What is Thyroid
Most people only find out when they are faced with more or less serious health problems. Or they simply hear about a friend having thyroid disease and they think they recognize some of the symptoms in themselves.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland, in the front part of the neck. It consists of two lobes, left and right, and a capsule in the middle. The gland produces two types of hormones that regulate growth, the structure of bones, energy levels, metabolism and organ functions. The gland is ductless, with the hormones being released directly into the bloodstream.
What is Thyroid and How Does it Appear?
- The gland needs a simple chemical taken from food to work properly: iodine. The thyroid combines iodine with tyrosine (an essential amino acid) to manufacture the hormones. When an imbalance settles in, a thyroid disease may develop.
- Hypothyroidism or under-active thyroid appears when too low an amount of hormones is released into the bloodstream.
- Hyperthyroidism is marked by an excessive secretion of hormones.
- Each of these has a wide array of symptoms, varying so greatly that they are often mistaken for other health problems. Hence, a high frequency of misdiagnosis!
The autoimmune disease
1. Graves disease is the most common form of autoimmune disease associated with HYPERthyroidism. Because of the condition, the person’s immune system produces antibodies that stimulate the thyroid gland to release more hormones than normal. The treatment for this condition could last months or years and the problem may never go away despite good response to therapy.
2. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis represents a HYPOthyroid autoimmune disease more frequent among teens. The body’s immune system attacks the cells in the thyroid gland preventing it from secreting enough hormones. Medication eliminates the symptoms, but the condition requires frequent checkups and regular medical exams.
- The causes of the autoimmune disease are not known, but genetic predisposition seems to play a part. If someone else in the family suffers from thyroid dysfunctions, you have higher chances of getting it.
- Women are more at risk than men.
Thyroid balance
As little aware some people are that there is a body part called thyroid, as more keenly perceptive are others. Diet and lifestyle seem to have an impact on the health of the thyroid.
- The low level of iodine in diet could lead to the appearance of thyroid nodules.
- A diet rich in highly processed foods and hypersaturated fats could impair normal thyroid functionality.
- Frequent physical exercise, a 50% raw diet and plenty of water seem to maintain good thyroid functions.
This short list of facts ought to show thyroid sufferers that there are things they can improve in their condition by making lifestyle changes. It also points to preventive care of the overall health condition!
Hopefully the healthy readers will not discover this disease only when they become patients!