THYROID

2009-01-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

THYROID DISEASE

The thyroid is a small glandlocated below the skin and muscles at the front of the neck, just at the spot where a bow tie would rest.

As small as it is, though, the thyroid has an important function to perform in the body, especially for teenagers. It is responsible for manufacturing the hormones thathelps in controlling body growth and metabolism. In performing this function, 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 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 affects how most body organs function. So if there is a malfunction of the thyroid definitely other parts of your body will develop problems.

When Does Thyroid Disease Result?
Thyroid disease results when the thyroid gland doesn't supply the normal amount of hormones needed by the body. The thyroid is overactive when it releases too much thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, resulting in hyperthyroidism. ("Hyper" is from the Greek, meaning "over" or "above."). This causes the body to use up energy more quickly than normal, and chemical activity (like metabolism) in the cells accelerates.
Underactive thyroid produces very 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 be easily seen, it's called a goiter. Enlarged thyroid can be experienced by people whose diet is deficient in iodine but this is rare in the United States because foods here usually supply enough iodine. tis case is common in Africa

Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism can cause a lot of problems in the affected individual. The problems include:

nervousness
irritability
increased perspiration
intolerance to heat
fatigue
difficulty sleeping
fast heartbeat
irregular menstrual periods in girls and muscle weakness.

People with this problem might lose weight even though they're eating more than usual. They may have irritated eye or seem to be staring. Sometimes the tissues around the eyes become inflamed and swollen, and the eyes appear to bulge out, but this is less common in teens than in adults with hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism
A person with mild hypothyroidism may feel just fine. Initially the condition might cause no symptoms at all. However, symptoms can become more obvious if hypothyroidism progresses.
People with underactive thyroids might feel depressed and sluggish. They might gain weight, even though they're not eating more or getting less exercise than usual. Teens with hypothyroidism also might have slow growth in height, slow sexual development, irregular menstrual periods in girls, muscle weakness, dry skin, hair loss, poor memory, and difficulty concentrating.

Goiters and Thyroid Nodules
Goiter can take months or years to develop. In teenagerss, goiters are usually caused by the autoimmune thyroid conditions. Graves disease, an autoimmune disease, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. The condition makes a person's immune system produce abnormal types of antibodies (normally antibodies help the body fight infection). These abnormal antibodies make the thyroid gland produce more thyroid hormones. Eventually, the thyroid gland enlarges, which can result in a goiter. After treatment for hyperthyroidism, hormone production often slows down to hypothyroid (underactive) levels, so the person needs to take a thyroid hormone replacement tablet each day.This treatment is a lot easier to manage than taking pills to control the hyperthyroidism - fewer blood tests, doctor visits, and medication adjustments are necessary. As the body adjusts to the hormone replacement tablets, a doctor may increase or reduce the dosage until the levels of thyroid hormone in a person's blood are normal.., which might show no obvious symptoms until the goiter is visible as a swelling at the front of the neck. People with this problem might have the sensation that food is stuck in the throat, especially when they lie down or sleep on their backs.
More importantly, treatment of the thyroid disease causes the goiter to decrease or control the enlargement. If the thyroid continues to get larger despite treatment and becomes large enough to cause discomfort or a lump in the neck, surgery may be required. However, surgery is not necessary for most people.

A thyroid nodule is a lump or enlarged area in the thyroid gland. Sometimes a nodule can appear in a healthy gland. It may feel like a lump in the throat, or there may be tenderness or pain in the front of the neck. If the nodule is large enough, it may be visible at the front of the neck.
Most thyroid nodules are harmless. A nodule may simply be an overgrowth of normal thyroid tissue, a swelling caused by inflammation(such as in autoimmune thyroid diseases) or a collection of fluid called a cyst.

Thyroid Disease In Relation To Growth and Puberty

At the onset of puberty, the body goes through a lot of noticeable changes. Because thyroid hormones play an important role in this process, thyroid disease may slow down or interfere with a teen's physical development. A thyroid disease may also cause a girl to have changes in her periods. Girls with thyroid diseases may have a decrease or increase in menstrual flow or there may be a shorter or longer time between periods than usual. However, because girls who are just starting to menstruate often have irregular periods for the first year or so, changes in periods are usually nothing to worry about and don't mean a person has thyroid disease.
People who are concerned that they might have a thyroid problem should visit the doctor. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is also an autoimmune disease and is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in teenagerss. In this condition, the body's immune system attacks the cells in the thyroid gland, preventing it from producing enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid responds by working harder to make enough hormones. This can make it become enlarged and may result in a goiter.