Information on Thyroid Disease

Thyroid diseases ascribe to the abnormality of the thyroid (a butterfly-shaped) gland in your neck, just above your collarbone. One of the endocrine glands that make hormones, thyroid gland manages metabolism. The abnormal function of thyroid has an impact on how body gets energy from the foods you eat.Broadly, thyroid diseases can be classified into two types, a condition of an under-active thyroid gland and second of an over-active thyroid gland.Under-active Thyroid GlandIf the thyroid gland is under-active (hypothyroidism), the thyroid gland produces insufficient or no thyroid hormone for sustaining body functioning. The leading causes of hypothyroidism include hashimoto's thyroiditis (autoimmune thyroiditis), postpartum thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland after pregnancy), medications affecting thyroid function such as amiodarone (Cordarone), pituitary disorder, thyroid hormone resistance, silent thyroiditis and acute thyroiditis.Hypothyroidism is a serious threat to newborns and infants, as lack of production of thyroid hormones in the early age may lead to the development of cretinism (mental retardation) and dwarfism (stunted growth). A newborn with hypothyroid is inactive and quiet. Besides, his appetite is poor and he sleeps excessively for long periods.Over-active Thyroid GlandThe thyroid gland is said to be overactive (also referred to as hyperthyroidism) if it produces too much of a thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine. The condition is caused by Graves ‘disease, toxic multinodular goitre, toxic nodule ("hot" nodule), excessive intake of iodine, hashitoxicosis and medications (ingesting thyroid hormone).Cancer of ThyroidThyroid cancer is a rare cancer form, which occurs in less than 10 per cent nodules. There may be a have one or more thyroid nodules that have been undiagnosed for several years, but becomes cancerous. Those who have received radiation treatment of head and neck are at high risk of developing thyroid cancer.Treatment of  If the thyroid function is abnormally high or low, there are chances to bring it back to normal with treatments such as beta-blockers, propylthiouracil methimazole (tapazole), iodide (lugol's solution, strong iodine) and radioactive iodine therapy. The medications such as l-thyroxine (synthroid, levoxyl, levothroid, unithroid), l-triiodothyronine and thyroid extract or "natural" thyroid hormone are also prescribed to those with abnormal thyroid functions.In case the thyroid function is normal with thyroid nodules but there is an abnormality other than that, no medical intervention can treat it. However, an emerging treatment of non-toxic goitres/nodules is radioactive iodine therapy, which is considered when a patient has a large goitre and surgical treatment can’t be done owing to medical complications.