Gained weight is unclear why or is constantly rolling inexplicable fatigue? The thyroid gland can be the cause of your poor health. In the article we will talk about the effect of the thyroid gland on the human body and how to recognize a malfunction in the endocrine system, reports Chronicle. info with a link to likar. info.

What is the Thyroid? The thyroid gland is located between the larynx and the clavicle. Its size is no more than the thumb of the hand. Meanwhile, the thyroid gland affects virtually all processes in the body. "It produces hormones that regulate metabolism, controlling how many calories you burn and how fast the brain, heart, liver and other organs work," says endocrinologist Christian Nasr, MD, medical director of the Thyroid Center at the Cleveland Clinic.

Influence of the thyroid gland on the body The thyroid gland produces the most important hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which are partly composed of iodine. Here's how the gland affects your well-being:.

The effect of the thyroid gland on the heart: thyroid hormones affect the heart rate and help control blood flow by relaxing the muscles in the walls of the blood vessels.

Effect on fertility: thyroid hormones affect the menstrual cycle. When there are hormonal disorders, this affects the cycle and the process of ovulation in the most unfavorable manner.

Effect on the bone system: The rate of bone fractures is caused by the work of thyroid hormones. When this process speeds up, the bone breaks down faster, which can lead to osteoporosis.

The effect of the thyroid gland on weight: Since the thyroid gland regulates metabolism, hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism) is associated with weight loss. Accordingly, hypothyroidism leads to weight gain.

Effects on the brain: A low level of thyroid hormones can lead to forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, depression. Fortunately, these symptoms are usually eliminated with the help of synthetic hormones.

Effect of the thyroid gland on the skin: When hypothyroidism is observed, the skin becomes dry and dull. Hair and nail growth also slows down significantly.

Who is more likely to suffer from thyroid gland diseases Women are 5-8 times more likely to have thyroid disease than men. Doctors can not yet explain why this is so. "Currently, scientists suspect that this is responsible for the female hormone estrogen," says Dr. Nasr. He explains that the cells of the thyroid gland have a high concentration of estrogen receptors. This means that they are very sensitive to the work of the female sex hormone. Therefore, doctors still believe that this is the root cause of the fact that the thyroid gland is broken more in women.

The second cause of problems with the thyroid gland in women is the following. Often hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are associated with autoimmune diseases. Women tend to be more prone to these disorders, explains M. Regina Castro, MD, endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic. The most common cause of hypothyroidism, for example, is Hashimoto's disease (which is about 7 times more common in women). And the most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease - Basedova's disease (10 times more common in women).

Symptoms of Thyroid Disease Both thyroid diseases (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism) are difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are uncertain and can relate to other diseases. But if you notice more than two of the signs listed below, talk with your doctor about how to test the thyroid gland.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism:.

dry skin and hair;.

forgetfulness; constipation;.

exhaustion of the body;.

muscle cramps;.

unexplained weight gain;.

painful / irregular menstrual cycle;.

swelling on the face;.

hypersensitivity to cold.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism:.

excitability;.

increased sweating;.

cardiopalmus;.

difficulty with sleeping;.

unexplained weight loss;.

a long menstrual cycle;.

decrease in bleeding during critical days;.

too large eyes;.

trembling hands.

Treatment of the Thyroid Gland About 30 percent of people taking medicines for hypothyroidism can quite manage without them. These are the results of a study in the UK. Many of these patients have "subclinical hypothyroidism. "This means that their thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level is slightly elevated, but the T3 and T4 levels are normal.

If, as a result of a blood test, the TSH level is 10 mIU / L or higher, most experts recommend treatment. But if the level of the hormone is in the range of about 4 to 10 mIU / L, the doctor should study the symptoms. "If you do not have symptoms of the disease, thyroid treatment will not help. On the contrary, it will cause heart palpitations and other symptoms of hyperthyroidism, "says Dr. Castro. If you undergo treatment, your doctor must monitor you and send you to blood tests after treatment 6 to 12 weeks later. This is necessary in order to make sure: prescribed medications do not exactly cause hyperthyroidism in your case.

Stop panic over cancer Since 1975, the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased almost threefold, and mortality has remained low at the same level. Nowadays, more and more women are testing the head, neck and chest because of health problems. Therefore, often visible are those small changes in the thyroid gland that would otherwise go unnoticed. "Most of these types of cancer do not need treatment, because they develop slowly or not at all," says Dr. Otis Braouli, MD, chief doctor of the American Cancer Society. He also points out that the operation of such a plan is dangerous.

Since 1975, the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased almost threefold, and mortality has remained low at the same level.

Typically, if the tumor is less than 1 cm, you just need to observe, says Michael Tuttle, MD, an expert in thyroid cancer at the Memorial Slowan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. If your doctor does not agree with this approach, consult another specialist on this issue.

Do not blame the thyroid gland. "One of the most common questions I'm asked is: I'm gaining weight. Maybe something with the thyroid gland? ", Says endocrinologist Dorothy Fink, MD, associate professor at the Langone Medical Center at the University of New York. She agrees with the statement that if you have hypothyroidism, then there is a tendency to weight gain. But, as a rule, there are also other symptoms: fatigue, constipation and irregular menstruation. And even if you have several symptoms, your doctor will probably also consider the issue of hormonal dysfunction (polycystic ovary syndrome) or premenopause. The doctor will ask about how many hours you sleep and how often you exercise. Ideally, says Dr. Fink, the doctor summarizes these factors, and then asks for an assay for thyroid hormones.

It's interesting: The doctors explained how to act if the signs of the flu are "on face".

Bioadditives can be dangerous You probably saw the supplements for normalizing the thyroid gland. Do not believe this: when the Mayo Clinic researchers analyzed the popular tablets available on the Internet, they found that even those sold as herbal preparations contained synthetic thyroid hormones. "A large dose of hormones can cause dangerous side effects, for example, arrhythmia and bone problems," says Dr. Fink.

Self-diagnosis of the thyroid Of course, you need to regularly make a thyroid gland, but the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists offers a test by which you can check your thyroid gland at home and determine if you have a thyroid disorder.

Using a hand mirror, examine the lower front part of the neck, above the collarbones and below the larynx.

Throw your head back, take a sip of water and look at the ledges in this area.

If you notice a bulge, consult a doctor. You may have a thyroid nodule (nodular goiter is possible) or a disease develops (hypo- or hyperthyroidism).

How to please the thyroid Get iodine from food. The daily dose of 150 mcg in your diet is critical for the production of thyroid hormones. Table salt, as a rule, contains iodine. But even if you are on a low-salt diet, says Dr. Fink, you can get iodine from other foods, in particular from fish, dairy products, eggs and processed grains.

Filter the water. Perchlorate is a chemical substance that prevents the absorption of iodine by the thyroid gland. Perchlorate is often found in tap water, says Joanna Conleton, Ph.D., a senior research fellow at the Environmental Working Group. With perchlorate in water the reverse osmosis filter successfully fights.

Avoid triclosan. This antibacterial substance is often present in antibacterial hygiene products and similar in structure to thyroid hormones. Animal studies have shown a link between triclosan and low levels of hormones, says Conleton.

The effect of the thyroid gland on the entire body is enormous. Interference in its work involves risks. Therefore, self-treatment is dangerous to health. It is important to look into the symptoms of the disease and carry out self-diagnosis. All the rest is solved only with the endocrinologist. Be healthy!.

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