How does the state of the thyroid gland affect our health?

Thyroid diseases have been known for a long time. The artists of ancient Greece and Rome depicted on their canvases people with a tumor in the neck. And most often — with a rattle in his hand. Even then it was noticed that the disease of this gland leads to mental disorder. You may also be worried about weakness and great fatigue, or vice versa, you perceive reality too aggressively. All these symptoms may indicate thyroid dysfunction, agrees estet-portal.com. Today we will talk about what functions in orgasm this organ influences and what happens if its work is disturbed.

The thyroid gland: an invisible ally of the body and a regulator of metabolism

 The shape of the thyroid gland resembles a butterfly, two wings of which cover the trachea below the Adam's apple. It weighs little, but it means for the body — many, primarily as a regulator of metabolism.

The thyroid gland produces three important hormones for humans:

• thyroxine,
• triiodothyronine,
• calcitonin

fluctuations, which in the direction of decrease or increase, are reflected in the state of the whole organism.

The first two hormones, and mainly thyroxine, which contains iodine, are responsible for the metabolism in the body. It is on them that the rate of calorie burning depends, as well as the time it takes for food to pass through the digestive tract, and much more.

The third hormone — Calcitonin is responsible for managing calcium metabolism in cells. If the thyroid gland reduces the production of hormones, this can lead to a number of endocrine diseases, one of the most common in this group is hypothyroidism.

It appears in:

• unreasonable longing,
• protracted depressions,
• bad memory.

In general, in all those signs that for a long time can not be taken for symptoms, which makes it possible for the disease to become chronic. In addition to therapeutic treatment, such patients are recommended a special diet rich in foods high in iodine.

See also: What hormones should be tested for thyroid diseases

What foods contain iodine?

 Often, in case of thyroid gland diseases, iodine-containing diet is prescribed, as it has a positive effect on the functioning of this organ. As a rule, a large number of this element is contained in:

• seafood (seaweed, cod liver, red caviar);
• buckwheat. Helps restore iodine deficiency in the body, and also contains many useful elements that promote its absorption; 
• vegetables and fruits (feijoa, persimmon, bell pepper); 
• meat.

Protein is needed for the absorption of iodine. Look for it in meat and dairy products, eggs. 

 Special attention to your diet regarding the content of iodine in it should be given to pregnant women. The fact is that during pregnancy, the thyroid gland naturally increases, because it supplies hormones to two whole organisms. Thyroid hormones are of decisive importance for the fetus, its growth processes and the development of vital organs.

What causes endemic goiter?

 The controversy around the young woman depicted in the portrait of Leonardo da Vinci, who is called the Gioconda or Mona Lisa, has not subsided so far. If you look closely, you can see that this beauty with a mysterious smile clearly had endocrine problems. Doctors say that the great painter truly depicted an endemic goiter in her neck, which most often appears in the fair sex.

The appearance of goiter is explained by the same iodine deficiency. If you do not make up for it in time, then such a "decoration" on the neck can reach enormous sizes. In especially advanced cases, it reaches several kilograms in weight. This is due to a malfunction in the internal processes of the thyroid gland: uneven cell division leads to the formation of nodes. And since they are not producers of hormones, a deficiency of thyroxine and triiodothyronine occurs in the body with all the ensuing consequences.

How to diagnose thyroid disease?

 The initial examination by an endocrinologist reveals compaction or enlargement of the gland. Additional studies (ultrasound, blood test and thyroid scintigraphy) help determine the size and changes of the gland. Depending on the results of the study, they diagnose:

• Diffuse goiter is diagnosed if the thyroid gland is enlarged (more than 18 ml in women, and 25 ml in men).
• Nodular goiter– this diagnosis is made if there are nodes in the enlarged thyroid gland. 
• Knots also occur in non-enlarged glands. Diagnosis of the cellular structure of the nodes helps to identify their form of formation — benign or malignant, which determines further treatment.

Excess pancreatic hormones

 If a lack of secreted hormones leads to hypothyroidism, then with an excess of them, hyperthyroidism occurs, which is often called Graves' disease among the people. It is not difficult to imagine the symptoms of this disease, if we recall the portrait of the wife of the leader of the world proletariat, Nadezhda Krupskaya:

• bulging eyes,
• a solid neck,
• trembling hands.

Yes, and many doctors associate the absence of heirs from the revolutionary couple precisely with the illness of Nadezhda Konstantinovna.

Basedow's disease – the disease, which ranks second among endocrine diseases, is characterized by a large release of hormones, which is accompanied by an imbalance in the body. A person sweats for no reason, drastically loses weight or gains weight, etc.

But the worst thing is that in this way the destruction of the thyroid gland is gradually going on, which can be saved if hormones are pacified. Power supply first.

How to determine the predisposition to Graves' disease and thyroid cancer?

As a rule, the predisposition to Graves' disease is determined by the following factors:

• hereditary predisposition. The disease is most often transmitted through the female line; 
• Provoking factors (infectious diseases, exposure to stress, abuse of tanning, stress). 

However, many consider hyperthyroidism not so much a disease as a precursor to thyroid cancer, the risk of which increases due to many factors:

• Middle-aged women.Women are affected by various types of thyroid tumors three to four times more often than men. The peak incidence occurs at 40—55 years.
• Hereditary predisposition to thyroid cancer is explained by damage to DNA genes and its transmission from parents to children. In the case of a mutation of certain genes, the risk of the disease increases several times. The reason for this may be Gardner's syndrome or familial polyposis.
• Lack of iodine in products. The content of useful substances in products largely depends on the region of residence. If there is not enough iodine in the food received, then this can provoke the appearance of thyroid cancer or other pathology of this organ.
• Unbalance of the body. Our body is a complex system, in the regulation of which all active substances take part. They are in close interaction. If for some reason the system is disturbed, then this leads to a number of different diseases, including thyroid cancer.

Read also: What yoga poses will help get rid of thyroid problems

Treatment of thyroid disorders

Despite the fact that the name itself, thyroid cancer sounds menacing, it is diagnosed quite easily and treated quite effectively. An example of this — English singer Rod Stewart. Thyroid cancer has profoundly affected his life. After the operation, he restored his voice for nine months, after which he was able to go on stage.

 You can treat thyroid disorders both with the help of modern means and those that have been tested by time: 

• Substitution therapy, for all its effectiveness, has side effects. In addition, not everyone can use it. Among the testimony — renal or hepatic insufficiency, acute thromboembolic disease, malignancy.
• Synthetic hormone-like drugs exert powerful pressure, but as a result, the body forgets about the production of its own hormones. Bioidentical hormones are synthetic analogues of natural ones, and therefore are the most optimal for treatment.
• Herbal preparations have earned a good reputation. Cinquefoil is used for diseases of nodular goiter. Flax resolves knots on the thyroid gland.  Chickweed eliminates lymphatic congestion.

However, only a doctor can pick up all these funds, after an accurate diagnosis is made, emphasizes estet-portal.com.