Health issues related with thyroid – Taking a closer look

A brief overview on thyroid
The thyroid gland is located below Adam’s apple or at the base of the neck. The thyroid gland is a vital part of the endocrine system. As we know that the endocrine system is a crucial system that takes care of the functioning and coordination of different activities of the body. The thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that help in regulating the metabolism of the body.

In case the thyroid gland produces too less or too many hormones then there arises different disorders. Production of excess hormone from thyroid gland is known as hyperthyroidism and too less production of hormones is known as hypothyroidism.

Thyroid can lead to a number of health issues and the four most common disorders are:

  • Goiter
  • Thyroid Nodules
  • Hashimoto’s disease
  • Grave’s disease
  • Excessive weight gain
  • Thyroid cancer

What are the causes of thyroid problems?
It is seen that health issues related to the thyroid are the reason of excess or less production of hormones. But there are some of the conditions that can occur. Take a look!

Grave’s disease
Grave’s disease is caused due to excess production of hormones from the thyroid glands, which is also known as hyperthyroidism, as mentioned above.

Cancerous growth in the thyroid gland
Although it is seen only in a few cases, hyperthyroidism can be caused due to the cancerous growth in the thyroid gland.

Subacute thyroiditis
In case there is an inflammation of the thyroid, it leads to the leakage of excessive hormones from the thyroid gland. This results into momentary hyperthyroidism, which can last for months or even a few weeks.

Malfunctioning of pituitary glands
Hyperthyroidism can be caused due to the malfunctioning of the pituitary glands. This, however, results in the release of excess hormones.

It is extremely necessary to treat the thyroid issue and if left untreated it can lead to a number of other health problems. For instance, a mild form of hypothyroidism can cause mild depression. But if left unnoticed, the symptoms of the same will increase.

Let us take a look at some of the signs and symptoms of the thyroid:

  • Fatigue and tiredness
  • Inability to lose weight
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Hormone imbalances such as irregular periods, PMS, etc.
  • Mood swings, depression, anxiety, etc.
  • Constipation
  • Swelling in the neck

These symptoms might look common but should not be neglected. Always consult a doctor and go for prescribe medication.

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