensive care.

Acute excessive hormone production in the case of an overactive thyroid gland (thyrotoxic crisis) is accompanied by nervousness, gastrointestinal disorders, an increase in body temperature and clouding of consciousness. In the worst case, cardiovascular failure is the result without medical intervention. In the long term, insufficiently treated overactive thyroid glands can damage the heart and adrenal glands, and it also promotes the occurrence of metabolic disorders and osteoporosis.

Antithyroid drugs used to treat hyperthyroidism sometimes lower the number of white blood cells, which can lead to flu-like symptoms. Even after radioiodine therapy, blood count changes occasionally occur. Possible complications of a thyroid operation are injury to the vocal cord nerves or the parathyroid glands and postoperative bleeding in the operated area.

Symptoms

All we can say is that the interrelationships between the thyroid and pituitary glands are completely disrupted in this disease. The thyroid floods the body with hormones when there is no need. The result is an increase in metabolism; all organs are running at full speed, stimulated by the overproduction of hormones; the ingested food components are quickly broken down and burned and the heat dissipation is immense.Naturallythe thyroid may also enlarge under this condition. But often before patients notice an increase in neck circumference, they feel the increase in metabolism. You complain about general restlessness, sweating, palpitations, cannot tolerate heat andtire easily. Palpitations and nervous restlessness are the most noticeable constant symptoms.

As the disease progresses, weight loss can occur despite cravings and copious food intake. The purely outward sign is the well-known protrusion of the eyes. However, this symptom should by no means be interpreted as an expression of the severity of the disease. The greatest difficulty lies in distinguishing hyperthyroidism from the nervousness and exhaustion that often occurs today, known as vegetative dystonia.

Side effects can occur that are very similar to those of hyperthyroidism. However, we recognize reliable distinguishing features from the fact that the palpitations and nervous restlessness are not as constant in vegetative dystonia. The patients are hardly sensitive to heat and tend to break out in a sweat only occasionally, especially after excitement.

If there is an enlargement of the thyroid without the need for excessive hormone production, the resemblance to a real overactive thyroid is amazing, and the correct diagnosis can only be made using the most modern examination methods.

Complications

Nodules in the thyroid

Finally, a few comments on the formation of nodules in the thyroid gland, which can have different origins. In our latitudes, these are usually encapsulated blisters, known as cysts. Furthermore, any enlargement of the thyroid gland, with or without hyperfunction, can transform itself into nodules. So-called “hot knots” are rarer, which – similar to a fire-breathing mountain – increasingly emit hormones and cause the clinical picture of hyperfunction.

If swelling of the neck suddenly occurs, which can also be painful, combined with a general feeling of illness, it is usually an inflammation of the thyroid gland. Isolated nodules also form in thyroid cancer, which fortunately is very rare. If it is detected in time, it can be cured like most other forms of organ cancer. Nodule formation in the area of the thyroid gland should therefore always be a reason to see a doctor. However, it should be emphasized once again that not every nodule formation is to be equated with thyroid cancer.

Outlook & Forecast

The prognosis for diseases of the thyroid gland is based on the individual symptoms and the existing causes. A large number of patients develop a chronic course of the disease and thus require long-term therapy. This makes it possible to alleviate health irregularities and leads to an improvement in the quality of life.

However, if the prescribed medication is discontinued without consulting the doctor, a recurrence of the symptoms is to be expected. If there are abnormalities in the thyroid gland due to natural processes such as puberty, pregnancy or menopause, recovery is usually documented after the end of this phase. The immune system is switched over by the organism and causes temporary problems. Treatment does not always have to be initiated because it is a natural process.

When the thyroid gland is optically enlarged, surgery is performed in most cases. Since an operation is always associated with risks and side effects, these must be taken into account when making a prognosis. If the planned intervention proceeds without further complications, the affected person can often be released from the treatment a short time later as cured. However, further check-ups are necessary in order to detect changes at an early stage and to be able to react accordingly. Without medical treatment, an enlarged thyroid gland can lead to an increase in symptoms.

Aftercare

In the case of diseases of the thyroid gland, the affected person has options for aftercare, although these are usually very dependent on the exact disease and the time of its diagnosis. Therefore, no general prediction can be made about these possibilities. In general, for thyroid diseases, the sufferer should see a doctor to treat them.

It usually cannot heal on its own, so a doctor should be contacted as soon as the first signs and symptoms appear. In many cases, patients are dependent on taking different medications. It is always important to ensure that the medication is taken regularly and that the dosage is correct in order to permanently relieve the symptoms.

Likewise, in the case of diseases of the thyroid gland, a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet has a very positive effect on the further course of the disease and can also prevent the occurrence of further complications. The doctor can also draw up a nutrition plan for the person concerned. In most cases, diseases of the thyroid gland require regular checks and examinations by a doctor in order to monitor the condition of the thyroid gland over the long term.

You can do that yourself

Depending on the form of the thyroid disease, there are various options for taking measures yourself in addition to medical treatment and taking certain medications.

If the thyroid gland is overactive, the person affected can take sage if they sweat profusely and pay attention to small amounts of iodine in their diet. Wraps with quark or healing earth, which are placed on the neck, can lead to relief of the symptoms. It is also important to avoid stress and to value adequate rest. The sufferer can learn special techniques for relaxation, which include calming breathing exercises. Sufficient sleep and rest breaks are also important. In addition to medical treatment of hyperfunction, acupuncture can also be usedbe helpful. If the states of nervousness and excitement predominate, psychological treatment can also be considered.

In the case of hypothyroidism, measures such as alternating showers and a foot bath with alternating temperatures can be helpful to stimulate the circulation. Baths with rosemary can provide relaxation. If there is an iodine deficiency, the diet should be changed accordingly in order to compensate for this deficiency. Examples of foods containing iodine include seafood, freshwater fish and sea salt.

When should you go to the doctor?

Diseases of the thyroid gland are rarely noticeable through clear symptoms, especially in the early stages. That is why people who have a hereditary predisposition to diseases of the thyroid gland should pay attention to possible warning signs. The earlier a possible thyroid problem is detected, the faster it can be regulated again. The typical diseases of the thyroid gland, underfunction and overfunction, become noticeable in everyday life either through unnatural tiredness, listlessness and weight gain or in the case of overfunction through a feeling of overstimulation and weight loss.

Although these symptoms are possible signs of many diseases, they can always indicate a malfunction of the thyroid gland and should therefore be clarified by a doctor. It can be helpful to ask your family doctor to have your thyroid levels checked, because the less specific the symptoms, the more difficult it is to find the cause. Pain directly at the thyroid gland is rather rare. However, if you repeatedly feel a feeling of pressure in the throat or feel lumps in the neck area yourself, this can also indicate a disease of the thyroid gland. In the worst case, thyroid ulcers can hide behind lumps. The earlier these are recognized by a doctor, the more successful the treatment is usually.