Thyroid disease: medications, causes, symptoms, prevention, etc.

Definition

What is thyroid disease?

Thyroid disease is a common problem that causes an imbalance of the thyroid hormones in your body. Problems occur when the thyroid gland becomes underactive (hypothyroid) or overactive (hyperthyroid). This glandular condition is basically a small butterfly found at the front of the neck.

How common is this disease?

This disease is a common problem that affects women more than men. Statistically, one in eight women will experience the condition during his lifetime.

This health condition is very common. It usually affects more women than men. This can affect patients at any age. This condition can be overcome by reducing your risk factors. Please discuss with your doctor for more information.

Types of disease

1. Hyperthyroidism

Symptoms of this disease are divided into two, namely general symptoms and symptoms specific to the organs in which this thyroid hormone works.

Common symptoms of the condition are insufficiency of hot air, fatigue, enlarged neck, weight loss, frequent hunger, frequent bowel movements.

Meanwhile, the specific symptoms of this condition include:

Digestive system: a lot of food, thirst, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, enlarged lymph nodes.
Reproductive system: menstrual cycle disorders, decreased libido, infertility, gynecomastia in men.
Skin: excessive sweating, wet skin, hair loss.
Psychic and nervous: unstable, irritable, difficulty sleeping, trembling hands.
Heart: heart palpitations, heart rhythm disorders, hypertension, heart failure.
Muscle and bone system: fatigue, bone pain, osteoporosis.

In this condition, which is caused by Graves' disease, other symptoms are usually found, such as swelling of the shins of the feet, protruding eyeballs, decreased vision, double vision and sores in the cornea of the eye.

2. Hypothyroidism

Symptoms of this disease that are in the neck are often caused by too little hormone produced (hypothyroidism). Symptoms can vary, depending on the severity. However, in general the symptoms of this disease tend to develop slowly, often over several years.

At first you may not notice the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue and weight gain. However, the longer this condition will make your metabolic processes continue to slow down. When this happens, you will experience more pronounced symptoms.

Symptoms of this condition may include fatigue, more sensitivity to cold air, constipation, dry skin, swollen face, hoarseness, muscle weakness, increased cholesterol levels, muscle pain, stiffness, swollen or stiff joints, irregular menstrual periods and feeling heavier, thinning hair, slowed heart rate, depression, or memory problems.

If hypothyroidism is not treated, your signs and symptoms will get worse. Stimulation of the gland to release more hormones can cause the thyroid gland to swell (goiter).

In addition, you may also become forgetful, slow to think, or feel stressed.

Continuous hypothyroidism, otherwise known as myxedema, is rare, but when it does occur it can be life-threatening. Symptoms include low blood pressure, decreased breathing, drop in body temperature, slow response and even coma. In extreme cases, myxedema can be fatal.

3. Swelling of the thyroid gland

Swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck, known as a goiter or goiter, is usually painless. Other symptoms of goiter depend on the thyroid disease that is causing it. Whether it's hypothyroid or hyperthyroid.

Symptoms if your body experiences neck swelling due to hypothyroid conditions, including:

Limp
Weight gain with decreased appetite
Can not stand the cold
Dry skin and hair loss
Often feel sleepy
Constipation (difficulty defecating)
Emotions are unstable and often forget
Decreased visual function
Hearing function decreased

Meanwhile, in the characteristics of the thyroid gland that has swelling due to hyperthyroidism, the reverse characteristics include:

Weight loss
Not heat resistant
Anxious feelings
Often feel nervous
Tremor (involuntary vibration of limbs, usually most clearly seen in the hands)
Hyperactive

In a goiter, to find out if a hypothyroid or hyperthyroid condition is found, further tests are needed to check the levels of hormones produced by the thyroid gland in the neck. Goiter requires medical treatment, from taking thyroid gland medication to surgery. Goiter does not go away on its own.

Signs & symptoms

What are the symptoms of this disease?

Common symptoms of this hormonal disease of the neck include:

Nervousness and tremors (shaking): along with agitation, these symptoms can signal an over-functioning of the thyroid gland (also known as hyperthyroidism).
Blurred consciousness and poor concentration: Your mental function can be affected by hyperthyroidism (increased thyroid hormone levels) and hypothyroidism (decreased thyroid hormone levels). With this condition, you may often feel sad and depressed. On the other hand, this condition can cause a reduction in your ability to concentrate.
Menstrual changes: this condition is sometimes associated with excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding, while hyperthyroidism can be characterized by little or less menstruation.
Feeling swollen: fluid retention is often a sign of an underactive gland.
Fast heartbeat: increased heart rate (tachycardia) and palpitations can be symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
Aches and pains: muscle aches and pains can accompany many types of thyroid problems.
Weight gain: slight weight gain often accompanies conditions in which thyroid gland activity is lower than normal.
High cholesterol levels: an increase in blood cholesterol levels can occur in individuals with hypothyroidism.
Heat intolerance: people with hyperthyroidism often complain of difficulty being at higher temperatures.
Feeling cold: on the other hand, those with malfunctioning glands may feel constantly cold.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Felt very cold even when the weather was hot
Constipation
Muscle weakness
Drastic changes in body weight even though your diet hasn't changed
Joint or muscle pain
Feeling sad, depressed or very tired
Pale, dry skin
Dry, thinning hair
Slow heart rate
Sweating less than usual
Swollen face
Hoarseness
Menstrual bleeding more than usual

If you have any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.

