Thyroid gland and its hormones. What is a thyroid gland?
The thyroid gland is an extremely important node in the human body. It is located in the neck, in its shape it is similar to a butterfly. It is the thyroid gland that produces hormones. endocrine system, which are necessary to maintain all vitality .
Due to deviations in the work of this organ, a person can face serious diseases of almost any system in the body. Thyroid disorders are the most dangerous for the condition reproductive function, liver, intestines, brain and.
There are several possible underlying causes, including Graves' disease, which is the most common, in which the body's immune system targets the thyroid gland and causes it to produce too much thyroid hormone.
What is hyperthyroidism?
thyroxine is chemical composition body produced by the thyroid gland. It is carried around your body in your bloodstream. This helps keep your body working at the right pace. Many cells and tissues in your body need thyroxine to maintain them properly.
If you don't know what affects thyroid, necessarily .
The thyroid gland produces 2 types of hormones: T3 and T4. They instantly enter the bloodstream, after which they are carried throughout the body.
A certain number of such biologically active substances found in every organ and tissue of the human. For the production of these hormones, the human body needs to obtain a certain amount of iodine.
Hyperthyroidism means an overactive thyroid gland. When your thyroid is overactive, it produces too much thyroxine. The extra thyroxine causes a lot of your body's functions to speed up. On the other hand, if you have hypothyroidism, you have too little thyroxine; Causing a slowdown in many bodily functions.
Thyrotoxicosis is a term that doctors may use instead of hyperthyroidism. Both terms mean the same thing. Following are the symptoms caused by an overactive thyroid. Being anxious, nervous, emotional, irritable, sleeping poorly and being "always on the go". Stools that run or have to go to the toilet skip stools more often than usual. Dyspnea. Skin problems such as thinning hair and itching. menstrual changes Your periods may become very mild and infrequent. Fatigue and muscle weakness may be an option. There may be a tumor of the thyroid gland in the neck. Eye problems if you have Graves' disease.
- Trembling of your hands.
- Lose weight despite increased appetite.
- Feeling of "beating heart".
- Perspiration, aversion to heat, and increased thirst.
The fact is that a person himself cannot synthesize this chemical element - he receives it. It is extremely important that the body regularly receives the necessary amount of iodine, otherwise the work of the thyroid gland begins to be disturbed.
Thyroid functions
Thyroid is a unique organ in the human body. Without it, no process could be carried out. All iodine that enters the blood from medicines or food is taken up by the thyroid gland.
Symptoms usually develop slowly over several weeks. All symptoms can be caused by other problems, so the diagnosis may not be obvious at first. Symptoms may be mild at first but worsen as thyroxine levels in the blood gradually increase.
If you are being treated for hyperthyroidism. You are at increased risk of developing heart problems such as abnormal heartbeat, weakness of the heart, angina and heart failure.
With treatment, the outlook is excellent, as most symptoms and the risk of complications go.
- If you are pregnant, you have an increased risk of developing pregnancy complications.
- You are at an increased risk of developing brittle bones.
This chemical element is necessary for the synthesis of hormones of the endocrine system - thyroid. They are responsible for all metabolic processes in the body.
In addition, the thyroid gland performs a regulatory function. It is especially important for prenatal development and growth of the child in the first years of his life.
It is the thyroid that is responsible for the formation internal organs and systems, development immune functions. Also, this endocrine node is responsible for the birth of certain tissues and cells.
Who Develops Hyperthyroidism?
This is more common in women. women aged 2 to 100 and 2 to 000 for men in France will develop an overactive thyroid at some point in their lives. It can happen at any age, but it is more common in our older citizens.
Exists various reasons having an overactive thyroid gland. This is the most common reason. It can affect everyone, but it often happens family history illness. He may also be a family member with other autoimmune diseases. Graves' disease is also an autoimmune disease. The immune system is usually made up of tiny proteins that move around in the bloodstream to attack bacteria, viruses and other microbes. Autoimmune diseases, the immune system produces antibodies against your body's tissues.
The most important in the activity of the thyroid gland can be called ensuring the vital activity of the body as a whole. This organ provides all metabolic processes in the body.
The human body is a complex system made up of millions of different cells. Every second there are various processes aimed at meeting the needs of both internal and external.
If you have Graves' disease, you will make antibodies that bind to the thyroid gland. They stimulate your thyroid to make more thyroxine. It is believed that something makes immune system make these antibodies. Trigger unknown.
