| The second article is an important one. It is important | | | | by the pituitary gland that triggers hormone production |
| for many reasons. Well, the first one is obvious, since it | | | | in the thyroid. When you are hypothyroid, higher |
| is one of the causes of being overweight, but the | | | | quantities of TSH are circulating in your blood as your |
| second is because I myself, have the disease. | | | | body attempts to foster increased production of |
| Hypothyroidism hits millions of Americans every year. | | | | thyroid hormones. The reverse is true with |
| Women can suffer from a mild temporary | | | | hyperthyroidism in which TSH levels are below normal |
| hypothyroidism, especially after their first child. | | | | and circulating thyroid-hormone levels are high. The |
| I've been dealing with this disease since my birth. | | | | normal level should vary between 0 and 4. Above that |
| Although it is under control, this disease has made me | | | | level, you might suffer from hypo-thyroidism- and |
| suffer many weight variations throughout my teenage | | | | below the normal level from hyperthyroidism. |
| years. From gaining 30 pounds, to losing them, I | | | | Thyroid hormone production can be suppressed or |
| became the "Elastic Man", some kind of national hero, I | | | | halted completely with a radioactive iodide treatment, |
| guess. | | | | antithyroid medication, or surgery. If you doctor decides |
| Lucky for me, I haven't seen any stretch marks on my | | | | that radioactive treatment is best, you have to |
| body from gaining and losing this weight. For those | | | | swallow a tablet or liquid containing radioactive iodide in |
| who can't quite understand their weight increase, I | | | | amounts large enough to damage the cells of your |
| recommend making an appointment with an | | | | thyroid gland and limit or destroy their ability to produce |
| endocrinologist (gland specialist) and having a blood | | | | hormones. Occasionally more than one treatment is |
| test to check it. | | | | needed to restore normal hormone production, and |
| How does the thyroid work? I am not a thyroid | | | | many patients develop hypothyroidism because of this |
| specialist, however, having that disease made me do a | | | | procedure. |
| lot of research on it. Are you all ready? It'll be technical. | | | | Moreover, yes, you will be radioactive. You will |
| Thyroid hormones enhance oxygen consumption of | | | | probably be put in "quarantine" for several days and |
| most body tissues and increase the basal metabolic | | | | not get close to any family member. You wouldn't |
| rate and metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and | | | | want to be another "Chernobyl", would you? Unless, of |
| proteins. Thus, they exert a profound influence on | | | | course, you dislike your wife or husband and in this |
| every organ system and are of great importance in | | | | case you can always keep it a secret and let her or |
| the development of the central nervous system. | | | | him be irradiated as well. Let's move on... |
| Through the hormones it produces, the thyroid gland | | | | After the normal six hours wait at your doctor's office, |
| influences almost all of the metabolic processes in your | | | | the doctor places an instrument over your neck to |
| body. Thyroid disorders can range from a small, | | | | measure how much of the radioactive iodide has |
| harmless goiter that needs no treatment to | | | | gathered in your thyroid. If the results of this test |
| life-threatening cancer. The most common thyroid | | | | suggest that the gland is collecting excessive amounts |
| problems involve abnormal production of thyroid | | | | of iodide, the doctor may then conduct a radioactive |
| hormones. Too much of these vital body chemicals | | | | iodide uptake scan. In this test, the doctor uses a |
| results in a condition known as hyperthyroidism. | | | | special film to create a picture that shows the exact |
| Insufficient hormone production leads to | | | | location of the radioactive iodide in your thyroid gland. |
| hypothyroidism. Although the effects can be | | | | The scan will reveal, for example, if the iodide is |
| unpleasant or uncomfortable, most thyroid problems | | | | collecting in adenomas, indicating that the nodules are |
| can be managed well if properly diagnosed and | | | | responsible for the excess hormone. If the scan |
| treated. | | | | shows that the iodide is spread equally throughout the |
| What Causes Them? | | | | tissue, the whole thyroid is involved in the excess |
| All types of hyperthyroidism are due to an | | | | production. |
| overproduction of thyroid hormones, but the condition | | | | Some doctors believe that blood tests may not be |
| can occur in several ways: In Graves' disease, the | | | | sensitive enough to detect milder forms of |
| release of excess hormones is triggered by an | | | | hypothyroidism. Instead, they advocate monitoring your |
| autoimmune disorder. For reasons that yet remain | | | | body's basal (resting) temperature. To track your basal |
| unknown, the body attacks the thyroid and causes it to | | | | temperature accurately, you must closely follow |
| spill out too much hormone. At other times, nodules | | | | certain guidelines: Shake the thermometer below |
| called toxic adenomas develop in the thyroid gland and | | | | 95° F at night and place it where you can reach it |
| begin to secrete thyroid hormones, upsetting the | | | | without getting out of bed. The following morning, |
| body's chemical balance; some goiters may contain | | | | before you get out of bed, take your temperature |
| several of these nodules. Although rare, | | | | under your armpit for 10 minutes while staying as still |
| hyperthyroidism can also develop from pituitary gland | | | | as possible. Keep records of your temperature for at |
| malfunctions or from cancerous growths in the thyroid | | | | least three days. (Women should do this during the first |
| gland. | | | | two weeks of the menstrual cycle, as their basal |