Cause

What causes thyroid disease?

Inadequate thyroid hormone production will result in an imbalance of chemical reactions in your body. There are several causes, including autoimmune diseases, medications for hyperthyroidism, radiation therapy, thyroid surgery and certain medications. Thyroid disorders can also be caused by infections, such as viruses or bacteria, which work in the same way as antibodies to cause inflammation of the glands. Medications, such as interferon and amiodarone, are known to cause damage to thyroid cells and cause thyroid problems.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for thyroid disease?

There are many risk factors for thyroid disease, such as:

You are over 60 years old
You have an autoimmune disease
You have a family history of thyroid disease
You have been having treatment with radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid drugs
You are used to receiving radiation to your neck or upper chest
You have thyroid surgery (partial thyroidectomy)
You are pregnant or having a baby in the last six months.

Drugs & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is thyroid disease diagnosed?

Your doctor can diagnose these problems (including hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism) by determining the levels of thyroid hormone in your blood. Diagnosing this disease is a process that combines various factors such as clinical examination, blood tests and imaging tests or biopsy. Depending on your thyroid disorder, your doctor will evaluate and perform the appropriate method of diagnosis.

How is this disease treated?

Treatment for thyroid cancer often involves some combination of thyroidectomy (surgical removal of the gland), radioactive iodine, radiation therapy (less common), anticancer drugs, and hormone suppression.

The common treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone replacement therapy. With this treatment, artificial synthetic hormone oral administration is given to replace the lost hormone. This treatment is usually life-long. Fortunately, side effects are rare. However, if you use too much thyroid hormone, you may experience dizziness, heart palpitations, and difficulty sleeping. Pregnant women may need to increase their thyroid replacement by up to 50%. It takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks for the effects of the initial dose or change in dose to be seen in laboratory tests.

Regarding hyperthyroidism, this problem can be treated with iodine (including radioactive iodine), antithyroid drugs or surgery. Radioactive iodine can destroy parts of the thyroid gland. It may be enough to control hyperthyroidism. Radioactive iodine is used at a low enough level so that there is no damage to the rest of the body and also, to avoid hypothyroidism. Iodine is contraindicated in pregnant women because it can impair the development of the fetal thyroid gland. In addition, patients can use anti-thyroid drugs to control hyperthyroidism within 6 weeks to 3 months.

Another treatment approach is surgical removal of the thyroid gland. This may be necessary if:

There are cancer nodules
Non-cancerous nodules cause breathing or swallowing problems
The patient cannot use radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid drugs or both methods have no effect
The fluid-filled nodules continue to cause problems.

Sometimes your doctor may recommend other drugs to help control hyperthyroid symptoms, such as shaking (tremors), increased heart rate, anxiety, and nerves. However, this will not cure thyroid dysfunction.

Home remedies

What are the lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat this disease?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with this condition:

You have to quit smoking
Don't eat too much soy-based food or drink
do a diet that contains adequate amounts of iodine or you can try taking iodine supplements.
Choose food products or everyday utensils that are free of fluoride content.
Recognize the symptoms so that they can be diagnosed early

If you have questions about the right treatment for your condition, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.

Prevention

What can I do to prevent this condition?

In essence, maintaining a healthy diet and living a healthy life is the main key to preventing this condition from occurring. In addition to diet and dietary regulation that is maintained, action is also needed to reduce body weight, or the second focus is to maintain the function of these glands in order to produce hormones according to their needs.

Research has found a link between vitamin D deficiency and autoimmune thyroid disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and Graves' disease.

Vitamin D deficiency is also more common in patients with thyroid disease than in healthy people who do not suffer from autoimmune diseases.

A study in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism in 2014 reported that people with hypothyroidism should consume more protein. High protein intake can actually speed up metabolism in the body. In addition to regulating the amount of protein eaten, pay attention to other nutrients such as:

1. Iodine

Iodine is a mineral that is essential in the body for making thyroid hormones. If a person is deficient in iodine, the risk of developing hypothyroidism is even higher.

If your hypothyroidism results from an iodine deficiency, add iodized table salt to your diet or eat more foods that are high in iodine, such as fish, milk and eggs.

2. Selenium

Selenium which will then help the body activate this hormone so that it can be used optimally in the body. This mineral selenium also has antioxidant benefits, which means it can protect the thyroid gland from free radicals.

Add extra selenium to your diet. Selenium can be obtained from nuts, tuna, and sardines. Selenium supplements should only be taken according to doctor's instructions, you should not use them independently.

3. Zinc

In collaboration with selenium, zinc, which helps the body activate thyroid hormones. There is also a study that shows that zinc can help control TSH. TSH is a hormone that tells the glands to secrete thyroid hormone. Zinc is found in shellfish, beef, chicken meat and liver.

4. Calcium

The condition of hyperthyroidism can make it difficult for calcium to be absorbed in the body. If there is no calcium, bones become prone to brittle and at risk of osteoporosis can lead to brittle bones and osteoporosis.

Eating foods high in calcium can help your body get more of the absorbed calcium. Therefore, you should consume: