"Inflammation of the thyroid gland is called thyroiditis. There are several types, such as acute (bacterial), subacute (viral), and Hashimoto's (autoimmune). These conditions can cause the thyroid to be underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism)."
Inflammation of the thyroid gland is called thyroiditis. There are several types of thyroiditis.
If the inflammation is:
What are Thyroid Diseases?
Since the thyroid gland secretes hormones into the blood, any malfunction in this function will cause various diseases. Secreting too much hormone into the blood is called hyperthyroidism, while secreting too little is called hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid disease. It is more common in women, and its incidence increases with age. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In this disease, your immune system attacks your thyroid gland, damaging it and preventing it from producing enough hormones. Hypothyroidism can also be seen from birth due to the underdevelopment of the thyroid gland, as a result of surgery, or due to radioactive iodine treatment, which is mainly used to treat other thyroid diseases.
The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease. The thyroid gland enlarges and starts producing excessive hormones. This disease occurs hereditarily and is related to the immune system. Antibodies formed against the thyroid gland in the immune system stimulate the thyroid to produce more hormones than normal. Other causes include taking excessive thyroid hormone and thyroid inflammation (thyroiditis). In addition, an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter) and the formation of nodules in the thyroid gland are also abnormal conditions.
What are the Symptoms of Thyroid Diseases?
People with hypothyroidism may experience fatigue, easy tiring, lack of concentration, intolerance to cold, skin thickening and dryness, hair and eyebrow loss, hoarseness, bradycardia (slowing of the heart rate), hypertension, constipation, facial edema, and menstrual irregularities. People with hyperthyroidism may experience excessive irritability, sleep disorders, restlessness, lack of concentration, emotional instability, aggressive behavior, tremors in hands and feet, intolerance to heat, weight loss, tachycardia (increased heart rate), shortness of breath, lifeless hair and hair loss, digestive system problems, prominent eyeballs (exophthalmos), and musculoskeletal disorders. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can be accompanied by an enlarged thyroid (goiter) and thyroid nodules, manifesting as a neck swelling. Additionally, even if the thyroid gland is functioning normally, there can be nodules and neck swelling.
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What Should Those Suspecting a Thyroid Disease Do?
One must be very careful with thyroid gland diseases. There are various thyroid diseases, from a simple goiter to cancer. Those with the symptoms listed above should first consult a specialist. After a neck and other system examinations by the physician, blood tests and, if suspected, a thyroid ultrasonography are requested. These tests and examinations will largely diagnose the disease. Patients who cannot be diagnosed with these methods may require additional imaging methods and a biopsy from the thyroid gland.
What is Done in Treatment?
For patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone replacement therapy will be given to compensate for the deficiency. There is no other treatment for hypothyroidism, and it mostly requires lifelong medication.
For patients diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, drugs are given to suppress excessive hormone production. If hormone production does not decrease despite these drugs, radioactive iodine may be applied. If no response is obtained despite all these treatments, the thyroid gland is surgically removed as a last resort.
In patients with a simple goiter (only an enlarged thyroid gland with no additional thyroid disorder), if the thyroid is very large or presses on the windpipe, the thyroid gland can be surgically removed for aesthetic purposes and to relieve breathing.
For patients with nodules found in examinations, a biopsy is necessary if the nodules are above a certain size. Surgery will be performed on patients whose biopsy results are reported as malignant or suspicious. Patients with benign biopsy results are called in at regular intervals for follow-up of the nodules with ultrasound.
