THYROID DISEASE

WHAT IS THYROID?
Thyroid is a small gland found at the base
of your neck,just below the Adam's apple.
Produces two main hormones:
T3-Triiodothyronine
T4-Thyroxine
-also produces CALCITONIN which is
reponsible for calcium homeostasis




THYROID HORMONES
Travel in your blood to all parts of the body
These hormones regulate the growth and
rate of function of many other systems in
the body
Control body's metabolism such as how
fast you burn calories and how fast your
heart beats.

THYROID DISORDERS
Women are more likely than men to
develop thyroid disorders
Thyroid disorders that can affect women
includes:
-disorders that can cause hyperthyroidism
-disorders that can cause hypothyroidism
-thyroid nodules
-thyroiditis
-thyroid cancer
-goiter

HYPERTHYROIDISM
Thyroid make more thyroid hormones than
the body needs.(OVERPRODUCTION)
Over active thyroid
Causes of HYPERTHYROIDISM:
-Grave's disease(most common)-immune
system stimulates the thyroid
-Thyroid nodules that prompt excess thyroid
hormones to be made

Symptoms of HYPERTHYROIDISM
Weight loss
Eating more than usual
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
or pounding of your heart
Anxiety
Irritability
Trouble sleeping
Trembling in your hands and fingers








Increased sweating
Increased sensitivity to heat
muscle weakness
more frequent bowel movements
less frequent menstrual periods with
lighter than normal menstrual flow
Exopthalmos-protruding of eyes
Treatment of HYPERTHYROIDISM
Antithyroid medicines-block the thyroids
ability to make new thyroid hormones.
Radioiodine-damage or destroys thyroid
hormones
Surgery-remove most of the thyroid
Beta-blockers-medicines that blocks the
effect of thyroid hormones in the body.
HYPOTHYROIDISM
Underproduction of thyroid hormones
Hypothyroid disorders may occur as a result of
-congenital thyroid abnormalities (Thyroid
deficiency at birth. See congenital
hypothyroidism),
-autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's
thyroiditis,
-iodine deficiency (more likely in poorer
countries) or
-the removal of the thyroid following surgery to
treat severe hyperthyroidism and/or thyroid
cancer.

SYMPTOMS OF HYPOTHYROIDISM
abnormal weight gain
tiredness
baldness
cold intolerance
and bradycardia
TREATMENT OF HYPOTHYROIDISM
Medicine such as
LEVOTHYROXINE(man-made form of
T4)or LEVOTHYRONIN(man-made form
of T3) to supply the body with the thyroid
hormones it needs to function right.
THYROIDITIS
Inflammation or swelling of the thyroid
TYPES of THYROIDITIS
Hashimoto's thyroiditis-an autoimmune disorder whereby
the body's own immune system reacts with the thyroid
tissues in an attempt to destroy it.
Post-partum thyroiditis-1st phase(1-2 mos. after giving
birth)-hyperthyroidism;2nd phase(4-8 mos. after giving
birth)-hypothyroidism
Silent or painless thyroiditis-
Sub acute-inflammation in the thyroid leads to pain in the
neck,jaw or ear.May be cause by an infection

THYROID CANCER
Cancerous thyroid nodule may or may not
have symptoms
If cancer is big enough,it may cause:
-swelling of you can see in the neck
-pain or problems on swallowing
-hoarse voice
Rare compared to other types of cancer

TREATMENT OF THYROID CANCER
Surgery-removal of the entire thyroid
gland,or as much of it as can be safely
remove
Radioiodine-destroy thyroid cancer cells
Non-cancerous nodules
presence of thyroid nodules on the gland
The majority of these thyroid nodules are
benign (non cancerous), and their
presence does not necessarily indicate
disease.
Most thyroid nodules do not cause any
symptoms, and most are discovered on an
incidental examination. Often there can be
many nodules, which is termed a
multinodular goitre.
TREATMENT OF THYROID NODULES
Depends on type of nodules you have:If
the nodule is found to be non-cancerous,
no other treatment is required. If the
nodule is suspicious then surgery is
recommended.
Other treatments includes:watchful
waiting,radioiodine,alcohol
ablation,surgery.
GOITER
Abnormally enlarged thyroid gland
CAUSES include:
-Iodine defficiency-lack of iodine(mineral
used for making thyroid hormones) causes
thyroid to get bigger.
-Hashimoto's thyroiditis,Graves
Disease,thyroid nodules,thyroiditis,thyroid
cancer


It is more comon in people who:
have a history of exposure of the thyroid to
radiation
have a family history of thyroid cancer
Older than 40 years of age
SYMPTOMS OF GOITER
Usual symptom is swelling in the neck
Advance goiter can cause:
-tight feeling in your throat
-coughing
-problems in swallowing or breathing
Depending on the cause of goiter,your
thyroid could be making too much,not
enough or the right amount of hormones.
TREATMENT OF GOITER
If goiter is caused by lack of iodine,you
may be given an iodine supplement and
T4 hormone
Radioiodine-shrink the goiter
Surgery
HOW TO DIAGNOSE THYROID
DISORDERS
Doctor will take your:
-medical history such as family members with
history of thyroid disorder
-Physical exam;check neck for nodules
-Request for laboratory test such as :
Blood test-testing level of of TSH(thyroid
stimulating hormone)in the blood
Radioactive iodine uptake test-you swallow a liquid
or capsule containing small dose of radiioactive
iodine(radioiodine)
Thyroid scan-may be helpful in showing wether
thyroid nodule is cancerous.


-Thyroid fine needle biopsy-test use to see if
thyroid nodules have abnormal cells in
them
-Thyroid ultrasound-uses sound waves to
create image of thyroid.It can help the
doctor tell what type of nodule you have
and how large it is
Treatments
OTHER FACTS ON THYROID DISEASES
Thyroid disorders can cause problems in
pregnancy.hypo or hyperthyroidism can
make it difficult for you to become
pregnant
Hyperthyroidism that is not properly
treated during pregnancy can cause:
-early labor and premature babies
-Preeclampsia:starts after 20 wks of pregnancy
that causes hypertension and problems with
kidney and other organs
-fast heart rate of the developing baby
-smaller babies
-stillbirths
Hypothyroidism during pregnancy may
cause:
-anemia
-preeclampsia,low birth-weight babies
problems with brain development in the
baby
-abnormal bleeding after giving birth



RISK FACTORS
Goiter
Pernicious anemia
Type 1 diabetes
Vitiligo
Prematurely gray hair