The thyroid is a very small gland located at the base of the neck whose function is to produce specific hormones, thyroxine (also called T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These thyroid hormones have an essential role in the proper functioning of many body functions such as blood circulation, body temperature, heart rate, digestion and brain function.
In any case, and given its predominant role for the body, thyroid dysfunction leads to multiple symptoms. What are they ? Why is the thyroid out of order? How to prevent and treat these dysfunctions?
Dysfunctions of the thyroid are due either to the slowing down of its activity (hypothyroidism) or, on the contrary, to its functioning faster than normal (hyperthyroidism). Hypothyroidism is the most common dysfunction that more often affects women over 40 or during pregnancy.
When the thyroid becomes sluggish, the person concerned may feel great physical and intellectual fatigue, lose hair, become chilly, gain weight, be more prone to constipation, have a swollen face and eyes, memory lapses, itching, high blood pressure, increased cholesterol levels, decreased libido. Abnormal overactivity of the thyroid leads to nervousness, mood swings, insomnia, excessive sweating or even tachycardia.
Several types of examinations can detect a dysfunction of the thyroid gland:
The causes of thyroid dysfunction are different depending on the type of disorder.
Two main causes are at the origin of this type of malfunction:
A healthy lifestyle can help prevent thyroid disease. Stress and anxiety are some of the factors of these diseases. You should therefore learn to control your emotions by practicing, for example, yoga or meditation. On the other hand, to fill the iodine deficit essential for the production of thyroid hormones, it is important to favor all foods that contain it such as fish, shellfish, dairy products, eggs or cold cuts. Too much iodine deficiency can also be provided by food supplements.
Endocrine disruptors present in food such as soy or peanut flavonoids should be avoided because they prevent the proper assimilation of iodine in the body. Pesticides, freshwater fish often contaminated with chemicals, water stored in plastic bottles should also be consumed with caution.
It is advisable not to smoke because tobacco does not mix well with the thyroid:nicotine and toxic smoke can cause goiter and smokers are twice as likely to develop Graves' disease.
Treatments for diseases related to thyroid dysfunction depend on the pathology detected, which may be hormonal (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism) or morphological (nodules, goiter, thyroid cancer). Dysregulations due to a hormonal pathology are treated by taking a lifelong drug treatment of synthetic hormones for hypothyroidism or antithyroid drugs for hyperthyroidism. Nodules and goiter require regular monitoring and if cancer is suspected, the thyroid is surgically removed, but this is only considered if there is cancer or recurrence of hyperthyroidism .
