The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the throat. It produces hormones that are essential for normal growth and metabolism, including thyroxine, also known as T4, iodothyronine, also known as T3, and calcitonin. Iodine is necessary in order for the thyroid to produce T3 and T4, hormones that influence every single cell in the human body, according to Gary Thibodeau, Professor Emeritus at Wisconsin State University and author of “The Human Body in Health & Disease.” Conditions involving abnormal thyroid function can cause fluctuations in energy level, body weight and mental well-being.
Graves Disease
When the thyroid is hyperactive, it produces an overabundance of hormones. Hyperthyroidism is most often caused by Graves disease, an autoimmune disorder wherein abnormal antibodies attack the thyroid gland, causing it to overproduce hormones. TeensHealth states that Graves disease is more frequently reported in women. Its symptoms include enlarged thyroid gland, bulging eyes, high metabolism with resulting weight loss, nervousness and increased heart rate.
Graves disease is treated with medication that blocks thyroid hormone production, but this is not a permanent solution. Most often, stronger measures such as the use of radioactive iodine treatments or surgery are used to shrink the thyroid or remove most of it. Hormone replacement is often needed to deal with the hypothyroidism that results.
Hashimoto's Disease
Like Graves disease, Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder, but in this case, antibodies damage the thyroid in such a way that hormone production is decreased, causing hypothyroidism. Both conditions cause enlarged thyroid glands, but Hashimoto's diseases causes the metabolism, heart rate and brain function to slow. Weight gain is common, and hair tends to dry out and thin.
Treatment for Hashimoto’s disease involves taking a synthetic version of thyroxine in pill form. The National Women's Health Information Center explains that dosage levels are determined on a case-by-case basis. The doctor works with the patient to determine the most effective dosage levels to treat the disease.
Goiter
A lack of iodine in the diet can cause the thyroid gland to enlarge, a condition called goiter. MayoClinic.com explains that iodine deficiency is the most common cause of goiter globally, but in the United States, diets are sufficiently rich in iodine due to the use of iodized salt. Abnormal thyroid hormone production is more commonly the culprit behind cases of goiter in the United States.
Besides the noticeable swelling of the thyroid gland, those with goiter may experience hoarseness, coughing and difficulty swallowing. Treatment depends on the severity of the problem. Medication, surgery and radioactive iodine are some of the options used to treat goiter.
References
- "The Human Body in Health & Disease"; Gary A. Thibodeau, PhD, Kevin T. Patton, PhD; 2002
- Womenshealth.gov: Hashimoto's Disease
- MayoClinic.com: Goiter
- TeensHealth: Thyroid Disease and Teens
