The Thyroid is one of the most important organs in the human body. Its priority is right behind the heart, brain, and kidneys. Some doctors feel its function is even more crucial than those. The Thyroid gland controls our metabolism, temperature, and regulates the function of all other glands. Therefore if there is a problem with our Thyroid gland, our bodily functions with be deficient, and we will not only feel bad, but look bad and perform our daily tasks poorly.
One major dysfunction of the Thyroid gland is Hyperthyroidism. This disorder is when there is an over-functioning gland with the thyroid producing too many thyroid hormones, such as T3 and T4. Patients present to their physicians complaining of heart palpitations, increased pulse, thinning hair, increased sweat, even at rest or in cold temperatures, and weight loss, despite increased appetite. Examples of Hyperthyroidism are Grave's Disease (with bulging eyes), Thyroid Cancer, and DeQuervain's Viral Thyroiditis. Treatments for these disorders include Radioactive Iodine, surgical removal of all or part of the Thyroid gland, Propanolol (a non-selective beta-blocker to control arrhythmias and tremor) and watchful waiting of the symptoms.
Another major dysfunction of the Thyroid gland is Hypothyroidism. This disorder is when there is decreased functioning of the Thyroid, where the gland does not produce enough Thyroid hormones. Patients present to their physicians complaining of sluggishness, thick and coarse hair, cold intolerance, and weight gain, despite no change or decreased diet. Examples of Hypothyroidism are Hashimoto's Disease and Postpartum Thyroiditis. Both diseases begin as hyperthyroid disorders but result in Hypothyroidism. Treatments for these disorders include replacing the missing T4 hormones with medications such as Levothyroxine. T4 is the inactive hormone given, which will be converted into the active T3 form once in the body.
Because of the severity of symptoms associated with Thyroid diseases, patients need immediate attention. It may take weeks, months, and sometimes years for patients to realize they have a problem because people normally ignore these symptoms by blaming them on insufficient sleep or having a cold or flu. Once a long lapse of time has passed, people start realizing there must be something else wrong and then turn to their doctors. After a series of tests to rule out other diseases, a diagnosis of a form of Hyperthyroidism or Hypothyroidism is made, and a treatment plan is set forth. There is no cure for these diseases but with treatment, these disorders can be controlled. So if you experience any of the above symptoms, please do not hesitate to contact your physician or local health facility. Tell them all your symptoms and then ask, "Do I have a Thyroid problem?"
If you are a medical student or doctor looking to learn more about the Thyroid gland and USMLE (United States Medical Licensure Examination) preparation, please contact Dr. Adrienne Hicks-Lillard at adriennelillard@yahoo.com or http://www.theusmlemastersystem.com.
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