In Graves' disease, the thyroid gland usually grows, causing swelling of the cervix. The eyes are also affected in about half of the cases. If they are affected, your eyes move forward and air is more important. This can cause discomfort and watering of your eyes. Problems with the eye muscles can also occur and lead to double vision. It is not known why ocular symptoms occur in some people who have Graves' disease. They can be caused by antibodies that affect the tissues around the eyes.
Satisfaction of these needs is possible only with the full functioning of the thyroid gland. This organ produces the necessary amount of hormones every second, which not only carry certain biological and chemical information, but can also give specific signals.
In importance, the thyroid gland can easily be compared to the pituitary gland. This small organ helps the body respond in a timely manner to any changes, provides metabolic processes, launches and regulates all actions.
This is a less common cause of hyperthyroidism. Thyroid nodules are blocks that can develop in the thyroid gland. We don't know why they develop. They are usually not cancerous but contain abnormal thyroid tissue.
The abnormal thyroid tissue in your nodular thyroid is not responding to the normal control system that ensures you are just making the right amount of thyroxine. Therefore, if you have a thyroid nodule, you may be making too much thyroxine.
Also, without the thyroid gland, the body would not be able to maintain the desired breathing rate or heart rate. Thanks to the hormones of the endocrine gland, a person can develop physically and mentally.
The biological role of the thyroid gland
The thyroid gland is an organ responsible for many processes in the body. People who, for one reason or another, have it, are forced to take a number of medications all their lives.
This is most common in older people and is called toxic multinodular goiter.
- Sometimes only the form of a nodule.
- This is called toxic solitary adenoma.
- It is most common in people between the ages of 30 and 50.
- The thyroid gland can usually become lumpy or nodular.
This is just one of those medical terms that refers to hyperthyroidism. There are several others rare causes hyperthyroidism. For example, some people who take the drug amiodarone and lithium develop hyperthyroidism. There are various other rare conditions that lead to excess thyroxin.
This is the only way to minimize Negative influence similar deviation on the body.
The thyroid gland performs the following biological functions:
- Regulatory and stimulating- The thyroid gland is responsible for the formation, maturation, development, restoration and renewal of all human organs and tissues. In addition, the hormones produced by this endocrine gland contribute to accelerated cell division, which is extremely important for intrauterine development. How the thyroid gland is formed in the child will depend on his mental development, strong bone skeleton, the possibility of reproductive function.
- Ensuring energy exchange Thyroid hormones determine the production of mitochondria. These are such cellular structures, without which it would be impossible to imagine any reaction in the whole organism. Mitochondria determine how much oxygen a person needs, release energy and heat. It should be borne in mind that energy is needed not only for physical processes but also for mental and biochemical.
- Anabolic effect- the production of specific proteins, which are the basis of enzymes. Such substances are necessary for the biological regulation of cellular and intercellular processes. In addition, enzymes are responsible for the normal functioning of the central nervous system.
- Ensuring homeostasis- endocrine hormones help reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood, increase the body's susceptibility to nutrients beneficial substances. Hormones also ensure the uninterrupted removal of toxins from the body. Thanks to this, a person gets rid of edema and inflammation.
- Supports metabolism- the hormones of this endocrine gland enhance the action of other biologically active substances in the body, due to which their interaction becomes more effective. Of particular importance are those that produce somatotropin, a substance responsible for maintaining all the endocrine glands in the body.
- Ensures the functionality of the central nervous system- Thyroid hormones support the normal functioning of all adaptive reactions. This is especially important for the body during times of stress, emotional upheaval and other phenomena. In addition, hormones have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
It is very difficult to overestimate the importance of the thyroid gland. It is this small organ located in the front of the neck that is responsible for providing and maintaining all important processes in organism.
What are the treatments for hyperthyroidism?
The main goal of treating an overactive thyroid gland is to reduce thyroxin levels to normal level. Other problems, such as thyroid swelling or related eye problems, may also need to be treated. Factors such as the underlying cause of the problem, your age, and the size of the goiter are considered when choosing best plan treatment. The following processing options are possible.
Drugs - usually carbimazole
Antithyroid drugs can reduce the amount of thyroxine produced by an overactive thyroid gland. The drug most commonly used in France is carbimazole. Carbimazole does not modify thyroxine, which is already made and stored, but reduces production even further. Thus, it may take 4-8 weeks of treatment for your thyroxine levels to drop to normal levels. The dose of carbimazole needed to maintain normal thyroxin levels varies from person to person.