| Hypothyroidism, by contrast, stems from an | | | | temperature may rise during the latter half.) The normal |
| underproduction of thyroid hormones. Since your | | | | basal body temperature ranges between 97.4° F |
| body's energy production requires certain amounts of | | | | and 97.8° F. |
| thyroid hormones, a drop in hormone production leads | | | | If your basal temperature is consistently low, you could |
| to lower energy levels. Hypothyroidism can also result | | | | be mildly hypothyroid. If you have one or more |
| when the thyroid gland has been surgically removed or | | | | adenomas, your doctor will want to keep careful |
| chemically destroyed a treatment for hyperthyroidism. | | | | records of when they were first found and how they |
| And if you are exposed to excessive amounts of | | | | develop, since not all adenomas produce excess |
| iodide - perhaps from a hidden source such as cold | | | | thyroid hormone. In fact, most of these nodules are not |
| and sinus medicines or from certain medical tests - | | | | malignant, especially if they remain the same size over |
| you may be at greater risk for developing | | | | long intervals. (Cancerous tissue, by contrast, will |
| hypothyroidism, especially if you had thyroid problems | | | | undergo noticeable growth.) Nodules that appear |
| in the past. If left untreated for long periods, | | | | suddenly are typically fluid-filled cysts and are often |
| hypothyroidism can bring on a myxedema coma, a | | | | benign. They can be evaluated with a non-invasive |
| rare but potentially fatal condition that requires | | | | ultrasound exam. If blood tests indicate that, the |
| immediate hormone injections. | | | | nodules are producing excess thyroid hormone, and if |
| Hypothyroidism poses a special danger to newborns | | | | you have other symptoms, your doctor will treat you |
| and infants. A lack of thyroid hormones in the system | | | | for hyperthyroidism. |
| at an early age can lead to the development of | | | | What are the available treatments out there for the |
| cretinism (mental retardation) and dwarfism (stunted | | | | disease? |
| growth). Most infants now have their thyroid levels | | | | For thyroid disorders stemming from the over- or |
| checked routinely soon after birth. If they are | | | | underproduction of thyroid hormones, both conventional |
| hypothyroid, treatment begins immediately. | | | | and alternative treatments offer varied methods to |
| In infants, as in adults, hypothyroidism can be due to a | | | | restore hormone levels to their proper balance. |
| pituitary disorder, a defective thyroid, or lack of the | | | | Conventional treatments rely mainly on drugs and |
| gland entirely. Usually, a hypothyroid infant is inactive | | | | surgery. Alternative treatments attempt to relieve |
| and quiet, has a poor appetite and sleeps for | | | | some of the discomfort associated with thyroid |
| excessively long periods. | | | | problems, or improve the function of the thyroid gland |
| How can you determine if you suffer from either one | | | | through a variety of approaches ranging from diet |
| of these diseases? Well, just like in the case of other | | | | supplements and herbal remedies to lifestyle changes |
| medical problems, you will inevitably recognize some | | | | and special exercises. You should always receive a |
| symptoms and your body will not be in full harmony. | | | | professional evaluation for any thyroid disorder; most |
| What are the symptoms then? | | | | of these conditions require a course of treatment |
| Hyperthyroidism:o Weight loss despite increased | | | | beyond the scope of home-care alone. |
| appetite (I guess 40% of our population would love to | | | | Treating hyperthyroidism requires suppressing the |
| suffer from hyperthyroidism). Increased heart rate, | | | | manufacture of thyroid hormone while hypothyroidism |
| higher blood pressure, nervousness, and excessive | | | | demands hormone replacement. Conventional medicine |
| perspiration.o Muscle weakness, trembling hands.o | | | | offers extremely effective techniques for lowering, |
| Development of a goiter (presenting as a swelling on | | | | eliminating, or supplementing hormone production. |
| the neck). | | | | Before you decide which treatment is best for you, |
| Hypothyroidism:o Increased weight gains, lack of | | | | your doctor will make an evaluation based on your |
| energy, need to sleep more than usual.o Lethargy, | | | | particular thyroid condition as well as your age, general |
| slower mental processes.o Reduced heart rate.o | | | | health, and medical history. |
| Increased sensitivity to cold.o Tingling or numbness in | | | | Hypothyroidism calls for a lifelong regimen of thyroid |
| the hands.o Mild to severe pain in the thyroid gland.o | | | | replacement. No surgical techniques or conventional |
| Thyroid feels tender to the touch.o Pain when | | | | drugs can increase the thyroid's hormone production |
| swallowing or turning your head | | | | once it slows. Although hormones from animal extracts |
| What is the next step after noticing these symptoms? | | | | are available, doctors generally prescribe synthetic |
| GO SEE A DOCTOR. Many of us would rather | | | | forms of thyroid hormone, such as synthroid. Side |
| watch a football game rather than sit down at the | | | | effects are rare, but some people experience |
| doctor's office. But let's face it, it's your health. Your | | | | nervousness or chest pain while taking these drugs. |
| endocrinologist can diagnose hyperthyroidism and | | | | Usually adjusting the levels of medication will alleviate |
| hypothyroidism by testing the levels of thyroid | | | | any unpleasant effects. If you have diabetes, make |
| hormones in your blood. He or she will measure | | | | sure that you and your doctor discuss any possible |
| hormone secreted by the thyroid itself and of the | | | | interactions or other complications. |
| thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), a chemical released | | | | |