Symptoms and causes of hyperthyroidism - an overactive thyroid gland. The frequency of menstruation has changed. High blood pressure

There are many diseases caused by any violations of the activity of the endocrine glands. However, they are all grouped into 3 large groups.

First, a decrease in the activity of the gland, accompanied by a decrease in the level of hormones in the blood. Such a condition in the case of a thyroid disease is called hypothyroidism (from Latin hypo - “decrease”, “small amount”).

Secondly, there may be an increase in the activity of the gland and the level of hormones. In this case, in relation to the thyroid gland, we are talking about hyperthyroidism (hyper - “increase”, “excess”).

And finally, thirdly, many diseases of the thyroid gland occur without changing its functions.

Let's look at what constitutes a state of the body caused by a decrease in hormone levels - hypothyroidism.

So, hypothyroidism- This is a state of the body due to a persistent decrease in the level of thyroid hormones. Unfortunately, it is this violation in the activity of the thyroid gland that is the most common. The onset of hypothyroidism is difficult to determine in the early stages, since the disease does not have clearly defined symptoms, but is accompanied by signs characteristic of overwork, stress, pregnancy and other diseases.

Many patients, coming to the doctor for an appointment, describe their condition as general weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, memory impairment.

Here is one example. A woman after the birth of a child, despite loss of appetite, noticeably gained weight, began to feel fatigue associated with poor sleep, a constant feeling of cold (even in summer). The face, arms and legs were swollen and constantly numb, hair began to fall out and constipation appeared. But the worst thing was that she could not concentrate on the book she had read, her thoughts were simply confused. At first, the woman attributed this to the manifestations of the postpartum period, and then, remembering the violation of the thyroid gland in her mother, she turned to an endocrinologist.

As a rule, the main symptom of hypothyroidism is a slowdown in all processes in the body, which leads to the appearance of constant chilliness and a decrease in body temperature. This is due to a violation of the process of converting food into energy.

One of the manifestations of hypothyroidism is a decrease in resistance to infections, i.e., an increased likelihood of getting colds, etc. This fact indicates changes in the immune system.

Patients often complain of constant pain in the head, muscles and joints, visual disturbances, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Sometimes swelling of the tissues can develop, leading to compression of the nerves and causing numbness. For example, due to swelling of the vocal cords, the voice may become low and become hoarse. Another example is the appearance of snoring during sleep, which is associated with swelling of the muscles of the tongue and larynx.

Digestion processes in the gastrointestinal tract are also disturbed, which causes frequent constipation. As a result, patients do not lose weight, but, on the contrary, gain excess weight, since constipation contributes to better absorption of nutrients.

But the most severe in hypothyroidism is a violation of the activity of the cardiovascular system: a decrease in heart rate to 60 beats / min (at a rate of 80 beats / min), an increase in blood cholesterol and, accordingly, an increase in the risk of developing atherosclerosis of the vessels and coronary disease. Cholesterol is deposited on the wall of the heart vessels, causing blood clots. As a result, the blood supply to the heart is disturbed, pain appears in the retrosternal space. All this leads to malfunctions in the heart and difficulty breathing when walking.

Please note that hypothyroidism in some women can cause menstrual dysfunction. This is manifested in a change in the nature of menstruation, they become either plentiful and prolonged, or stop altogether.

There are frequent cases and the appearance of anemia that occur when the quantitative and qualitative composition of the blood changes.

But the most common symptom of hypothyroidism is depression. It can be caused by overwork, stress, banal conflicts at work or quarrels in the family.

Quite often, these 2 diseases are difficult to distinguish from each other. However, there are a number of characteristic features in which they differ. So, with hypothyroidism, against the background of a decrease in appetite, there is an increase in body weight, while with depression, on the contrary, it decreases. In hypothyroidism, drowsiness is usually observed, and during depression, insomnia. Common manifestations are depressed mood and loss of interest in life.

And now let's dwell on the factors leading to the development of the disease. In most cases (more than 95%), the cause of hypothyroidism is damage to the tissues of the thyroid gland (primary hypothyroidism), in the rest - disorders of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus (secondary hypothyroidism).

Autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland are one of the main causes leading to the onset of primary hypothyroidism. Let us explain to make it clearer: the word "autoimmune" comes from the Latin auto - "one's own", "self"; immuno - "protection". Autoimmune diseases, in turn, arise as a result of the inability of the immune system to distinguish the body's own cells from "strangers". As a result, specific proteins - autoantibodies - begin to be produced.

