Thyroid

Table of Contents:

1. What is the thyroid?
2. What is its function?
3. What pathologies are associated with the thyroid?
4. Treatment
5. Medical specialists

What is the thyroid?

The thyroid is an endocrine gland located in the front of the neck, below the Adam’s apple. The thyroid is shaped like a butterfly and is responsible for the production of hormones throughout the body. The hormones produced by the thyroid gland help control processes such as the body’s caloric intake, the body’s metabolic rate, as well as regulate the body’s development from birth to old age.

Function of the thyroid gland

The function of the thyroid gland is to produce, store and release thyroid hormones, known as T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), the basic compound of which is thyroxine. These hormones are involved in the development of the nervous system and regulate metabolism, or the rate at which the body burns calories for energy. These hormones are responsible for:

• Controlling heart rate and cholesterol concentration.
• Intervening in glycogen synthesis and glucose utilization
• Forming vitamin A
• Maintaining body temperature
• Have a gastrointestinal role in memory and muscle strength.

To perform all these functions, the thyroid is assisted by two other glands: the pituitary, responsible for identifying the amount of thyroid hormones present in the blood and producing more if necessary (through the secretion of TSH); and the hypothalamus, which releases TRH so that the pituitary gland produces TSH.

Pathologies that can affect the thyroid

There are numerous diseases and disorders capable of affecting the thyroid gland, usually causing excessive or insufficient production of those hormones the body needs. This, in turn, can cause other problems in other regions.

The thyroid is an endocrine gland located in the front of the neck.

Problems that can affect the thyroid include:

• Hyperthyroidism: also known as overactive thyroid, this condition occurs when the gland produces excess thyroid hormones. Excess hormones can cause many problems, such as mood swings, anxiety, fatigue and heart palpitations, to name just a few.
• Hypothyroidism: Unlike hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism occurs when not enough thyroid hormones are produced, causing symptoms such as constipation, feeling cold, tiredness and difficulty concentrating. If a person suffers from hypothyroidism at a young age, this can cause growth problems, delayed puberty and irregular menstrual periods.
• Goiter: this is the term used to describe an enlarged thyroid and is associated with a malfunction of the gland. In some cases, it can cause symptoms such as coughing, difficulty swallowing and even difficulty breathing.
• Thyroid cancer: Like other organs and glands in the body, the thyroid gland is also susceptible to cancer. It is most common in women between the ages of 25 and 65 and who are Asian, although it can affect anyone.
• Thyroiditis: This is the generic term for an inflamed thyroid. It can refer to a number of conditions, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, postpartum thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis. All of these conditions affect different age groups and present different types of symptoms, although the common symptom is represented by inflammation of the thyroid gland.

Treatments for thyroid disease

Treatment of a thyroid disorder varies depending on the type of condition. To diagnose thyroid disease, medical specialists use your medical history, perform a physical examination and various thyroid tests. In some cases, a biopsy is also indicated.

Medications may be prescribed to correct the hormone levels produced by the thyroid gland to encourage increased hormone production in the case of hypothyroidism or to limit the amount of hormones produced in the case of hyperthyroidism.

If surgery is required, this usually involves removing part of the gland or removing part of the swelling or goiter. Surgical treatment for thyroid cancer patients yields good results and many patients make a full recovery when the cancer is diagnosed early.

Specialist in the treatment of thyroid disease

The specialist who treats thyroid diseases is the endocrinologist, although some treatments are performed by specialists in general surgery.