The thyroid gland is the largest gland with internal secretion in our body. It is located in the front part of the door, and it sits with the men next to Adam’s apple. The shape of the thyroid gland looks like a butterfly, weighs 20 to 40 grams, and moves when swallowed. This gland secretes the two most important hormones, thyroxine (T4) and thyroid (T3). Thyroxine and the thyroid gland regulate the work of all cells in the body. These hormones directly affect the appearance of hunger, growth, and maturation, increase basic oxygen consumption, and control body temperature. Several problems can arise with the way our thyroid gland works.

Thyroid problems – Dysfunction of these two hormones occurs most often in the form of increased or decreased thyroid function. We call the increased function hyperthyroidism and the decreased function hypothyroidism.

Metabolism with hyperthyroidism is extremely accelerated, which leads to the acceleration of all processes in the body and emotional stress in response to increased physical activity. The diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical pictures and laboratory analyzes. Hyperthyroidism is usually treated with medication, and it is necessary to go for regular check-ups.

Thyroid Dysfunction Hypothyroidism: Symptoms and Causes

Hypothyroidism is a consequence of insufficient secretion of thyroid hormones and their distribution in tissues, which results in insufficient metabolic activity. It is estimated that 2% of the total population develops hypothyroidism, but if we observe only the female population, more than 10% have a certain degree of insufficient activity of the thyroid gland.

There are two most common causes for developing hypothyroidism.

The first is the result of a previous or still active inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland, which damages a large mass of follicular cells of the thyroid gland, which leads to the fact that they do not produce or store hormones.

The most common form of this is chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, according to the Japanese pathologist Hagar Hashimoto, who first described it at the beginning of the last century. The second most common reason for insufficient thyroid function is the consequences of the therapy of various thyroid diseases.

The main symptoms of this disorder are fatigue and exhaustion. 

There is also an enlargement of the thyroid gland, visible on the neck, as well as hoarseness and difficulty with swallowing.

An endocrinologist has to complete a detailed examination to set the diagnosis, including an ultrasound and a complete blood count. If the doctor diagnoses reduced thyroid function, he would prescribe adequate therapy. In some cases, treatment is not necessary. However, there would be a need to monitor the condition regularly.

How to reduce the risk of thyroid problems?

If you notice any of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that you have thyroid disease.

To reduce the risk of developing thyroid disease, we should eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals. However, some foods further stimulate iodine consumption from our body, so we should not consume them so often. The list includes spinach, peanuts, strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, soy, and cabbage. The body also needs antioxidants that we can find in fruits and vegetables such as chokeberry, blueberry, tomato, paprika, and cherry. It is also important to eat fish that contains omega 3 unsaturated fatty acids and iodine, which is vital for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland.