THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE THICKNESSThe disease affects 1 to 6% of people up to the age of 60, and the incidence of this disorder increases with age. It occurs much more often in women than in men.1. THE ESSENCE OF DISEASE
A healthy thyroid gland is a flat gland with a size and shape similar to the appearance of a butterfly. Its normal volume is from 10 to 20 milliliters (in women maximum 18 ml, in men a maximum of 25 ml).
In conditions of iodine deficiency, the thyroid gland grows and so-called "sols" appear in mountainous regions, with a diet deprived of sea fish and when the cabbage is the main vegetable. Iodine deficiency may lead to hypothyroidism, but the most common cause of hypothyroidism is chronic thyroiditis.
Thyroid produces two important hormones
The first of them isthyroxine, called in short T4. Thyroxine undergoes transformation into a more physiologically active statetriiodothyronine - T3. These hormones serve to regulate the most important metabolic processes, regulate thermogenesis, heart work, lipid metabolism, affect blood circulation and brain function (also on memory), on the skin, hair and nails; and also affect gastrointestinal motility. The proper functioning of the thyroid gland is important in the period of growth and maturation of children, affects the quality of their brains and the ability to learn and remember. Appropriate alignment of thyroid hormone levels is also important for pregnant women due to normal fetal development.
Thyroid regulation mechanism
The production and secretion of thyroid hormones T4 and T3 into the blood is under the control of the "management center" consisting of the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis. In this regulation, the thyroid is sequentially stimulated to produce hormones. First, the hypothalamus sends a kind of hormonal "messenger" to the pituitary gland. The "messenger" (TRH) hormone stimulates the pituitary to increase the secretion of another hormone - the so-called thyrotropic, which is the main "activator" of thyroid function. This hormone is marked with the symbol TSH. When the TSH activator has already fulfilled its role, and excess blood levels of the thyroid gland appear in the blood - the "management center" by negative feedback decreases the production of the TSH activator, and accordingly reduces the production of T4 and T3 hormones by the thyroid.
Pathologies of organs forming the mechanism of thyroid regulation
Pathologies and diseases of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and the thyroid organ itself can seriously disturb the above discussed system of regulation of glandular function. Another typical cause of thyroid dysfunction may be iodine deficiency in the diet or defects in its absorption.
The main causes of hypothyroidism:
- congenital hypothyroidism
- thyroid gland diseases
- diseases of the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis regulation system
- iodine deficiency in diet and disorders of iodine intake
2. INHALED THYROID DISEASECongenital hypothyroidism
This pathology is found in Poland in 1 out of 4,000 newborns.
Currently, newborns have blood samples taken to determine the level of TSH and early detection of congenital hypothyroidism (2,3). Early detection of the disease is important for the proper mental and physical development of the newborn.
Untreated hypothyroidism leads to mental retardation (severely to cretinism) and to inhibition of growth. Fortunately, this disease is detected just after birth and the early implementation of treatment guarantees the proper development of the child.
Diagnostic tests for the detection of congenital hypothyroidism in the newborn
For this purpose, the measurement of blood levels of TSH in the first days of life is performed in all newborns.In the case of hypotension, substitution treatment is implemented, which allows the child to develop properly.
3. DISEASES OF THE CEREAL GOLD. Diseases of the thyroid gland may be caused by:
- thyroid inflammation processes of various origins,
- treatment with radioactive iodine and thyroid irradiation (in the treatment of nasopharyngeal, larynx and breast cancer).
- deficiency of enzymes involved in the production of thyroid hormones, e.g. after the use of drugs blocking these enzymes (lithium, amiodarone)
- surgical thyroid removal - complete or "subtotal" due to nodular goiter
Hashimoto's disease - inflammation due to immunological autoimmunity
The body produces antibodies that react with thyroid - pericidal proteins with peroxidase and thyroglobulin and lead to the occurrence of lymphocytic infiltrates in the thyroid, which leads to its slow destruction.
The disease can occur in children and adults, often in families. Sometimes thyroid enlargement may occur in the first stage of the disease.
4. DISEASES OF THE REGULATION SYSTEM OF THE CROSS-HAND-CROSS-AXLEDiseases of the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis regulation system
- pituitary diseases: trauma, inflammation, pituitary tumor, damage after brain irradiation (eg in children's leukemia)
- hypothalamus: trauma, inflammation, neoplastic process
Medical consultation of the article
Dr. med. Aleksandra Baumann-Antczak, endocrinologist
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SYMPTOMS OF THYROID DISEASE
DIAGNOSIS OF THYROID - DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
THYROID INHIBIT - HORMONAL TREATMENTLiterature
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