What Is Thyroid Disease?

Thyroid disease occurs when the thyroid gland doesn't supply the proper amount of hormones needed by the body. If the thyroid is overactive, it releases too much thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, resulting in hyperthyroidism. ("Hyper" is from the Greek, meaning "over" or "above.") Hyperthyroidism causes the body to use up energy more quickly than it should, and chemical activity (like metabolism) in the cells speeds up.

An under active thyroid produces too little thyroid hormone, resulting in hypothyroidism. ("Hypo" means "under" or "below.") When the amount of hormone released into the bloodstream is below normal, the body uses up energy more slowly, and chemical activity (metabolism) in the cells slows down.

Although they are two different conditions, in both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism the thyroid can become larger than normal. An enlarged thyroid gland is a lump that can be felt under the skin at the front of the neck. When it is large enough to see easily, it's called a goiter.

1. Hyperthyroidism
   
   Hyperthyroidism can cause nervousness, irritability, increased perspiration, intolerance to heat, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, a fast heartbeat, irregular menstrual periods in girls, and muscle weakness. People with this problem might lose weight even though they're eating more than usual. The eyes may feel irritated or look like they're staring. Sometimes the tissues around the eyes become inflamed and swollen, and the eyes appear to bulge out, but this is less common in teens than in adults with hyperthyroidism.
   
   Graves disease, an autoimmune disease, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. The condition makes a person's immune system produce abnormal types of antibodies (normally antibodies help the body fight infection). These abnormal antibodies make the thyroid gland produce more thyroid hormones. Eventually, the thyroid gland enlarges, which can result in a goiter. For reasons that doctors don't yet understand, autoimmune thyroid diseases like Graves disease are much more common in women and are most likely to occur in teens and young and middle-aged adults.
   
   Doctors usually diagnose Graves disease based on a person's symptoms, a physical examination, and blood tests that show high levels of thyroid hormone in the blood.
   
   Once the diagnosis is made, a teen with Graves disease will usually start taking an anti-thyroid medication, such as propylthiouracil or methimazole, which blocks the thyroid's production of thyroid hormones. Medication usually brings the hormone levels down to the normal range in 1 to 2 months.
   
2. Hypothyroidism
   
   A person with mild hypothyroidism may feel just fine - in fact, the condition might cause no symptoms at all. However, symptoms can become more obvious if hypothyroidism progresses.
   
   People with underactive thyroids might feel depressed and sluggish. They might gain weight, even though they're not eating more or getting less exercise than usual, irregular menstrual periods in girls, muscle weakness, dry skin, hair loss, poor memory, and difficulty concentrating.
   
   Hashimoto's thyroiditis (pronounced: hah-she-moe-toes thy-roy-dye-tiss) is also an autoimmune disease and is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. In this condition, the body's immune system attacks the cells in the thyroid gland, preventing it from producing enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid responds by working harder to make enough hormones. This can make it become enlarged and may result in a goiter.
   
   Hypothyroidism is usually easily diagnosed with a physical examination and blood tests, and treatment with thyroid hormone replacement pills can restore normal levels of thyroid hormone in the blood. This treatment is pretty simple, but it does require doctor visits once or twice a year for an examination, blood tests, and medication adjustments as needed.

Diet and thyroid disease

In the case of Hypothyroidism, many patients constantly struggle with weight often finding that despite exercise and low calorie diets, the weight is not coming off. There are several factors involved in this:

1. Ensure that you are on the right medication. (Thyroxine is not the only medication for hypothyroidism).
2. Ensure that you are getting the right vitamins and minerals.
3. Make sure you are getting ENOUGH exercise. For hypothyroid patients, a walk round the block may not be enough to drop those pounds. Try cycling, light jogging or anything that brings the heart rate up significantly.
4. It has been found that many thyroid patients are more sensitive to certain foods. Adjust your diet accordingly.