Types of thyroid disorders:
Symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, prevention
https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/types-of-thyroid-disorders-symptoms-of-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism-prevention/457765
Hypothyroidism,
hyperthyroidism, goiter, thyroiditis, thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules are
common thyroid disorders affecting both men and women. Know the warning signs
and symptoms of thyroid disorders.
Key Highlights
- Hypothyroidism
and hyperthyroidism are 10 times more common in women than in men
- Thyroid
disorders are often missed in its early stage due to ambiguous signs and
symptoms
- Anyone
can develop a thyroid disorder, however, certain factors can increase a
person’s risk of developing the condition
New
Delhi: Thyroid
disorders are quite common worldwide, affecting over 200 million people across
the globe. The thyroid gland is the butterfly-shaped gland in front of the neck
which produces hormones that are important for adequate functioning of the
various organs in the body. They regulate the body’s metabolic rate as well as
cardiac and digestive functions, brain development, muscle control and bone
maintenance. Thyroid disorder is any condition that affects the structure or
functioning of the thyroid gland, impacting its ability to produce the hormones
required for proper metabolism. Disordered growth of thyroid cells can lead to
the formation of nodules which can be benign or malignant.
There
are many types of thyroid disease that can cause a variety of symptoms.
According to NCBI
(National Center for Biotechnology Information), about 42 million people in India suffer from
thyroid-related disorders, of which 60% are women. One out of every eight young
women in India have thyroid dysfunction and it is observed to be higher in
women as compared to men.
Why thyroid affects women more than men
Most of
the thyroid disorders are autoimmune in nature i.e. a condition in which a
patient’s immune system attacks and either destroys or stimulates the thyroid
gland, said Dr Sunil Kumar Mishra, Director, Endocrinology and Diabetology,
Medanta - The Medicity, who also tells us why women are more likely to have
thyroid than men. According to various studies, auto-immune diseases such
as celiac disease, diabetes mellitus type 1, inflammatory bowel disease,
multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis are more common in women. The
diagnosis and treatment of these diseases get delayed because of varied
symptoms which are difficult to detect. Apart from auto-immune diseases, iodine
deficiency, especially during pregnancy when the body needs more iodine, can
result in more thyroid disorders among women, Dr Mishra added. Iodine
deficiency can lead to a drop in the thyroid hormone levels causing various
disorders.
Common types of thyroid disorders
Hypothyroidism,
hyperthyroidism, goiter, thyroiditis, thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules are
common thyroid disorders affecting both men and women. Of these, hypothyroidism
and hyperthyroidism are 10 times more common in women than in men.
Hypothyroidism is a type of thyroid disorder which is caused
when the thyroid gland becomes less active and produces fewer hormones than
normal. It disturbs the balance of hormones and metabolism in the body. One of
the most common causes of hypothyroidism in women is the autoimmune disease
called Hashimoto’s disease, in which antibodies gradually target the thyroid
and destroy its ability to produce thyroid hormone. It is estimated that one
out of 11 women will become hypothyroid in their lifetime.
Hyperthyroidism is a thyroid disorder in which a person’s thyroid
gland becomes overactive and produces more hormones than normal. These hormones
play an important role in controlling the body’s metabolism. In
hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland becomes enlarged. This increases the body’s
metabolism and results in sudden weight loss, fast or irregular heartbeat, and
anxiety.
Early warning signs and symptoms of thyroid disorders
Thyroid
disorders are often missed in its early stage due to ambiguous signs and
symptoms. It can be confused for infertility, lipid disorder, anaemia or
depression. The symptoms occur only in the late decompensated state.
Symptoms
for hypothyroidism may include:
- Fatigue
- Dry
skin
- Muscle
cramps
- Constipation
- Intolerance
to cold
- Puffy
eyelids
- Excessive
weight gain
- Irregular
menstrual flow
Symptoms
for hyperthyroidism may include:
- Nervousness
- Difficulty
sleeping
- Weight
loss
- Moist
palms
- Rapid
and irregular heartbeat
- Bulging
eyes
- Unblinking
stare
- Vision
changes
- Excessive
hunger
- Frequent
bowel movements
- Heat
intolerance
Risk factors for thyroid disorders
Anyone
can develop a thyroid disorder, however, certain factors can increase a person’s
risk of developing the condition. These include:
- Family
history of thyroid disease
- Co-existing
auto-immune condition
- History
of neck radiation
- Thyroid
surgery
- Recent
history of thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid)
- Low
iodine intake
Prevention
There
isn’t any specific step you can take to definitively prevent a thyroid
disorder. But as with other conditions, adopting a healthy lifestyle - such as
eating a nutritious diet that includes iodine-rich foods, exercising regularly,
keeping body weight in check, managing stress and not smoking - can help manage
your condition or reduce the risk.
Timely
diagnosis and proper treatment of thyroid disorder is essential in preventing
an increase in the severity of this condition. If one experiences symptoms that
hint a thyroid-related disorder, various blood tests may be conducted to
evaluate the level of thyroid hormones in the body. It is advised that women
should undergo an annual screening of thyroid gland for earlier detection of
the problem.