What to do when the thyroid goes crazy?

We often hear about the thyroid gland often around, however very few know what this gland is for. Today we are going to explain what to do when the thyroid goes crazy.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located on the anterior region of the neck, small but truly portentous in its expression. In fact, it oversees many essential functions of our body by controlling from heartbeat to breathing, from body temperature to digestion.

All these functions increase in speed when the level of thyroid hormones rises, slow down if they decrease. So if the thyroid produces too many or too few hormones, problems begin.

Dystyroidism, that is the altered functioning of this gland, manifests itself through a multifaceted range of symptoms. For example, such as drastic and rapid changes in weight, lack of energy, digestive difficulties, mood swings, just to name the main ones

It seems obvious that these symptoms are somewhat non-specific, nevertheless learning to recognize them is useful for seeking and finding help in case of need. Usually blood tests, ultrasound and more difficult scintigraphy and biopsy should be added to the observation of signs and symptoms in order to arrive at a diagnosis and then undergo specific therapy

Usually the causes of thyroid malfunction are to be found in autoimmune diseases. They are disorders characterized by the fact that the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells of its own organism. An example is Flajani-Basedow-Graves disease which is an autoimmune disease that can cause the thyroid to over-function, while Hashimoto’s disease can often make it under-functioning.

Other causes range from iodine deficiency in the diet, to the excess of iodine favored by some therapies (such as amiodarone, a drug used in arrhythmias), to post-surgical hypofunction, to cancer

So let’s start by considering the two main categories:

Hyperthyroidism

This condition occurs when the thyroid is too active, i.e. the production of hormones is in excess of the body’s needs. It is more common in women. Flajani-Basedow-Graves disease, an autoimmune disorder, is the most frequent cause, followed by excessive consumption of iodine and the intake of excessive amounts of thyroid hormones.

The symptoms are, as already mentioned, rather variable and non-specific: mood swings, fatigue, heat intolerance, sleep disturbances. Also, tremors in the extremities, rapid and irregular pulse, diarrhea, weight loss, goiter (i.e. an increase in volume of the gland), exophthalmos (more pronounced eyeballs), hair loss, increased sweating.

Hypothyroidism

In this case the thyroid hormones are insufficient to cover the body’s needs. Again it is more common in women, in people with other thyroid problems and after the age of 60.

Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder, is the most common cause. Among other causes, there may be thyroid nodules, thyroiditis, congenital hypothyroidism, surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid, radiation therapy of the thyroid, and some medications.

Symptoms, as mentioned several times, vary from person to person. They can include: fatigue, weight gain, swollen face, cold intolerance, joint and muscle pain, constipation, dry skin, reduced sweating, heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding and fertility problems, depression, decreased heart rate.

What to do when the thyroid goes crazy?

Well, if the symptoms mentioned above are persistent and such as to cause difficulties in normal daily attitudes, it is advisable to seek advice from the general practitioner. This on the basis of the anamnesis, can put the suspicion of thyroid pathology and then prescribe laboratory tests and ultrasound examination. The latter practically risk-free is the perfect complement to physical examination and laboratory tests and allows for easy diagnosis.

In fact, through an ultrasound examination it is possible to evaluate the presence or not (both for congenital and post-surgical causes), the glandular size (increased like goiter or decreased as in some forms of thyroiditis). The form which can be regular or irregular (as in thyroiditis) perhaps with the presence of nodules (usually of relative clinical significance) and which can be expression in cases, fortunately minor, of thyroid cancer which we will discuss shortly

Learn what to do when the thyroid goes crazy

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