Our life is connected with constant tension. Stress, weakness, insomnia and fatigue are familiar symptoms, though? Did you know that these symptoms can be the cause of a rather serious illness So how can you understand if this is a simple overwork and you just need to rest, or the work of such a vital organ as the thyroid gland is disrupted in the body?

A little about the thyroid glandThe thyroid gland produces hormones that affect almost all metabolic processes in the human body.. Violations of its function can be different, starting with goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland in size), which does not require any special treatment, and ending with oncology. The most common abnormalities in the functioning of the thyroid gland are violations of the production of thyroid hormones.. Insufficient production of these vital hormones leads to a condition called hypothyroidism, and excess production leads to hyperthyroidism, according to Pannochka, an online publication for girls and women aged 14 to 35.. net Women are more prone to thyroid disease. Pathology of the thyroid gland can turn a balanced and self-confident woman into a fury, which everyone around will strive to avoid.. In men, the thyroid gland is more obedient and much less likely to fail.. This is not surprising, because in men all the internal organs work according to a more stable schedule, getting out of the schedule only on March 8.

But with the female body, everything is much more serious.. Menstruation, childbearing and childbirth, breastfeeding, menopause - all these processes significantly affect the functioning of the thyroid gland..

Despite its small size (weight about 25 g), the thyroid gland is involved in almost all processes in the body.. The condition of the skin and hair, the development of the female breast, the ability to become pregnant, successfully endure and give birth to a healthy child largely depend on her work..

Hormones produced by the thyroid gland affect our body weight, appetite and sleep, mental and physical abilities, heart function, bone strength. The thyroid gland also affects the functioning of the immune system and the development of the mechanisms of the aging process..

Causes of thyroid diseases Approximately in 50-60% of cases, the pathology of the thyroid gland is heredity. More often, of course, not the disease itself is inherited, but a predisposition to it.. Under the influence of certain environmental factors, the disease may eventually make itself felt, or it may never manifest itself..

HyperthyroidismAll types of hyperthyroidism are associated with excessive production of thyroid hormones.. Hyperthyroidism itself has several subspecies:.

Graves' disease. In this case, the production of too many hormones is associated with an autoimmune process.. The cause of this disease is unknown, it's just that the body's system begins to attack the tissues of the thyroid gland, forcing it to produce an excess amount of hormones..

Toxic adenoma. Nodules form in the tissues of the thyroid gland, which lead to increased production of hormones, disrupting the overall balance of the body.. Sometimes the goiter consists of several such nodes..

Subacute thyroiditis. As a result of inflammation of the tissues of the thyroid gland, there is a " This condition usually lasts from several weeks to several months..

Thyroid cancer or pituitary dysfunction. Quite rare, but these conditions can also cause hyperthyroidism..

Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is the opposite of hyperthyroidism and is caused by insufficient production of thyroid hormones.. Decrease in hormone levels leads to a decrease in energy in the body and overall activity.. This is due to the fact that energy in the body is produced with the participation of a certain amount of thyroid hormones.. There are the following types of hypothyroidism:.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to destroy thyroid tissue.. As a result, the affected tissue dies, the production of hormones stops..

Thyroid removal. During the treatment of hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland may be completely removed or chemically destroyed..

Excessive intake of iodine. Some drugs used to treat colds or sinus diseases, some contrast agents used in diagnostic and x-ray studies, some cardiac drugs (amiodarone) cause excessive amounts of iodine to enter the body. If a person has a predisposition to thyroid diseases, then sometimes this can cause hypothyroidism..

Lithium treatment. Lithium also increases the risk of hypothyroidism.

If left untreated, hypothyroidism can lead to myxedematous coma, a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate hormonal administration..

Hypothyroidism is especially dangerous for newborns and young children.. In time, an unnoticed lack of thyroid hormones in the body can cause dwarfism (growth retardation) and cretinism (mental retardation). That is why, immediately after birth, the level of thyroid hormones in a child is determined in the maternity hospital.. It is very important to start treatment as early as possible..

The following factors can cause the development of hypothyroidism in children:.

developmental disorder of the thyroid gland;

defect in pituitary function;

congenital absence of the thyroid gland.

Infants with hypothyroidism tend to have poor appetite and low activity, and are particularly prone to sleep..

Thyroid cancer This disease is not very common.. Thyroid nodules are malignant in about 10% of cases.

In addition, such nodes can be on the thyroid gland for many years before they are recognized as malignant..

It has been observed that people who have previously undergone radiation therapy in the neck and head (for example, in the treatment of acne) are more at risk of developing thyroid cancer..

I would also like to add that thyroid cancer has an extremely favorable prognosis.. In most cases, it is successfully cured and a person after this disease has many chances to live a long and happy life..

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