Thursday, March 20, 2003 TODAY
Other news
Thyroid function essential to staying healthy Report
The following article appeared in the March/April 2003 issue of Wellbeing, the
Just for Seniors 55+ Club newsletter.
Thyroid disorders affect up to 20 million Americans, the majority of them women.
The most common form, hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) affects women in
about 8 out of 10 cases. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid function) is much
less common and presents itself through many opposite symptoms of low thyroid
function.
The thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the throat, pumps
out a cluster of hormones that govern multiple body functions including the metabolism
of proteins and carbohydrates, oxygen consumption and bone formation. Thyroid
hormones affect almost every organ of the body, and good health depends on a
stable supply: too little and our bodies slow and become lethargic; too much
and our bodies run too fast, causing weight loss, diarrhea, and an irregular
heartbeat.
Low thyroid function
(Hypothyroidism)
Low thyroid function can be difficult to recognize since it tends to develop
slowly; many of the symptoms are vague and overlap with other conditions associated
with aging and menopause.
Women between the ages of 40 and 60 are at highest risk of low thyroid function.
It can also affect younger women who should be carefully monitored and treated
during pregnancy.
What causes low thyroid function?
The thyroid gland needs iodine, found in soil and water, to function properly.
Most people in the United States take in enough iodine by using iodized salt;
eating fish and vegetables; and drinking water and milk.
Other causes of low thyroid function are environmental or medical exposure to
radiation, inherited disorders, surgical removal of the gland, or radiation to
reduce the size of the thyroid.
Many patients who develop thyroid problems don't have any of these risk factors,
however.
Simple or nontoxic goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid that is not related
to cancer or other diseases. The thyroid might enlarge in an effort to compensate
for a lack of iodine in the diet or an excessive consumption of foods that interfere
with thyroid synthesis.
A number of drugs can also interfere with thyroid function. Medications to watch
for include lithium and phenylbutazone.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include: joint pain, muscle cramps, constipation, brittle hair and
nails, headaches, menstrual flow that is heavier than normal, and signs of carpal
tunnel syndrome.
Later symptoms include hoarseness, weight gain, depression, difficulty coping
with the cold, and personality change.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis is simple. A blood test can identify low levels of thyroxine and elevated
levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Once identified, low thyroid levels
can be corrected with daily doses of levothyroxine. Patients taking thyroid replacement
should be monitored to ensure that the drug brings their levels to within normal
range.
Overactive thyroid function
(Hyperthyroidism)
Too much thyroid hormone circulating in the blood leads to hyperthyroidism, or
overactive thyroid. This condition often has the opposite effects of low thyroid
function. Rather than the slowed bodily functions caused by too little thyroxine,
too much can cause weight loss, vision problems, diarrhea, heartbeat irregularities,
light menstrual flow, sensitivity to heat, excessive sweating, and tremor.
What causes overactive
thyroid?
Causes of excessive thyroid hormones include Graves' disease (a form of toxic
goiter), pituitary tumors, hormone producing thyroid tumors, and temporary conditions
such as illness or drug reactions.
Graves' disease represents a common type of toxic goiter that is much more likely
to occur in women. Goiters are noncancerous enlargements of the thyroid gland.
When they produce hormones, they are called toxic goiters. Signs of Graves' disease
include goiter, protruding eyeballs, and general symptoms of hyperthyroidism,
although not everyone will have all symptoms.
When tumors or nodules that affect thyroid function are identified, the primary
concern is to distinguish benign or harmless growths from malignant or potentially
dangerous growths and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Among women with normal pregnancies about 1.4 percent show some signs of overactive
thyroid, including a rapid heartbeat, an increase in body temperature, and tremor.
The symptoms usually subside at the end of pregnancy.
A serious medical condition known as a thyroid storm can signal a sudden and
dangerous change in health. Thyroid storm might be triggered by infection, trauma,
and complications from diabetes, toxemia of pregnancy, or from stopping thyroid
medication. Signs of thyroid storm include fever, restlessness, and irrational
behavior.
Immediate medical attention is required and, even with treatment, fatality rates
can be as high as 30 percent.
Diagnosis and treatment
Laboratory blood tests can diagnose hyperthyroidism. A radioactive iodine test
showing the gland's ability to store and use iodine needed for hormone synthesis
may also be performed.
Overactive thyroid is often treated with radioiodine ablation or surgery either
to reduce the thyroid mass or completely remove the gland. After these procedures,
many patients must take thyroid supplements to maintain normal blood levels.
For more information, talk to your family physician or an endocrinologist. Call
(877) LLUMC55 for a referral.
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Thursday, March 20, 2003 TODAY
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