They are able to attack many organs of the body, causing disruption of their work. These can be the kidneys, adrenal glands, joints, stomach, pancreas and, of course, the thyroid gland. If an autoimmune disease is detected, the doctor will prescribe an examination to identify violations in the activity of other organs.

Recently, there have been cases of hypothyroidism due to thyroid cancer.

Pathology of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus as the cause of hypothyroidism is quite rare. This condition occurs when there is a decrease in the content of thyroid-stimulating hormone in the blood due to a cyst or tumor of the pituitary gland.

In other cases, the pituitary gland may produce an inactive form of thyroid-stimulating hormone, so it is unable to bind to the receptor on the thyroid gland.

Dear readers, we urge you at the first manifestations of hypothyroidism not to wait for its further development, but to seek help from specialists. It is better to once again check the state of your body, because it is not in vain that there is a proverb that "God protects the safe." Remember that the sooner you start treatment, the more effective the use of drugs will be.

Unlike hypothyroidism hyperthyroidism accompanied by a persistent increase in the level of thyroid hormones. In Russia, this condition of the body is much less common than hypothyroidism. This is due to the fact that most areas are characterized by a low content of iodine in water and soil.

The word "hyperthyroidism" comes from the Latin. hyper - "a lot", "excess". However, in the literature you may come across another name - thyrotoxicosis, which literally translates as "poisoning with thyroid hormones." This term most fully reflects the essence of the disease, since hyperthyroidism can also occur under normal conditions, such as during pregnancy.

With thyrotoxicosis, the metabolism increases, in connection with this, a person experiences a constant feeling of heat, severe sweating appears, even in cool weather. Hair loses its shine, becomes brittle and falls out intensively. Mental disorders also occur, sick people become fussy, aggressive due to increased excitability. They experience constant mood swings.

Due to the increase in metabolic rate, appetite increases, up to constant overeating. But there is no increase in body weight, but, on the contrary, weight loss occurs.

Complaints of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are frequent, the main of which are frequent urge to urinate and diarrhea (diarrhea).

As a rule, most patients have disorders in the work of the heart, which is manifested by palpitations and interruptions in the work of the heart.

The musculoskeletal system can also be affected due to the leaching of calcium from bone and muscle tissues. As a result, the bones become more fragile and brittle, which contributes to the development of osteoporosis and frequent fractures. A decrease in calcium stores in muscle tissue causes a disruption in the transmission of nerve impulses, so most patients develop a tremor - a small trembling of the hands.

Hyperthyroidism also affects the condition of the eyes. A bulge of the eyeballs appears, a strip of the albuginea is formed between the iris and the eyelid (both lower and upper). Often there are swelling around the eyes in the morning, up to the formation of pouches. Hyperthyroidism is sometimes accompanied by visual disturbances, up to doubling the visible objects.

Thyrotoxicosis also manifests itself in the form of an enlarged thyroid gland - goiter. Depending on the degree of damage, there are: diffuse toxic and nodular goiter.

The most widespread diffuse toxic goiter, it occurs in 8 out of 10 cases of hyperthyroidism. In the literature, you can meet with other names - DTG or Graves-Basedow's disease.

The most common age at which such disorders occur is the period from 20 to 40 years, but there are exceptions. For example, there have been cases of symptoms of hyperthyroidism in a 5-year-old and even a newborn child.

Let's try to figure out what underlies the mechanism of the disease. So, the immune system produces specific antibodies to the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor on the thyroid gland. And the causes of occurrence are various infections, insolation, severe emotional experiences, constant stress. The thyroid gland, being in a state of increased activity, under the influence of antibodies, begins to actively produce thyroid hormones. At the same time, the gland becomes large, increasing to 600–800 g, while the norm, as we mentioned earlier, is 20–25 g.

In 15–20% of cases, tissue enlargement does not occur throughout the gland, but only in certain areas. Such a disease is called nodular goiter, but since several nodes are usually formed, it is more correct to speak of a multinodular toxic goiter. It affects middle-aged and elderly people. Its appearance depends on the time of the beginning of the increase in node activity. The reason, for example, may be an excessive intake of iodine in the body after a long deficiency. The source of thyrotoxicosis in women after childbirth may be an increase in the level of thyroid hormones, which is associated with increased activity of the thyroid gland during pregnancy.

