Your thyroid the gland is in your neck; it is a butterfly in shape and located above your collarbone. The thyroid is part of your endocrine gland that produces hormones. Hormones from the thyroid gland regulate certain activities in your body, like the rate of your heart beat and how fast you burn out calories. All of which are part of the body’s metabolism.
Thyroid problems are the following:
Goiter – thyroid gland enlargement
Hyperthyroidism –is whenever the thyroid gland produces a lot of hormones than what the body needs
Hypothyroidism – when the thyroid gland produces insufficient hormones
Thyroid nodules – lumps that can be found in the thyroid gland
Thyroiditis – inflammation of the thyroid
Several foods can result to disorders of the thyroid if you consume them in adequate quantities. Particularly, if you have iodine deficiency. These foods are known as goitrogens due to the fact that they can trigger Goiter or enlargement of the thyroid gland and hypothyroidism. They stop T4 hormone conversion to T3, which is the thyroid hormone active form.
Foods that can lead to these conditions are the following:
Almond seeds
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Corn
Kale
Peanuts
Soybeans
Spinach
Turnips
There are certain medications that can result to disorders of the thyroid gland, because they block the conversion of T4 hormones to T3 hormones.
Drugs that Cause Thyroid Disorders:
Prednisone and hydrocortisone, which are used to treat inflammation
Amiodarone, a medication for the heart
Propylthiouricil and methimazole, which are antithyroid medications
Lithium, used in psychiatric treatments
Propranolol, which is a beta blocker
Nutrition and Supplements
The following nutritional tips below are helpful in reducing the symptoms:
→Eating foods rich in B-vitamins and iron, like fresh veggies, sea veggies and whole grains is recommended.
→Taking iron supplements may affect absorption of medication for thyroid hormone, so seek your doctor before taking any supplements.
→Consume foods that are high in antioxidants such as tomatoes, cherries, blueberries and vegetables like bell peppers and squash.
→Avoid smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages. Always ask your physician about increasing caffeine intake since caffeine affects some conditions and medications.
The following supplements may also help:
→Omega-3 fatty acid supplements like fish oil helps in decreasing inflammation and boosting immunity. If you take blood-thinning medications, omega-3 fatty acids may increase the chance of bleeding. Ask your physician regarding taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements if you have bleeding disorders or on blood thinners like warfarin.
→Taking L-tyrosine 500mg 2-3 times every day. Thyroid hormones are created from the thyroid gland by combining tyrosine and iodine. However, if you are on thyroid hormone medication, it is advisable to ask your doctor before taking L-tyrosine hormones. L-tyrosine should be avoided if you are hypertensive or have symptoms of mania.
What signs and symptoms can occur if thyroid function is affected?
If the thyroid is not that active, then symptoms may occur. The signs and symptoms widely vary, depending on how severe is the hormone deficiency. The following are common symptoms experienced by some people with thyroid disorders:
Dry skin
Constipation
Feeling excessively cold
Pain and stiffness in muscles and joints
Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding
Fluid retention
Fatigue
Being forgetful and mental fogginess
Depression
How are thyroid disorders diagnosed?
Aside from a physical exam and a full medical history, specific tests are needed to diagnose thyroid disorders.
Blood tests are usually done to determine the TSH and thyroid hormone levels. Doctors may also order blood tests to determine antibodies against thyroid tissue, like anti-thyroperoxidase, anti-thyroglobulin titers or TSH receptor stimulating antibodies.
When the thyroid gland or nodules are enlarged, imaging tests are commonly used. Ultrasound can help picture out the consistency of the thyroid tissues and can sometimes help in revealing calcifications and cysts. Ultrasound examination however, cannot differentiate benign from malignant.
Thyroid scans with the use of radioactive iodine are sometimes done to assess the thyroid nodules functions. The thyroid is the only part of the body that takes up iodine, so when a radioactive iodine is given, it is will be naturally taken up by the thyroid gland. Nodules or areas of the thyroid that produce extra hormones display an increased intake of iodine. These areas are called hot nodules, meanwhile the opposite which is known as cold nodules are in areas with decreased iodine intake. These cold nodules do not produce extra hormones and may oftentimes represent cancer.
Biopsy and fine needle aspiration are methods used in taking a sample of the cells or tissues from the thyroid for analysis and diagnosis by pathologists, who are doctors whose expertise are in diagnosing conditions based on tissue samples. FNA or fine needle aspirations utilize thin, long needles to take samples of cells from the thyroid gland. This method is executed in the doctor’s office. Occasionally, ultrasound imaging is being used when performing the FNA procedure. The surgical sampling of a certain tissue is known as biopsy.
What is the treatment for thyroid disorders?
Disorder in the thyroid gland is treated through medications or in some instances, through surgery. But the treatment depends on the exact disorder of the thyroid.
Thyroid medications
In hypothyroidism where there are minimal thyroid hormones, medications are given to replace the missing hormones. Artificial thyroid hormones are given by mouth in pill form. However, if there is hyperthyroidism, medications are used to reduce the production of thyroid hormones or stop its release. Other medicines help in managing certain symptoms of hyperthyroidism like increased heart rate. Radioactive ablation may be performed if medication cannot control the hyperthyroidism. Radioactive ablation is done by giving radioactive iodine that selectively destroys tissues in the thyroid.
Thyroid surgery
Surgery can be used in removing a hyper functioning nodule or remove a large goiter. Surgery is also done when there is a likelihood of thyroid cancer. If an individual’s thyroid gland is removed, he/she will be taking synthetic thyroid hormones for a lifetime.
