Thyroid

Thyroid gland is a small endocrine organ looking like butterfly, which lies on the front surface of the neck. It consists of two lobes connected by thyroid isthmus. The tissue of thyroid gland consists of 2 cells types. The first type contributes to producing biologically active substances called thyroid hormones- thyroxine(T4) and triiodothyronine(T3).

Functional activity of thyroid gland is under hypothalamic-hypophyseal system control. Hypothalamus produces a thyrotropin releasing factor that enters the pituitary gland and stimulates the output of thyrotropic hormone TTH. This hormone is ultimately responsible for T3 and T4 production.

Why are thyroid hormones so important for the human beings? Let's try to clear up.

The main goal of T3 and T4 consists in maintaining and regulation of the lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism in the cells. They regulate almost all the processes taking place in human organism, beginning from the breathing, sleep, movements, heart beating and ending with activity of the reproductive system.

Thyroid hormones are essential for the normal mental and physical development. Along with somatotropic hormone, they regulate the growth of bones of the human skeleton. T3 and T4 are important in regulation of water-salt balance and production of some vitamins as well.

It's proved that the functional activity of the immune system is controlled by the thyroid gland. Due to stimulating T-cells of the immune system, thyroid hormones help our body to fight pathogenic bacteria.

The thyroid gland is prone to a wide variety of internal and external factor that are able to modify the structure and functional activity of gland, leading to different health problems. The most common diseases of thyroid gland involve the following:

Thyrotoxicosis is a condition caused by increased blood levels of thyroid hormone. Thyrotoxicosis is usually associated with:

• goiter(enlargement of the thyroid gland),
• nodular thyroid diseases
• high iodine consumption
• inflammation of the thyroid gland(thyroiditis)
• overdose of thyroid hormones in hypothyreosis treatment
• increased production of thyrotropic hormone TTH by the pituitary gland

The patients with thyrotoxicosis usually experience sense of fever, high sweatiness, brittle hair. They become fussy, irritable or even aggressive. The most of them suffer from weight loss, thirsty, frequent urination, diarrhea. Heart problems such as increased heart rate and arrhythmia are frequently observed as well.

The treatment usually include drug therapy and surgical intervention. Hypothyroidism- is a condition caused by long-term insufficiency of thyroid hormones T3 and T4.

Thyroid insufficiency is usually triggered by autoimmune thyroid diseases, decreased iodine consumption, thyroid tumors. Patients with thyroid insufficiency usually complain of permanent weakness, tiredness, frequent headaches, pain in the muscle and joints. Skin becomes tumid, dry; hair and nails are brittle. Physical and mental restrain are very common(patients become very oblivious)<

Hypothyroidism affects on sense organs. Vision disorders, decreased hearing and tingling are possible to occur. Retardation of the digestive processes leads to frequent constipation.

Weigh gain, heart problems, disturbance of menstrual cycle, depression, anemia are observed in patients as well. The treatment of hypothyroidism usually include hormonal replacement therapy.