hyperthyroidism – Hello Doctor

What is a goiter?

January 5th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

It’s a funny-sounding word, but a goiter can have a real impact on your health. A goiter is an abnormal growth on your thyroid gland. The lump is an enlargement of the butterfly-shaped gland (your thyroid) at the base of your neck; which will move up and down when you swallow.

Your thyroid produces two important hormones:

Triiodothyronine (T3)
Thyroxine (T4)

These thyroid hormones have a major impact on:

Growth
Heartbeat
Immune regulation in the intestine
The use of oxygen and energy
The use of vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, electrolytes, and water
Heat production
Fertility

So, the presence of a goiter means that there’s some health condition that has led to the abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland.

It could be an overproduction of hormones (hyperthyroidism), underproduction (hypothyroidism) or normal production (euthyroidism).

What’s causing the goiter?

Anyone can develop goiter, but your risk increases with age. Women over 40 are at a greater risk, as well as those who have a family history of the condition. When the gland isn’t making enough thyroid hormone, it reacts by getting bigger. One of the common causes of a goiter is an iodine deficiency.

Iodine is a trace mineral; meaning that it’s a micro mineral that you only need in tiny amounts. But your body does need it to maintain thyroid function.

According to the American Thyroid Association, the main function of the thyroid gland is to use iodine from the blood to make thyroid hormone. So, the gland can’t make enough thyroid hormone if there’s not enough iodine present.

An iodine deficiency leads to hypothyroidism. The pituitary gland in the brain senses the thyroid hormone level is too low and sends a signal to the thyroid. The signal, called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), stimulates the thyroid to produce thyroid hormone and grow in size, leaving you with a goiter.

Causes of a goiter

An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).
An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
Lack of iodine.
The body’s immune system attacking the thyroid gland (autoimmune problem).
Hormone changes during puberty, pregnancy or menopause.
An inflamed thyroid gland (thyroiditis).
A history of radiation treatment to the neck or chest area.
Nodules or cysts within the thyroid.

Symptoms include:

Difficulty swallowing.
A tight feeling in your throat.
Difficulty breathing.
Coughing
Hoarseness

A complicated case of a large goiter can put pressure on the windpipe (trachea) and food tube (oesophagus). A large goiter can cause difficulties in breathing, especially when you’re lying flat on your back. Swallowing solid food can also be a challenge and it may cause pain in the thyroid area.

When to see your doctor

If you think you have goiter, it’s time to see your doctor. Your neck will be examined to check whether your thyroid gland is swollen, and a thyroid function test may be done to see how well your thyroid gland is functioning. The thyroid function test will measure the level of certain hormones in your blood. It will show whether you have an under-active or overactive thyroid, both of which are associated with goiter.

If your doctor finds it necessary, he may refer you to a specialist for further tests or treatment.

References:

Get to know your thyroid

January 5th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Your thyroid, an important gland located in the neck, functions like the conductor of the orchestra of the human body. It secretes important hormones that are pivotal to growth and metabolism.

“It’s involved in assisting with the regulation of body temperature and weight, growth and development, the function of the muscles, the brain and the nervous system as well as assisting in fertility and pregnancy, among many other functions,” says Dr Joel Dave, an endocrinologist based in Cape Town.

In order to regulate these body functions, the thyroid takes iodine (which is found in many foods and helps convert food into energy) and changes it into thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).

T3 and T4 are then released into the bloodstream and transported throughout the body where they control metabolism (conversion of oxygen and calories to energy). Your thyroid glands are necessary for almost everything you do! They help to regulate your breathing, heart rate, body weight, muscle strength, menstrual cycles, body temperature, cholesterol and much more.

A balancing act

It’s important that both the T3 and T4 hormone are neither too low nor too high. If there’s too little or too much of either in your body, it could cause thyroid dysfunctions like hyperthyroidism (too much T3 and T4 in your body), and hypothyroidism (too little T3 and T4 in your body). If the thyroid gland is unable to produce the thyroid hormones, the pituitary gland releases TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone).

Symptoms of hypothyroid include:

Weakness
Feelings of depression
Fatigue
Joint and muscle pain
Dry and pale skin
Sensitivity to cold
Constipation
Unintended weight gain
Heavy menstrual periods
Thin, brittle hair and nails

Symptoms of hyperthyroid include:

Anxiety, nervousness and restlessness
Rapid heart rate or heart palpitations
Being emotional and irritable
Tremors
Sweating and intolerance to heat
Insomnia
Frequent bowel movements
Weight loss irrespective of increased appetite
Menstrual changes and fertility problems
Bulging or staring eyes (linked to a thyroid eye disease that’s connected to Graves’ disease).

Good to know

Hyperthyroidism treatment may include medication, surgery and iodine radiation (this involves shrinking the thyroid to get rid of it). It’s given in a liquid form or a pill that’s absorbed and concentrated by the thyroid gland. This is done to lessen hyperthyroidism symptoms. Hypothyroid treatment would be treated with anti-thyroid medications which will gradually decrease the symptoms by preventing your thyroid gland from producing excess hormones. In severe cases, surgery, called a thyroidectomy, may be necessary. Eating food that naturally contains iodine will help prevent hypothyroidism. Food like spinach, yoghurt, Brazil nuts, milk, chicken, beef and fish will help keep your iodine levels up.

If you experience any symptoms of either hormone deficiency or are considering taking an iodine supplement, you should talk to one of our doctors. They can help you find the best route of treatment.

References:

Feeling anxious often? You could have hyperthyroidism.

