Famous personalities such as President George H. W. Bush, his wife Barbara Bush, Missy Elliot, Sofía Vergara, Kelly Osbourne, and Gail Devers are just some of the persons around the world who are troubled with Thyroid Problems.
Dr. Michael Boyne, Endocrinologist, puts the Thyroid under the microscope.
Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ in the neck that lies below Adam’s apple and above the top of your breastbone. The thyroid produces two hormones, T4 (or thyroxine) and T3 (or triiodothyronine) that affect your metabolism. Your metabolism is all the chemical reactions that occur in your cells and tissues. When the thyroid produces more T4 and T3, your metabolism is sped up, so the heart beats faster, the body burns up calories faster, more sweat is produced, the bowels move faster and muscles twitch more easily.
Thyroid Problems
A goitre is an enlarged thyroid gland. A goitre may function normally, produce little T4/T3 (i.e., hypothyroidism), or too much (i.e., hyperthyroidism) hormone. When goitres contain lumps, also called nodules, they are termed multinodular goitres. The vast majority of these nodules are benign. Cancerous nodules occur in only 1 in 20 patients. About a quarter of goitres grow over time. If a goitre becomes too large, it can compress other structures in the neck – persons so affected may complain of problems with swallowing, breathing or hoarseness. However, small goitres that are not noticeable or causing any issues may not need treatment.
In countries where there is iodine deficiency, some individuals may have more thyroid problems and goitres. In fact, worldwide, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of thyroid disease. Fortunately for Caribbean nations, since the sea surrounds us, the soil has a high concentration of iodine which is then extracted by plants into our food – iodine deficiency in Caribbean people is therefore very uncommon; there is no need to take extra iodine in supplement form, or as kelp. In fact, ingesting more iodine can lead to problems such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, especially in elderly persons. The daily iodine requirement is 150 micrograms.
Keeping the Thyroid Healthy
Unfortunately, there is little, if anything, that we can do to affect thyroid function. As mentioned, iodine deficiency is not a significant factor nowadays. Some foods such as soybeans, cabbage, and spinach contain substances that can promote goitres – however, you would have to eat enormous amounts of these foods each day to create a problem.
The cause of most thyroid diseases in the Caribbean is due to the presence of abnormal genes inherited from one’s parents – this is why thyroid disease is commonly seen in several members of a family. So, changing your diet, physical activity, or stress levels are not known to make a difference. For reasons that are unclear, thyroid conditions are much more common in women than in men.
How common are thyroid problems?
Up to 10% of women may develop a goitre during their lifetime. Hypothyroidism can develop in 5% of the population, but hyperthyroidism occurs in less than 1%.
How can I know if I have a thyroid problem?
Persons with hypothyroidism have a slow metabolic rate. They complain of dry skin, mild weight gain (the average is about 10 lb), constipation, heavy periods, hair loss, problems with their memory and difficulty in concentrating. They often times say that they feel as if they are ageing rapidly. Some people think they have hypothyroidism because they have a weight problem.
However, if this is the only symptom, it is unlikely that there is a thyroid condition, since this is found in less than 5% of such cases. Persons with hyperthyroidism have a revved-up metabolism. They complain of losing weight despite a good appetite, palpitations, excessive sweating, hand tremors, anxiety attacks, irritability, hair loss and loose and frequent stools. The menses become lighter and less frequent, and the libido is decreased.When the entire gland is overactive, it is called Graves’ disease – some affected persons may have characteristic bulging eyes and/or double vision.
If I suspect that I have a thyroid problem, what should I do?
Untreated thyroid disease can lead to serious ill health and can even be life threatening. So, you should speak with your doctor. S/he will order thyroid blood tests, includingT4 and a TSH test (i.e.,thyroid stimulating hormone) to ascertain production levels. These tests are very sensitive and can even detect disease before you have symptoms. Testing your body temperature each morning (also called the Barnes test) is an unreliable method and has not been recommended since the 1970s.
There are many different diseases that can lead to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, so your doctor will help you to determine the cause. Depending on your condition, your doctor may also decide to order a blood T3 level/thyroid ultrasound (to investigate the anatomy of the gland), a nuclear scan (to investigate the causes of hyperthyroidism), thyroid antibodies, or a fine-needle biopsy.
What treatment options are there?
Hypothyroid persons are easily treated with thyroxine supplements. The doctor will follow your blood-TSH level to determine the right dose of thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism is treated with medication, surgery or radioactive iodine. You should discuss with your doctor which treatment is best for you.
Foods to Avoid for your Thyroid
Cauciferous Vegetables
These include broccoli, cauliflower, kale, turnips, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, mustard, cabbage, rutabaga and mustard. They contain chemicals that decrease the absorption of iodine.
