Critical Medicine and Treatment

Archive for the ‘Thyroid’ Category

The thyroid is an endocrine gland that produces two main hormones, T4 (tetra-iodothyronine or thyroxin) and T3 (triiodothyronine), which regulate the rate at which the body uses fat, protein and carbohydrates. Its operation is very powerful but extremely fragile and as leverage, a slight disorder of the thyroid gland can cause a chain of serious consequences. Thus, an overactive thyroid gland speeds up the metabolism, sometimes 60% to 100%.

The thyroid is far from working in isolation. The balance of thyroid metabolism is intimately linked to the couple hypothalamus-pituitary. For it is the hypothalamus that control the pituitary gland to produce hormone TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone for). In turn, TSH stimulates the thyroid hormone that it produces hormones. This explains why, in situations of hyperthyroidism, the TSH level is low because the pituitary gland tries to “calm down” the thyroid gland.
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When the body’s thyroid hormone levels are too low, this is called Hypothyroidism. The body’s cells are not getting an adequate supply of the hormone and certain body functions start slowing down. A person will feel fatigue more often than normal, or find themselves forgetting things and feeling depressed. The skin may get very dry, and constipation is often present. There are other symptoms,and not eeryon suffers from every symptom.

The only way to tell for certain that these symptoms are being caused by an underactive thyroid is a blood test. This problem run in families so be sure to mention to family members if a blood test confirms that you indeed have hypothyroidism. Your family members may have been worried about the reasons they are tired or forgetful. This problem is especially prevalent in older women. They may have thought the forgetfulness was aging related and have been afraid to say anything. Bring this disease and it’s symptoms out into the open will help those who need treatment get the help they need.

Unfortunately, you can’t tell family members that there is a cure. The disease must be treated with medication usually for life, although there are instances of the thyroid functioning normally again. The good news is that with medication, the disease is not fatal. It is easily controlled and the symptoms are eliminated.