October 25th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Despite being one of the smaller organs in the body, the thyroid gland is one of the most powerful. Through the hormones it produces, the thyroid gland influences metabolism, breathing, heart rate, the nervous system, body weight and body temperature! With all that responsibility, what happens if something goes wrong?!

Disorders of the thyroid

The thyroid gland uses iodine from the foods you eat to make two main hormones:

Triiodothyronine (T3)
Thyroxine (T4)

T3 and T4 travel in your bloodstream to reach almost every cell in the body and are responsible for regulating the speed with which your cells work.

Thyroid problems is one of the most common of all medical conditions, especially in women. The most common thyroid problems involve abnormal production of these thyroid hormones:

An underactive thyroid, underproduces hormones and causes a condition called “hypothyroidism”
An overactive thyroid overproduces hormones and causes “hyperthyroidism”

Because an overproduction of thyroid hormones essentially speeds up cell activity across your entire body, some of the common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

fatigue or muscle weakness
hand tremors
mood swings, nervousness or anxiety
rapid heartbeat or heart palpitations
trouble sleeping
weight loss
diarrhoea
irregular menstrual cycle

Causes of hyperthyroidism

There are several different causes of hyperthyroidism:

The most common cause of an overactive thyroid is Grave’s disease. Grave’s disease is an autoimmune condition where your body produces anti-bodies that cause the cells of the thyroid to go into overdrive and over produce hormones
Unusual lumps or bumps that grow on the thyroid may interfere with regular hormone production
Inflammation of the thyroid, caused by a virus or a problem with the immune system, can also interrupt hormone regulation
In some women, pregnancy can cause changes to the thyroid resulting in an overproduction of hormones

Do you have hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism is a lot more common in women, and does have a large genetic component. If anyone if your family has Grave’s disease, or another thyroid condition, it’s a good idea to start becoming more aware of any unusual symptoms you may be experiencing.

A diagnosis of an overactive thyroid will be made by your doctor after listening to you describe your symptoms, doing a physical exam and by measuring levels of thyroid hormones in your blood. Depending on your specific symptoms, your doctor may also do a scan of your thyroid to see if you have any growths on the gland or whether it might be inflamed.

Treatment for hyperthyroidism

Since hyperthyroidism has several causes, there are several treatment options. The best treatment method will depend on YOU. Besides the underlying cause, your doctor will also consider your age, your symptoms and any other conditions you may have. Treatment could include:

Medications: these could include medications to lower thyroid activity and prevent the overproduction of hormones, or medications (e.g. beta blockers) that help to lower your racing heart rate. These are usually given together to help you feel better while the thyroid medication is doing its job
Radioactive iodine: this is absorbed by your thyroid gland, where it causes the gland to shrink and symptoms to subside
Surgery: in some cases, for example if you are pregnant, medication is not an option. Surgery can be performed to remove parts of the thyroid that will reduce hormone production

The obvious goal of treatment is to get hormones back in balance. To support your body while this is happening, ensure you do everything you can to keep the rest of you healthy. The best way to do this is by doing 3 things: eat well, sleep more and move!

References

https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid-nodules/thyroid-gland-controls-bodys-metabolism-how-it-works-symptoms-hyperthyroi
https://medlineplus.gov/hyperthyroidism.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyperthyroidism/basics/definition/con-20020986

10 Signs that you could have thyroid dysfunction

November 24th, 2013 by The Hello Doctor Team

The thyroid gland is one of the largest endocrine glands in your body, it’s about the size of your 2 thumbs held together in a “V” shape, and it weighs around 60g. The Thyroid gland is found in the front part of your neck, and is responsible for a number of vital functions: the hormones T3 and T4 control your metabolism and how your body responds to other hormones.

So, if your Thyroid gland isn’t working properly it’s easy to see why you’ll notice very quickly if something is wrong. The problem is, sometimes the symptoms are vague and this can it difficult to diagnose. The gland can either be over-active (called Hyperthyroidism) or under-active (called Hypothyroidism) and because no one knows your body as well as you do, by knowing these common symptoms of Thyroid dysfunction you can alert your doctor if you suspect a problem:

A lump in the neck: A lump or swelling in the front part of your neck may be a Goitre. This could be very obvious or you may just feel discomfort when you swallow, find clothing around the neck restrictive or your voice may become hoarse
Weight loss: If you find you’re losing weight without trying to, have a racing heart beat and heat intolerance, your thyroid gland may be over-functioning (hyperthyroidism)
Weight gain: Putting on weight despite eating well and exercising? Feeling particularly sensitive to the cold this winter? Your thyroid may be under-functioning (hypothyroidism)
Hair loss and brittle hair: Your hair feels brittle and dry, or it’s falling out.
Dry, fragile or thin skin: Spending a fortune on moisturiser for your skin that’s become dry and scaly? Do small bumps or knocks damage your skin?
Constipation or diarrhoea: Changes in your toilet habits, for example constipation, bloating, diarrhoea or bloating. Have you been diagnosed with IBS? Get your thyroid checked! Persistent diarrhoea and cramping are also symptoms of a dysfunctional thyroid.
Menstrual irregularities: heavy, frequent periods? Light, irregular periods? Struggling to fall pregnant?
High cholesterol: Despite being on medication and a low cholesterol diet you just can’t seem to get your cholesterol levels down? Ask your doctor to check your Thyroid function
Fatigue, low energy and sleeping difficulties: Sleeping a lot but you still feel tired? No energy during the day, or you’re unable to sleep at night and feel exhausted the next day?
Depression/low mood/anxiety: Are you taking medication for depression or anxiety? Make sure your doctor checks your thyroid function before starting you on treatment!

Written by: Dr Lynelle Hoeks