A Simple Way to Understand Your Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland is situated in the lower front of the neck, specifically in front of the windpipe. Its shape is liken to a butterfly and is situated just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid gland is surrounded with many blood vessels. The functions of the thyroid gland include secretion of many hormones including thyroxine and triiodothyronine being the main hormones secreted. The different thyroid hormones are useful in some bodily functions like metabolism and temperature regulation. One main significant feature of these thyroid hormones is its ability to absorb iodine. Without these thyroid hormones, iodine cannot be absorbed in the body. Why is iodine important? Subsequently, without iodine, these thyroid hormones cannot be produced by the thyroid gland creating a threat to all cellular components of the body.
Once the thyroid gland malfunctions, thyroid problems can occur. According to statistics, women are more at risk of developing these thyroid problems. Other factors that increase the risk for developing thyroid problems are high level of stress, decrease iodine intake, poor nutritional status, middle to late adulthood age, and pregnancy. Specific thyroid problems include hyperthyroidism or increase level of thyroid hormones, hypothyroidism or decrease level of thyroid hormones, cancer of the thyroid, thyroiditis, thyroid nodules, and goiter. When looking for symptoms of thyroid problems, always remember that it will depend on what underlying disease is causing these signs and symptoms. The thyroid symptoms in women can vary with the kind of thyroid problem she is experiencing, nonetheless it can be divided in two, underactive symptoms and the overactive symptoms.
Underactive talks about decrease level of thyroid hormones or hypothyroidism. The underactive thyroid symptoms in women include depression, muscle fatigue and soreness, joint pains, too heavy menstrual bleeding, decrease in urine output, feeling of coldness, and constipation. Meanwhile, overactive is referring to an excess production of thyroid hormones in the body. In medical terms, it can be referred to as hyperthyroidism. Overactive symptoms include everything that is opposite to the underactive thyroid symptoms in women. A person experiences being excessively warm, diarrhea, increased pulse, tremors, inability to concentrate, irregular menstrual cycle, increased urination and abnormal weight loss. If you have noticed, the symptoms that occur when a person has thyroid problems are systemic, meaning it can involve several organs. This is because thyroid hormones have functions in the different organ system in the body, thus once these hormones will be under or overly produced all organ systems will be affected. This fact also explains why it is very important to manage all the thyroid symptoms in women before it can get worse.
The prognosis of these thyroid problems can be good when detected at an early stage. Early detection can be possible through series of tests advised by the physicians to perform including thyroid scan and panel, thyroid ultrasound, and blood serum tests. Once the thyroid problem is confirmed, there are treatment options possible. For women with underactive symptoms there are supplements which can be taken. On the other hand, there are also anti thyroid supplements that are taken by those having overactive thyroids. There is also a surgery called thyroidectomy or the removal of thyroid gland when the problem is already uncontrollable. Once the gland will be removed, the person will need to take lifetime supplement of thyroid hormones.
Once the thyroid gland malfunctions, thyroid problems can occur. According to statistics, women are more at risk of developing these thyroid problems. Other factors that increase the risk for developing thyroid problems are high level of stress, decrease iodine intake, poor nutritional status, middle to late adulthood age, and pregnancy. Specific thyroid problems include hyperthyroidism or increase level of thyroid hormones, hypothyroidism or decrease level of thyroid hormones, cancer of the thyroid, thyroiditis, thyroid nodules, and goiter. When looking for symptoms of thyroid problems, always remember that it will depend on what underlying disease is causing these signs and symptoms. The thyroid symptoms in women can vary with the kind of thyroid problem she is experiencing, nonetheless it can be divided in two, underactive symptoms and the overactive symptoms.
Underactive talks about decrease level of thyroid hormones or hypothyroidism. The underactive thyroid symptoms in women include depression, muscle fatigue and soreness, joint pains, too heavy menstrual bleeding, decrease in urine output, feeling of coldness, and constipation. Meanwhile, overactive is referring to an excess production of thyroid hormones in the body. In medical terms, it can be referred to as hyperthyroidism. Overactive symptoms include everything that is opposite to the underactive thyroid symptoms in women. A person experiences being excessively warm, diarrhea, increased pulse, tremors, inability to concentrate, irregular menstrual cycle, increased urination and abnormal weight loss. If you have noticed, the symptoms that occur when a person has thyroid problems are systemic, meaning it can involve several organs. This is because thyroid hormones have functions in the different organ system in the body, thus once these hormones will be under or overly produced all organ systems will be affected. This fact also explains why it is very important to manage all the thyroid symptoms in women before it can get worse.
The prognosis of these thyroid problems can be good when detected at an early stage. Early detection can be possible through series of tests advised by the physicians to perform including thyroid scan and panel, thyroid ultrasound, and blood serum tests. Once the thyroid problem is confirmed, there are treatment options possible. For women with underactive symptoms there are supplements which can be taken. On the other hand, there are also anti thyroid supplements that are taken by those having overactive thyroids. There is also a surgery called thyroidectomy or the removal of thyroid gland when the problem is already uncontrollable. Once the gland will be removed, the person will need to take lifetime supplement of thyroid hormones.