WHAT IS THE THYROID GLAND?

THYROID GLAND SYMPTOMS

According to some estimates, more than two billion people in the world suffer from some form of thyroid disorder, and some indicators indicate that up to 70 percent of the total population is affected.

It is interesting that today every second woman has one of the diseases of the thyroid gland and the disease does not choose age. Both older and younger women are affected but also girls, although the majority of female patients are between the ages of 20 and 40.

Experts explain this more pronounced occurrence of the disease in women by the fact that men are less likely to control their health. The fact that thyroid gland diseases are so common is linked to the radiation to which we are exposed today more than ever.

If it is a known fact that the number of people who have a problem with some disorder of the function or structure of the thyroid gland is greater than the number of those who have a problem with heart disease or asthma, it is hard to believe that it is possible that such a mass illness of people can go almost unnoticed.

Often, however, thyroid disorders remain undiagnosed in many patients, because it is necessary to look at the problem from a broader perspective to suspect the thyroid gland, regardless of the abundance of individual symptoms. That is why it is extremely important to visit your doctor if you yourself recognize a set of symptoms that indicate a problem with the thyroid gland and of course direct the doctor’s attention to the possibility that something is wrong with this gland.

Although our body warns us in many ways that something is wrong with our health and the symptoms of some form of thyroid disease can be quite visible and obvious to experts, people and often even doctors, attribute the symptoms of thyroid disease to some other diseases.

The most important thing is to listen to your body. So if you feel tired, if your weight fluctuates – you have suddenly gained or lost weight, you have trouble sleeping, you are irritable, you feel swollen, you have the feeling that you have a lump in your throat, you cough persistently, your menstrual cycle is disturbed – you should ask your doctor of choice for a thyroid checkup.

It is not uncommon for thyroid symptoms to be attributed to other diseases, most often heart diseases. This happens because due to the reduced function of the thyroid gland, there is a slow heart rate or bradycardia, but also an increased heart rate – tachycardia. It also happens that patients are treated for years with a diagnosis of heart disease without the problem of the thyroid gland being noticed.

Thyroid symptoms can be classified according to the type of thyroid disease:

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism (increased function of the thyroid gland, which means increased secretion of thyroid hormones) – nervousness, irritability, tremors, excessive sweating, rapid heart rate, hair loss, sensitivity to heat, weight loss, more frequent bowel movements and, in women, an irregular menstrual cycle. All these symptoms are also possible with goiter.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism (reduced function of the thyroid gland, which means reduced secretion of thyroid hormones) – slowing down of all body functions, almost complete metabolism, which leads to weight gain. Hypothyroidism is directly followed by depression, slower resolution of thought processes, coldness, muscle weakness, irregular muscle menstrual cycles.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include slowing of bodily functions, mental activity, depression, chills, constipation, muscle weakness, abnormal menstrual cycles, and slowing of metabolism, leading to moderate weight gain.

Some patients also have goiter. However, many patients with hypothyroidism have no symptoms, so blood testing is extremely important. Some symptoms of problems with the thyroid gland can be recognized by the patient himself. Most often, these are sudden weight gain or weight loss, great fatigue, irritability, insomnia, swelling and feeling of a lump in the throat.

Also, in women, one of the indicators of reduced function of the thyroid gland is a disorder of the menstrual cycle.

Goiter and growths or nodes as they are also called

Most growths are painless and only noticeable by doctors during an ultrasound examination or during palpation of the patient’s neck. Some larger nodes can be seen during some regular hygiene-aesthetic actions in both men and women.

Most nodules in the thyroid gland are painless but if you feel any kind of pain, it is important to contact your doctor as soon as possible so that the suspicion of the most serious disease of the thyroid gland can be eliminated as soon as possible. Before they cause problems with breathing or swallowing or changes in the voice.

Thyroid cancer

Cancer of this gland often does not give any visible symptoms and patients find out about this condition of the body after an ultrasound of the thyroid gland or after an MRI. Pain in the neck area in the place where the thyroid gland is located from the front, occurs very rarely as a symptom, which also applies to hoarseness and difficulty swallowing.

Statistics show that thyroid cancer is more common in women than in men.

The good thing is that most types of cancer can be completely removed by surgery and the death rate from this type of cancer is quite low.

For most thyroid diseases, there are effective treatments, from drugs to surgeries and what stands between us and our normal functioning, despite the disorders that occur on the thyroid gland, is only the diagnosis of the problem, which can significantly affect the quality of our life for years.

It is also important to know that hypothyroidism is often mistaken for a depressive disorder, while hyperthyroidism or its symptoms are often attributed to anxiety and aggressive behavior.