ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Thyroid diseases

What is thyroid diseases?

4 May 2021

Of great importance for metabolism regulation, the thyroid gland is responsible for producing the hormone that controls multiple body functions, including heartbeat speed and the use of energy provided by calories. 

This gland’s main diseases are:

  • Hypothyroidism: when there is a deficiency of thyroid hormone since the gland produces very little.
  • Hyperthyroidism: is when there is an excess production of thyroid hormone.

Signs and symptoms Thyroid diseases

Hypothyroidism:

Symptoms are variable and depend on how big the thyroid hormone deficiency is, normally, at first there are no clear symptoms, but once they appear they worsen gradually: 

  • Dry skin.
  • Tiredness.
  • Overweight and obesity.
  • Muscle and joint pain.
  • Weakness.
  • Slowing of the heart rate and metabolism.
  • Depressive episodes.
  • Memory loss.
  • Goiter (the thyroid increases in volume).
  • High cholesterol.
  • Constipation.

Hyperthyroidism:

  • Goiter.
  • Cardiac arrhythmia.
  • Tachycardia and palpitations.
  • Decrease in body weight.
  • Insomnia. 
  • Voracious appetite.
  • Stress, anxiety, and fits of anger.
  • Trembling hands.
  • Excessive sweating.
  • Weakness.

Potential risks:

Hypothyroidism:

  • Women who are over 55 years old are more prone.
  • Someone in your family with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
  • Suffering from an autoimmune disease.
  • Having received radioiodine therapy.
  • Radiation therapy treatment to the neck, head, or chest

When this disease is not treated properly or does not receive any treatment, it can trigger serious events, such as goiter (when it is very serious it can hinder breathing and swallowing), heart deficiencies, mental disorders, neuropathies, and infertility.

Hyperthyroidism:

The potential risks are:

  • If you are a woman and have a family member who has suffered from thyroid diseases or Graves’ disease.
  • If you have diabetes or anemia.

This condition can cause serious health problems such as osteoporosis, heart deficiencies, and ophthalmological complications. 

Diagnosis and treatment Thyroid diseases

Hypothyroidism: 

The diagnosis is established through a blood test in which the TSH and thyroxine levels can be seen, while the therapy consists of the daily intake of levothyroxine (synthetic hormone) for life.

Hyperthyroidism:

The diagnosis is confirmed by a blood test to establish TSH and thyroxine levels, while the most common treatments are radioiodine, antithyroid drugs, and thyroidectomy (removal of the gland).

At the Nutrition & Obesity Center we offer you comprehensive care according to your needs to help you have a healthy lifestyle, control your weight, change your body composition, prevent and manage associated diseases, as well as improve your physical and sports performance.

We have specialized schemes for accelerated and sustained weight loss under the supervision of a multidisciplinary team, based on safe and scientifically supported methods.

Fuentes:

  • mayoclinic.org
  • cigna.com
  • sos-bariatria.com
  • medlineplus.gov
  • medigraphic.com
  • Jiménez GY, Martínez BY, Martínez DO, et al. Caracterización de pacientes con patologías tiroideas intervenidos quirúrgicamente. Finlay. 2018;8(4):258-266.
  • Álvarez AD. Primer evento científico sobre enfermedades del tiroides realizado en Cuba. Rev Cuba Endoc. 2018;29(2):1-5.
  • Valdivia-Herrera M, Rosales-Medina J, Runzer-Colmenares FM, et al. Riesgo cardiovascular en pacientes con Hipotiroidismo. Rev Cubana Cardiol Cir Cardiovasc. 2020;26(1):1-2.
  • Fernández VR, Pérez CN. Actualización sobre patología tiroidea durante el embarazo: hipotiroidismo e hipertiroidismo. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2020;5(10):1-14.

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    Sources
    • mayoclinic.org | cigna.com | sos-bariatria.com | medlineplus.gov | medigraphic.com | Jiménez GY, Martínez BY, Martínez DO, et al. Caracterización de pacientes con patologías tiroideas intervenidos quirúrgicamente. Finlay. 2018;8(4):258-266. | Álvarez AD. Primer evento científico sobre enfermedades del tiroides realizado en Cuba. Rev Cuba Endoc. 2018;29(2):1-5. | Valdivia-Herrera M, Rosales-Medina J, Runzer-Colmenares FM, et al. Riesgo cardiovascular en pacientes con Hipotiroidismo. Rev Cubana Cardiol Cir Cardiovasc. 2020;26(1):1-2. | Fernández VR, Pérez CN. Actualización sobre patología tiroidea durante el embarazo: hipotiroidismo e hipertiroidismo. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2020;5(10):1-14.