The thyroid is a small gland located below the skin and muscles at the front of the neck, just at the spot where a bow tie would rest. It's brownish red, with left and right halves (called lobes) that look like a butterfly's wings. It's light like a butterfly, too, and usually weighs less than an ounce.

As small as it is, though, the thyroid has an enormously important job to do, especially for teens. It manufactures the hormones that help control metabolism and growth. To do its job, the thyroid needs a chemical element called iodine that the body absorbs from the foods you eat and the water you drink. The entire body contains about 50 milligrams of iodine. About 1/5 to 1/3 of that supply (10 to 15 milligrams) is stored in your thyroid. The thyroid combines the iodine with tyrosine (an essential amino acid) to make important hormones.

Thyroid hormones are released from the gland and travel through the bloodstream to your body's cells. They help control the growth and the structure of bones, sexual development (puberty), and many other body functions. By helping your cells convert oxygen and calories into the energy they need to work properly, these hormones are important in determining if your body will mature as it should. Thyroid hormones also directly affect how most of your organs function. So if your thyroid isn't operating properly, you can have problems in lots of other parts of your body.

What Is Thyroid Disease?

Thyroid disease occurs when the thyroid gland doesn't supply the proper amount of hormones needed by the body. If the thyroid is overactive, it releases too much thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, resulting in hyperthyroidism. ("Hyper" is from the Greek, meaning "over" or "above.") Hyperthyroidism causes the body to use up energy more quickly than it should, and chemical activity (like metabolism) in the cells speeds up.

An underactive thyroid produces too little thyroid hormone, resulting in hypothyroidism. ("Hypo" means "under" or "below.") When the amount of hormone released into the bloodstream is below normal, the body uses up energy more slowly, and chemical activity (metabolism) in the cells slows down.

Although they are two different conditions, in both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism the thyroid can become larger than normal. An enlarged thyroid gland is a lump that can be felt under the skin at the front of the neck. When it is large enough to see easily, it's called a goiter. People who don't get enough iodine in their diets also can get an enlarged thyroid, but this is rare in the United States because foods here usually supply enough iodine.

The above article was taken from:

http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/growth/thyroid.html

Thyroid Glands

The Thyroid is a small but important gland found just below the Adam's apple.

It's purpose is to produce hormones that control the body's energy levels and it's metabolism.

Thyroid problems are very common but they appear in women more often than men and midlife is a typical time for it to start.

It is diagnosed by means of a blood test and if it is underactive it is known as hypothyroidism,

And if it is overactive it is known as hyperthyroidism.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
Underactive thyroid gland

- weight gain
- depression
- sluggishness
- feeling cold
- mental slowness
- heavy periods

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
overactive thyroid gland

- weight loss despite a good appetite
- anxiety- palpitationa
- agitation
- hyperactivity
- hand tremours
- feeling hot
- light or non-existent periods
Treatment

An underactive thyroid is treated with thyroxine, which is a hormone that boosts levels back to normal.

An overactive thyroid in older patients is usually treated with radioactive iodine, which destroys the thyroid, but it can also be treated with a drug called carbimazole or surgery to remove most of the thyroid. This is more common in patients under 40.

What is Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is a thyroid problem caused by an underactive thyroid gland that produces insufficient amounts of thyroid hormones. This common condition affects millions of people.

Because the symptoms may be varied and difficult to define, often mimicking other conditions, many people with an underactive thyroid gland may be completely unaware of the problem.

To get a basic understanding of hypothyroidism, you need to familiarize yourself with the thyroid. The thyroid is a small gland found in the middle of the lower neck (below the larynx or Adam’s apple).

This gland manufactures thyroid hormones which enable the body to carry out a variety of very important functions. The thyroid works in conjunction with pituitary gland which produces thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).

TSH in turn stimulates the thyroid gland to produce the thyroid hormones, T3 and T4. These thyroid hormones play a vital role in the body, influencing metabolism and all the organs in the body. They determine how fast or how slow the organs should work and how the body generates and uses energy.

When the thyroid is under-active and doesn’t produce enough of these hormones, hypothyroidism can develop. Metabolic rate and energy levels decrease and the body uses energy slower than it should.

Who Suffers from Hypothyroidism?

Underactive thyroid is a very common medical condition and statistics suggest that 1 in 50 women and 1 in 1000 men will develop symptoms of hypothyroidism. It is more common in older women and can also occur more frequently during pregnancy.

Conventional treatment usually involves the administration of synthetic or animal derived thyroid hormone replacement drugs.

Diagnosing Hypothyroidism

A blood test is needed to confirm the diagnosis of an underactive thyroid gland, but does not necessarily tell you the cause. The patient’s clinical history and results of antibody screening tests and thyroid scans can help to determine the underlying cause.

Blood tests will measure the levels of TSH, the thyroid stimulating hormone, and T3 and T4, the thyroid hormones - as well as their interactions with each other.

