Karen Manzano

April 22, 2014

Block 1-4
What are thyroid disorders and their impact on the body?
The thyroid gland is a vital organ in the body, and it serves many purposes. One purpose
for example would be producing the right amount of hormones for the body as it grows and
progresses. If the thyroid gland isnt functioning correctly it can lead to having a thyroid
disorder. Thyroid disorders happen when the thyroid gland is malfunctioning in the hormone
production area.
Thyroid disorders in general can cause fatigue, mood changes, weight changes, hair loss
as well as other symptoms such as appetite and sleep changes. They can also cause a loss in
concentration as well. In pregnant women thyroid diseases can also cause miscarriages and is
more common in middle-aged women than men. Thyroid disorders can range from hyper- or
hypothyroidism, to thyroid cancer etc. The most common way for thyroid disorders to be
diagnosed is by running blood lab tests. And the most common way to treat these disorders is
through oral medication.
One common thyroid disorder is known as hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is when
the thyroid gland overproduces the amount of thyroid hormones needed for each person and
works too much. Hyperthyroidism can produce many unpleasant effects; some of the following
effects can include the following: weight loss, high metabolism and heart rate it can also cause
heat intolerance as well as hair loss. Having high thyroid levels can also provoke anxiety attacks,
tremors as well as mania (extremely high moods) or irritability. People with hyperthyroidism are
recommended to not intake caffeine as it can worsen anxiety symptoms or energy drinks as this
condition also leads to increased energy levels. A common cause for hyperthyroidism is a
condition called Graves disease. Graves disease includes the same symptoms as regular
hyperthyroidism, but it has other symptoms not usually seen in hyperthyroid patients. For
example patients with Graves disease can have swelling in the body and cause a goiter (a large
bump) to form on the neck where the thyroid gland is located. Another symptom of Graves
disease is bulging of the eyes. This disease can cause an eye disorder called Graves'
ophthalmopathy, where the eye tissue is affected leading to bulging eyes. Graves disease is the
autoimmune version of hyperthyroidism.
On the other hand, there is a thyroid disorder called hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is
when the body has an underactive thyroid. This means that the body is not producing the proper
amount of hormones needed for proper growth. That also explains why pediatric patients with
hypothyroidism in most cases have stunted growth. Hypothyroidism is the inverse of
hyperthyroidism. Instead, some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism can include: low energy
levels, extreme fatigue, hair loss, slow metabolism and heart rate, and excessive weight gain.
This type of thyroid disorder can also cause problems with depression, lack of concentration, as
well as real sensitivity to coldness. There is also an autoimmune version of hypothyroidism also
known as Hashimotos thyroiditis. They are the same symptoms of regular hypothyroidism with
the exception that the disease is autoimmune.
One of the worst thyroid disorders a patient can have is thyroid cancer. In this case the
thyroid cells are mutated into cancer cells. Thyroid cancer can also provoke hyperthyroidism or
hypothyroidism, Graves disease or Hashimotos disease. There are four types of thyroid cancer,
these four are: papillary thyroid cancer also the most common in the United States. There is also
follicular thyroid cancer the second most common type, medullary thyroid cancer (not very
common), and the least commonly type is anaplastic thyroid cancer. Not all cancers show
symptoms and if they do its usually too late. In general thyroid cancer symptoms include:
nodules (lumps) in front of the neck or just having them enlarged, chronic cough, difficulty
swallowing, change in voice as well as hoarseness, as well as pain or discomfort in the neck
around the thyroid area. The recommended ways to treat thyroid cancer is through
chemotherapy, medication, and surgery. During surgery some surgeons may remove the entire
thyroid gland or just part of it such as a lobe. While this may cure the cancer many patients
afterwards will develop chronic hypothyroidism and will be on thyroid replacement medications
for the rest of their lives. Another method of treatment if all else fails (including surgery would
be radioactive iodine therapy. This kills thyroid cancer cells or excessive thyroid cells that are
not needed in the body. Usually diagnosing this condition isnt just done through blood test.
There are also thyroid scans and ultrasounds used to get a clear picture of the thyroid glands
state.
If not treated, not only thyroid cancer is dangerous but any thyroid disorder can turn from
a harmless condition into a life-threatening situation. Hyperthyroidism in the extreme can lead to
a state called a thyroid storm. During a thyroid storm symptoms are severe and can range from
excessive sweating, to fever, to severe agitation, alterations of consciousness, and a very high
heart rate. This state is an emergency and can lead to heart failure and pulmonary edema
eventually resulting in death. Thyroid storms are also referred to as thyrotoxicosis, hyperthyroid
storm or accelerated hyperthyroidism. On the other side of the spectrum extreme hypothyroidism
can be lethal as well. This is called myxedema coma or loss of brain functioning, which is also
considered a life-threatening situation that can lead to death. Some symptoms include:
hallucinations, seizures, deep comas, hypothermia and having hard time breathing. In some cases
surgery is needed to alleviate the patient. The good thing is that both conditions are rare and
usually thyroid disorders are diagnosed early enough to not get to those extremes.
There are also many causes of thyroid disorders. Hypothyroidism can be caused by
removal of the thyroid (through surgery), excessive exposure to iodide, as well as Hashimotos
disease. Hyperthyroidism can be caused by Graves disease, cancerous activity in the thyroid
gland, and in some cases the eating disorder bulimia. Sometimes there is a condition called
factitious hyperthyroidism in which a person intakes too much thyroid replacement medications
and there is usually no goiter. Sometimes the doctor prescribes the medication too high which is
called doctor induced hyperthyroidism, or for patients who want to lose weight may consume
too much medication or stop taking it all together.
The most common medications for hyperthyroidism are a pill called Methimazole (or
Tapazole) and for hypothyroidism as well as cancer a pill called Synthroid (or Levothyroxine).
And from personal experience they are very effective.
In conclusion, it is important to watch out for these conditions and catch them early
despite the fact that they seem harmless. If not neither diagnosed nor treated early can lead to life
complications to the possibility and risk of death. These diseases are very treatable and usually
do not affect a humans life span and people affected the vast majority are able to lead normal
lives and in many cases thyroid disorders go away on their own after taking medications.
Unfortunately in cases if medication is stopped or decreased approximately sixty percent of the
problem comes back or worsens. This organ in the body plays an important role of the body
chemistry and can ruin the rest of your body including mental states. Some people take
medications for weeks, months, years, even for the rest of their lives. No two cases are ever
identical, they may be similar but everybodys different. If you suspect that you have a thyroid
problem, find the nearest endocrinologist (doctors who specialize in the endocrine system) and
seek treatment as soon as possible.