For the normal functioning of this organ, it is extremely important that the body receives enough iodine. Without it, the thyroid gland will not be able to produce hormones.
The thyroid gland is one of the most important internal organs that regulates the activity of the whole organism. If it fails, it is like a house of cards, destroying or impairing the operation of the entire system. In women, the thyroid gland is most often affected. Symptoms play the role of alarm bells, which you should pay attention to, so that later you do not have to correct the consequences for a long and painful time. It is very important to cure the endocrine gland in a timely manner, because poor thyroid activity can affect the heart, gastrointestinal tract, lead to gynecological diseases and even infertility.
A high dose is usually prescribed, which is then reduced as thyroxine levels decrease. After that, in about half of the cases, the conditions settle and the carbimazole can be stopped. If the condition still ignites some time in the future, a different course may be needed. However, other treatments are often recommended in these cases. In about half of the cases, carbimazole should continue to control symptoms for a long time. Another treatment might be the best way if you do not want to take long-term carbimazole.
Caution: Carbimazole may rarely attack your white blood cells that fight infection. When taking carbimazole, you should consult your doctor emergency care for a blood test if you have any of the following characteristics.
The main symptoms of the disease
Already a very vague picture of the signs that accompany an increase in the thyroid gland. Symptoms indicate the need for immediate examination and treatment. First alarm bell there may be a significant increase or decrease in weight, if this happens for no reason, then the thyroid gland should be checked first. You can feel this organ on your own, for this you will need to take water in your mouth, tilt your head back and slowly swallow your fingers along the neck. If there are any bulges, irregularities, then this indicates that the thyroid gland is functioning abnormally. Symptoms of the disease also appear on the condition of the skin, hair, nails. Deviations in hormone production affect body temperature, menstrual cycle, general well-being, etc.
- Heat.
- Sore throat.
- Mouth ulcers.
This includes taking a glass or swallowing a capsule containing radioactive iodine. The main use of iodine in the body is to make thyroxine. Therefore, radioactive iodine accumulates in the thyroid gland. As the radioactivity concentrates in the thyroid, it destroys some of the thyroid tissue, which reduces the amount of thyroxine you make. The dose of radioactivity to the rest of your body is very low and safe. However, it is not suitable if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
The influence of the thyroid gland on other organs
In the human body, everything is interconnected, so thyroid disease affects almost all other organs. First of all, the heart suffers, by the pulse it is always possible to determine what a person suffers from: hypothyroidism - slow heartbeat or hyperthyroidism - accelerated. At high level hormones, the patient does not tolerate heat, is very sensitive to elevated temperatures, at a low level the patient suffers from cold. Symptoms of thyroid disease also extend to the hair, they become lifeless, brittle, constantly fall out, the skin becomes dry, there are problems with the nails. There is tingling or numbness in the hands, diarrhea, vision problems. You can continue indefinitely the list of troubles that a diseased thyroid gland brings.
In addition, after treatment, women should not become pregnant for at least six months, and men are advised not to have children for at least four months. After treatment with radioactive iodine, prolonged contact with other people should be avoided for certain period time. This may be within 2-4 weeks, depending on the amount of radioactive iodine you are receiving. The goal is to limit the exposure of others to the radioactivity. During this period, you will be asked to take precautionary measures such as.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
The thyroid also affects mood and activity levels. With reduced hormone production, lethargy is observed, constant fatigue, depression. With hyperthyroidism, a person becomes nervous, irritable, suffers from insomnia, and suffers from unreasonable anxiety. Most often, it is in women that the thyroid gland is disrupted. Symptoms are sometimes ignored because the disease may coincide with menopause, which also has similar symptoms. In any case, we must not forget about the thyroid gland, especially since today people in many countries have an iodine deficiency, which leads to a violation of hormone production. We must not forget that thyroid disease does not spread to one organ, but to the entire body. Late treatment can have very serious consequences.
This means that the contact closes more than one meter; So, for example, do not write to children or do not let them sit on your lap. You can apply the same precautions as above for contact with pets. If you have children or have a job where you are in contact with children, you should discuss this with a specialist before treatment. Avoid going to places like cinemas, theatres, pubs and restaurants where you may be in close contact with other people. Take some time off work if your job involves close contact with other people.
- Limit close contact with infants, children, or pregnant women.
- Sleep alone.