The results of these tests will tell you where the problem lies - in the pituitary gland, where TSH is produced, the hypothalamus (which controls the pituitary gland) or in the thyroid gland itself. This will in turn help physicians to determine the correct management for you.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

The symptoms of hypothyroidism are not always easy to distinguish from other conditions, which makes a proper diagnosis very important. Some of the symptoms of underactive thyroid gland include:

* Fatigue and exhaustion
* Heart palpitations
* Depression
* Constipation
* Weight gain or difficulty loosing weight
* Dry, tangly hair or loss of hair
* Brittle, split nails
* Aching joints and muscles
* Allergies, e.g. itching, rashes, hives
* Thrush
* Bloated stomach
* Swelling and puffiness in the eyes, face, arms and legs
* Low sex drive
* Poor concentration
* Menstrual problems such as heavy and/or infrequent flow

What Causes Hypothyroidism?

There are several potential diseases and conditions that can cause of Hypothyroidism.

* Hashimoto’s disease - This an auto-immune disease, where your antibodies, which usually ward off foreign infections or substances, turn on your own body and attack the thyroid gland, This causes inflammation in the thyroid gland, gradually affecting its ability to function and produce thyroid hormone.

* Hypothyroidism caused by thyroid gland inflammation – also called thyroiditis. This is caused when inflammation of the thyroid gland leaves a large percentage of the thyroid cells damaged and unable to produce enough hormones. This inflammation could be due to things like infection or trauma

* As a Consequence of treatment for hyperthyroidism – People who suffer from hyperthyroidism are often treated with radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medications to reduce their thyroid function. When the function is reduced too much, hypothyroidism can result.

* Thyroid surgery – Removing all or a large portion of your thyroid can diminish hormone production. If there are not enough thyroid producing cells to satisfy the body’s needs, you will develop hypothyroidism.

* Pituitary/hypothalamic disease – You could also be at risk of developing hypothyroidism if the pituitary gland fails to produce enough TSH – the hormone responsible for ‘instructing’ the thyroid to produce T3 and T4.

* Iodine deficiency – Iodine is found primarily in seafood, seaweed, plants grown in iodine-rich soil and iodized salt and is essential for the production of thyroid hormones. Some areas of the world experience a severe iodine deficiency, for example India, Chile, Ecuador and Zaire.

* Radiation therapy – Radiation used to treat cancers of the head and neck can affect your thyroid gland and may lead to hypothyroidism.

* Medications – A number of medications (such as lithium which is often used for psychiatric disorders) can contribute to hypothyroidism. Consult your doctor about the effect of your medications on your thyroid gland.

Disorders Similar to Hypothyroidism


Question: I have hypothyroidism symptoms but the tests say my thyroid is normal. What could be the problem?

Answer: Your symptoms may be related to another condition and the tests may be correct in indicating that your thyroid is functioning normally. However, it is also possible that the tests are not providing a true picture of the functioning of your thyroid. Thyroid tests can often come back 'normal' although the thyroid is not functioning as it should be.

This is because a 'normal' result on tests only tells you that your thyroid functioning falls within the 'average range'. Because thyroid functioning can vary from person to person, what may be 'normal' for one person is not necessarily so for the next person.

That is why the results of thyroid tests must always be seen in the context of symptoms experienced by the patient, which can provide valuable information which assists the diagnostic process.

Help for Hypothyroidism

Conventional treatment usually involves taking a synthetic or animal derived thyroid hormone medication on a daily basis. Levothyroxine is the most common conventional medication used to treat hypothyroidism and treatment is life-long.

Patients have to be aware that they understand their condition thoroughly and how to take and adjust their medication. The doctor will check TSH levels to determine the right dosage of levothyroxine. If the correct dosage is not administered side effects could occur, like heart palpitations, shakiness, an increased appetite and insomnia can occur.

If you suffer from heart disease, your doctor will probably start you on a smaller dosage and gradually increase it. Thyroid hormone levels should be monitored on a regular basis (approximately every 6 weeks) and TSH levels checked to determine whether the correct amount of thyroid replacement hormone is administered.

There are other treatment options that can also be explored and may well be more suited to you. These include alternative and natural remedies for hypothyroidism and are especially for those who want to avoid the side effects of prescription drugs.

There are a variety of natural therapies that can be included in the treatment plan for thyroid disorders. Natural remedies for hypothyroidism with herbal and homeopathic ingredients can help to promote steady hormone levels, as well as maintain and restore the health of the thyroid gland.

Some herbal remedies commonly recommended for hypothyroid conditions include Equisetum arvense, Avena sativa, Centella asiatica, Coleus forskohlii and Fucus vesiculosis. There are also herbal and homeopathic remedies that can be used supportively to address some of the troublesome symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Correct use of natural remedies for hypothyroidism may allow patients to take less medication and achieve greater symptomatic relief. Discuss this option with your doctor, homeopath or naturopath, who will be able to recommend a natural treatment option.

Above article taken from: http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/hypothyroidism-symptoms-and-natural-treatments.html

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