2023-05-16 21:30:00
Various symptoms such as general weakness, fatigue, heat… Amenorrhea can cause problems with conception
Graves’ disease is the cause of 80-90% of the country… Consider drug treatment, radiation iodine treatment, surgery, etc.
thyroid. Clipart Korea image
Working mom A (35) felt that her heart was pounding even though she had been getting hotter than before for the past few months and had cut down on coffee. Also, compared to the amount he ate, he was steadily losing weight, and his eyes seemed to stand out. Anxious Mr. A received a medical examination and was diagnosed with ‘hyperthyroidism’.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine organ located under the thyroid cartilage in the middle of the neck. The front of the thyroid gland is surrounded by thick neck muscles, so it is difficult to touch it.
The weight of the thyroid gland is only 15 to 20 g, and although the size occupied in the body is small, it plays an important role in making thyroid hormone that promotes all metabolic processes in the human body.
The role of the thyroid gland
According to the data of the Korean Thyroid Society, the thyroid secretes thyroid hormones called T3 and T4, which are made using iodine and tyrosine (a type of amino acid). In addition, it secretes a hormone called calcitonin, which plays a role in maintaining calcium homeostasis.
Thyroid hormone plays an important role in regulating metabolism, maintaining or increasing basal metabolic rate, and promoting appetite, digestive function, and decomposition of glucose and fat.
It also plays an important role in the developmental process, increasing the rate of growth in children.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which thyroid hormones are produced excessively in the body, resulting in thyrotoxicosis.
If you have symptoms of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis, you feel a lot of heat even on a cool day, and you have a fever or sweat a lot.
They are also tired for no reason and often complain of general weakness. As the metabolism is excessively hyperactive, the appetite increases, but there is a tendency to continue to lose weight even if a lot is eaten.
In addition, there are cases where the heart is pounding and shortness of breath is easily performed even with light exercise. The ups and downs of emotions have also become more severe, and you may get angry more easily than usual, and you may suddenly feel anxious or restless.
On the other hand, according to the data of the Korean Thyroid Society, the symptoms of hyperthyroidism are very diverse because thyroid hormone acts on almost all tissues and organs of the body.
When the thyroid hormone increases, intestinal motility increases, resulting in frequent bowel movements or persistent diarrhea. Muscles atrophy, strength is weakened, and severe myasthenia may occur.
Osteopenia or osteoporosis is sometimes diagnosed when measuring bone density, which indicates bone strength, as calcium metabolism in bones increases.
In addition, because the metabolism increases, the body temperature rises and the skin becomes warm, which can cause a lot of sweating on the palms.
In women, irregular menstruation or amenorrhea can cause problems with conception. For this reason, if hyperthyroidism persists, it may cause infertility.
In the case of men, sexual dysfunction may occur, sperm count decreases, pregnancy rates decrease, and breasts enlarge like women.
In some patients, ‘thyroid ophthalmopathy’, an ophthalmic disease that can accompany thyroid function abnormalities, appears. It mainly occurs in Graves’ disease, and it is dazzling, and it feels like there is a foreign object in the eye. In severe cases, exophthalmos, in which objects appear double and the eyes protrude, appears.
thyroid. Clipart Korea image
Causes of hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism can be caused by a variety of causes. In Korea, regarding 80-90% of cases are ‘Graves’ disease’ caused by autoantibodies to the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor.
Professor Jin Jong-hwa of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Kyungpook National University Hospital explained, “Simply put, you can think of it as a disease in which the switch that controls the thyroid gland remains on without turning off.”
He added, “In addition, hyperthyroidism can be caused by toxic single thyroid nodule and multinodular goiter. It can also be caused by a tumor that secretes a lot of thyroid-stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland.”
Treatment of hyperthyroidism
In the treatment of hyperthyroidism, drug treatment is considered first. If there is little response to treatment, consider radioactive iodine treatment or surgical treatment that partially destroys or removes thyroid tissue.
Professor Jin emphasized, “It is important to quickly return the action of excessive thyroid hormone to normal in any way to improve symptoms caused by hyperthyroidism and prevent secondary complications such as arrhythmias and osteoporosis.”
Jin Jong-hwa Professor, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyungpook National University Hospital
◆Lifestyle management of patients with hyperthyroidism
Like other diseases, patients with hyperthyroidism need lifestyle management.
First of all, you need to prevent weight loss through a balanced diet and prevent dehydration through sufficient fluid intake.
It is better to refrain from excessive exercise. In particular, in the case of young male patients with Graves’ disease, to prevent the occurrence of ‘thyroid toxic periodic paralysis’, in which the legs are suddenly paralyzed, it is good not to exercise with a lot of sweat.
Alcohol and coffee do not have a big relationship with the course of hyperthyroidism, but since they can aggravate palpitations, it is better to refrain from drinking until the symptoms are controlled.
Smoking cessation is recommended because smoking is associated with the development and exacerbation of thyroid ophthalmopathy in patients with Graves’ disease.
“There is no way to prevent hyperthyroidism yet,” Professor Jin said. “Therefore, if symptoms corresponding to hyperthyroidism are identified, visit a medical institution with skilled specialists such as a thyroid clinic early to receive appropriate treatment and management. is important,” he said.
Help Jin Jong-hwa Professor, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyungpook National University Hospital
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