Soy Products
Pose a special risk to patients who are experiencing problems with goitre or suffering from iodine efficiency
Share this post:
Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ in the neck that lies below Adam’s apple and above the top of your breastbone. The thyroid produces two hormones, T4 (or thyroxine) and T3 (or triiodothyronine) that affect your metabolism. Your metabolism is all the chemical reactions that occur in your cells and tissues. When the thyroid produces more T4 and T3, your metabolism is sped up, so the heart beats faster, the body burns up calories faster, more sweat is produced, the bowels move faster and muscles twitch more easily.
Thyroid Problems
A goitre is an enlarged thyroid gland. A goitre may function normally, produce little T4/T3 (i.e., hypothyroidism), or too much (i.e., hyperthyroidism) hormone. When goitres contain lumps, also called nodules, they are termed multinodular goitres. The vast majority of these nodules are benign. Cancerous nodules occur in only 1 in 20 patients. About a quarter of goitres grow over time. If a goitre becomes too large, it can compress other structures in the neck – persons so affected may complain of problems with swallowing, breathing or hoarseness. However, small goitres that are not noticeable or causing any issues may not need treatment.
In countries where there is iodine deficiency, some individuals may have more thyroid problems and goitres. In fact, worldwide, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of thyroid disease. Fortunately for Caribbean nations, since the sea surrounds us, the soil has a high concentration of iodine which is then extracted by plants into our food – iodine deficiency in Caribbean people is therefore very uncommon; there is no need to take extra iodine in supplement form, or as kelp. In fact, ingesting more iodine can lead to problems such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, especially in elderly persons. The daily iodine requirement is 150 micrograms.
Keeping the Thyroid Healthy
Unfortunately, there is little, if anything, that we can do to affect thyroid function. As mentioned, iodine deficiency is not a significant factor nowadays. Some foods such as soybeans, cabbage, and spinach contain substances that can promote goitres – however, you would have to eat enormous amounts of these foods each day to create a problem.
The cause of most thyroid diseases in the Caribbean is due to the presence of abnormal genes inherited from one’s parents – this is why thyroid disease is commonly seen in several members of a family. So, changing your diet, physical activity, or stress levels are not known to make a difference. For reasons that are unclear, thyroid conditions are much more common in women than in men.
How common are thyroid problems?
Up to 10% of women may develop a goitre during their lifetime. Hypothyroidism can develop in 5% of the population, but hyperthyroidism occurs in less than 1%.
How can I know if I have a thyroid problem?
Persons with hypothyroidism have a slow metabolic rate. They complain of dry skin, mild weight gain (the average is about 10 lb), constipation, heavy periods, hair loss, problems with their memory and difficulty in concentrating. They often times say that they feel as if they are ageing rapidly. Some people think they have hypothyroidism because they have a weight problem.
However, if this is the only symptom, it is unlikely that there is a thyroid condition, since this is found in less than 5% of such cases. Persons with hyperthyroidism have a revved-up metabolism. They complain of losing weight despite a good appetite, palpitations, excessive sweating, hand tremors, anxiety attacks, irritability, hair loss and loose and frequent stools. The menses become lighter and less frequent, and the libido is decreased.When the entire gland is overactive, it is called Graves’ disease – some affected persons may have characteristic bulging eyes and/or double vision.
If I suspect that I have a thyroid problem, what should I do?
Untreated thyroid disease can lead to serious ill health and can even be life threatening. So, you should speak with your doctor. S/he will order thyroid blood tests, includingT4 and a TSH test (i.e.,thyroid stimulating hormone) to ascertain production levels. These tests are very sensitive and can even detect disease before you have symptoms. Testing your body temperature each morning (also called the Barnes test) is an unreliable method and has not been recommended since
the 1970s.
There are many different diseases that can lead to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, so your doctor will help you to determine the cause. Depending on your condition, your doctor may also decide to order a blood T3 level/thyroid ultrasound (to investigate the anatomy of the gland), a nuclear scan (to investigate the causes of hyperthyroidism), thyroid antibodies, or a fine-needle biopsy.
What treatment options are there?
Hypothyroid persons are easily treated with thyroxine supplements. The doctor will follow your blood-TSH level to determine the right dose of thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism is treated with medication, surgery or radioactive iodine. You should discuss with your doctor which treatment is best for you.
Foods to Avoid for your Thyroid
Cauciferous Vegetables
These include broccoli, cauliflower, kale, turnips, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, mustard, cabbage, rutabaga and mustard. They contain chemicals that decrease the absorption of iodine.
Soy Products
Pose a special risk to patients who are experiencing problems with goitre or suffering from iodine efficiency
Read: The Colour of Urine and What It Means
Follow the Buzzz on Instagram
Share this post: