TL;DR:
- Thyroid Gland: Part of the endocrine system in the neck. Produces triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and calcitonin. Hormone imbalances cause serious health issues.
- Hyperthyroidism Symptoms: Weight loss, increased appetite, insomnia, sweating, tremors, irregular menstruation, shortness of breath, exophthalmos, enlarged thyroid. Confirmed by low TSH (<0.1 mIU/L) and high fT3/fT4 levels.
- Hypothyroidism Symptoms: Fatigue, cold sensitivity, weight gain, dry skin, bradycardia, memory issues. Confirmed by high TSH (>4.2 mIU/L) and low fT3/fT4 levels.
- Hashimoto’s Disease: Autoimmune hypothyroidism. Symptoms include fatigue, muscle pain, dry hair, brittle nails, yellowish skin. Diagnosed via high anti-TPO antibodies and TSH levels.
- Graves’ Disease: Autoimmune hyperthyroidism. Symptoms include goiter, excessive sweating, exophthalmos, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea. Diagnosed via anti-TSHR and anti-TPO antibodies.
- Treatment: Hypothyroidism treated with levothyroxine. Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ treated with thyrostatics. Diet rich in iodine, selenium, and iron aids therapy. Consult specialists for tailored care.
Although the thyroid, unlike most other parts of the body, does not hurt and does not give signs of pain, it can signal abnormalities in other ways. It is therefore important to pay attention to unusual signals sent by the body, as they may indicate problems related specifically to this organ. Learn about the symptoms of the four most common thyroid diseases and how to deal with them!
What is the thyroid gland and what role does it play?
The thyroid is one of the components of the endocrine system located in the front of the neck. It produces three hormones – triiodothyronine, thyroxine and calcitonin, which are essential for the body to function at optimal levels. When their production is reduced or amplified, it results in abnormalities in the functioning of the body. Find out what should get your attention! thyroid
Hyperthyroidism
This condition occurs when the thyroid gland produces more of said hormones than the body needs. The symptoms of hyperthyroidism are many, but you may begin to suspect it in yourself when:
- you lose a lot of weight,
- you are accompanied by an increased appetite,
- you have a tremor in your hands,
- your eyes are exophthalmos,
- you experience shortness of breath,
- you often get tired when climbing stairs,
- you have started menstruating irregularly,
- Your thyroid gland is enlarged,
- you sweat more often than before,
- you have trouble sleeping (insomnia).
Of course, these signals do not necessarily indicate hyperthyroidism, as some of them may be due to stress, for example. That's why it's important to do the appropriate tests, as many of the symptoms mentioned may match your body's behavior. To find out if hyperthyroidism is indeed the problem, you should first test your TSH, or thyrotropin levels. Although this hormone is not produced in the thyroid gland, but in the pituitary gland, its levels correlate with the levels of hormones secreted by the thyroid gland. When the thyroid gland produces too many hormones, they make the amount of TSH released by the pituitary gland less than (less than 0.1 mj/l). The TSH level test involves analyzing a blood sample, so the procedure is not too complicated – you can find at least a few collection points in every city. What's more, from the results of the same test you can also find out whether you also suffer from a second thyroid condition, namely hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism
Unlike hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces too few hormones, resulting in a slowdown of metabolic processes. So let's find out what symptoms should arouse our vigilance. If:
- You freeze easily and often feel cold,
- Your skin is pale, cold and dry,
- you feel weakness, fatigue, drowsiness.
- you find it difficult to concentrate and your memory begins to fail,
- you suffer from chronic constipation,
- your hair has become brittle,
- you have irregular menstrual periods,
- your body weight has increased,
- Your heart beats slower,
perhaps your thyroid produces too few hormones for your body to function properly. As with hyperthyroidism,** the first step to find out is to test your TSH level.** If the level of this hormone is elevated (above 4.2 mj/l), it probably tells you that your thyroid is working too poorly.
When it turns out that indeed TSH levels are out of the norm, the next step to take is to test the levels of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Decreased fT3 and fT4 (i.e., levels of the hormones T3 and T4) along with increased TSH indicate hypothyroidism, while increased fT3 and fT4 going hand in hand with decreased TSH speak of hyperthyroidism. Thyroid tests are therefore worth doing as a package at a favorable price. Unfortunately, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are not the only diseases of the gland that patients face. Learn about two more ailments whose symptoms are worth being aware of.
Hashimoto's disease
This condition is the most common type of thyroiditis. It takes its name from the Japanese surgeon who first described this ailment. The Hashimoto's disease is autoimmune in origin, which means that elements of the immune system (T lymphocytes or antibodies) target their own tissues, causing them to be removed. This leads to hypothyroidism because there is not enough tissue to produce the right amount of hormones. That's why it's so important to get Hashimoto's disease diagnosed as soon as possible. So let's familiarize ourselves with the symptoms of Hashimoto's. It is worth noting if:
- you often feel fatigue,
- your muscles and joints ache,
- you have dry and thinning hair,
- you find it difficult to breathe,
- your nails have become brittle,
- you have a slowed pulse,
- you are bothered by constipation and digestive problems,
- Your skin has become cold, dry, thickened and has taken on a yellowish tint.
Diffuse goiter, or enlargement of the thyroid gland, is also common, but is not a prerequisite for a diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease.
Therefore, if you suspect you have this type of thyroiditis, it is worth performing the necessary tests. ** Similar to hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, the first step should be to test TSH levels, as well as fT3 and fT4, since Hashimoto's disease is characterized by hypothyroidism. However, the above tests are not sufficient to determine the presence of Hashimoto's. The next step to be taken is to test anti-TPO, or anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies. These antibodies are produced by the body in autoimmune thyroid diseases, that is, diseases such as Hashimoto's. Increased levels of these antibodies are found in almost 90% of people struggling with Hashimoto's, which is why it is so important to perform this test. Moreover, with it it is also possible to determine the presence of the fourth thyroid disease, Graves-Basedow disease.
Graves-Basedow disease
In the case of Graves-Basedow disease, we are dealing with an autoimmune disorder, but this time it causes hyperthyroidism. In this case, the receptors for TSH (that is, the hormone produced by the pituitary gland) are stimulated by anti-TSHR antibodies, resulting in increased hormone production by the thyroid gland, that is, hyperthyroidism. Moreover, the disease causes the thyroid gland to grow and develop vascularization. A person affected by Graves-Basedow disease:
- has a goiter, or enlarged thyroid gland (goiter appears in about 80% of patients),
- has exophthalmos of the eyeballs,
- sweats excessively,
- does not tolerate heat,
- experiences an accelerated heartbeat,
- struggles with diarrhea,
- has a problem with decreased muscle strength.
In order to correctly diagnose Graves-Basedow disease, it is possible to test anti-TPO, which was mentioned earlier, since 70% of patients with the disease have increased levels of these antibodies. However, it is also worthwhile to test the level of anti-anti-TSHR antibodies, the main culprits of Graves-Basedow disease.
How is thyroid disease treated?
Treatment of endocrine diseases depends on the type of disease. With hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, it is important to equalize hormone levels. With hypothyroidism, this is achieved by correcting the hormone deficiency (with levothyroxine, a substance administered in pill form), and with hyperthyroidism – by treatment with thyrostatics, i.e. drugs that inhibit the synthesis and secretion of thyroxine. The situation is similar with Hashimoto's – here, too, levothyroxine is used.
On the other hand, in the treatment of Graves-Basedow disease, thyreostatics are applied. The most important thing, however, is to see the right specialist who will choose the right treatment and make it go quickly and without complications.
Diet as an important part of treatment
To improve the treatment of thyroid diseases, it is also worth paying attention to diet and performing thyroid ultrasound. In hyperthyroidism and Graves-Basedow disease, patients often face weight gain. Thus, it is necessary to curb rapid metabolism through appropriate selection of meals with increased calories. On the other hand, in the case of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease, it is extremely important to remember to take meals containing ingredients such as iodine, selenium and iron. ** Therefore, it is worth going to a professional nutritionist, who, based on the results of tests and consultation with the patient, will prepare an individualized diet that will not only allow you to lose weight, but also complement the therapy and be part of a comprehensive treatment.** With proper medical care and the use of a well-adapted diet, the treatment of thyroid disease will go smoothly and without complications.
Conclusion
Thyroid health affects your entire body, and recognizing symptoms is crucial. From hyperthyroidism's rapid changes to hypothyroidism’s sluggish effects, early testing makes a big difference. Hashimoto’s and Graves-Basedow disease highlight how autoimmune disorders target the thyroid uniquely. Proper diagnosis, treatment, and a supportive diet tailored to your needs can greatly improve your well-being. Stay proactive, test regularly, and consult specialists to manage these conditions effectively. Your health depends on listening to your body and taking informed action.