The main difference between autoimmune thyroiditis and other inflammations is that it can occur both in an enlarged and in an unaltered form of the thyroid gland.

If a disease occurs, then there is a significant increase in the size of the organ with a uniform compaction of tissues.

The degree of increase is different, with large sizes, shortness of breath, a feeling of pressure in the neck, and even pain may occur.

Depending on the changes occurring in the organs, there are several variants of autoimmune thyroiditis: euthyroid, hyperthyroid, hypothyroid.

The appearance of a particular condition depends on the functional characteristics of the organism. In young people for a long time may prevail euthyroiditis.

Signs of the same hypothyroidism are usually mild, which is why it is called “hidden” hypothyroidism. Its symptoms are memory impairment, bradycardia (decrease in heart rate), decreased performance, gradual increase in body weight, profuse hair loss, pallor and dry skin, swelling of the fingers and face.

Autoimmune thyroiditis can also occur with manifestations characteristic of thyrotoxicosis. There are enlargement of the eyes (bulging eyes), a sharp decrease in body weight with a good appetite, visible disorders of the nervous system.

Sometimes diseases occur together with other disorders of an autoimmune nature, such as diabetes mellitus. In this case, the clinical picture changes, so it becomes much more difficult to determine the truth of the disease.

Unfortunately, cases of the appearance of rather rare forms of thyroiditis have recently become more frequent. These include subacute de Querwin's thyroiditis, Riedel's thyroiditis, and acute purulent thyroiditis (strumitis). source of subacute de Querwin's thyroiditis considered a viral infection. As a rule, the development of the disease follows influenza, measles, mumps, infectious mononucleosis, etc. The main symptoms are irritability, tachycardia (palpitations), moderate weight loss, muscle weakness and, as a result, fatigue. An increase in the size of the neck and thyroid gland is the source of spreading pain. This means that pain can also appear in the lower jaw, ear, and back of the head, especially aggravated by coughing and swallowing. The average duration of the course of the disease is approximately 2 to 5 months. Due to the fact that subacute thyroiditis affects the entire tissue of the thyroid gland, a state of hypothyroidism may temporarily occur with corresponding disorders in the body, up to tissue compaction.

There is an opinion that the disease plays the role of a stress factor that provokes the further development of changes in the thyroid gland, leading to the appearance of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

Because the Riedel's thyroiditis- a rather rare disease, the causes of its occurrence are still not fully understood. Symptoms of the disease are colloid nodes, around which a powerful fibrous connective tissue develops. It actively grows and penetrates into the thickness of the neck muscles. Then it passes to the wall of the esophagus and trachea, causing a decrease in their mobility.

There is an opinion that this disease is the result of a violation of the structure of collagen and generally has nothing to do with pathological changes in the thyroid gland.

Riedel's thyroiditis occurs mainly in people of mature age from 25 to 70 years. The main complaint of patients is compression of the neck organs, leading to a feeling of suffocation and severe coughing. The tissue of the thyroid gland thickens and becomes hard as a stone.

Acute purulent thyroiditis - also a fairly rare disease. The source of its occurrence is a bacterial infection. That is why it can manifest itself only in the presence of an infectious focus resulting from an illness (for example, tonsillitis - inflammation of the tonsils, sepsis, sinusitis - inflammation of the sinuses). The infection spreads to the thyroid tissue, causing fever (up to 39–40 °C) and a general purulent lesion. This leads to an increase in the size of the organ, the appearance of an inflammatory process, accompanied by swelling, redness, swelling, pain during touching and swallowing.

Recently, more and more people are suffering from thyroid cancer. In Russia, approximately 15,000 people are ill with thyroid cancer every year. Although thyroid cancer in most cases is successfully treated, these are still scary numbers. None of us is immune from it, and according to statistics, women get sick 2 times more often than men. Unfortunately, scientists still cannot accurately determine the causes of the tumor. However, it has already been proven that one of the leading roles belongs to iodine deficiency in the body and the environment. Last but not least is the effect of ionizing radiation.

Radiation leads to a rather rapid degeneration of the tissue and a decrease in the functional activity of the organ. In most cases, the neoplasm is benign in nature - it is primarily papillary, follicular and medullary forms of cancer. But there are also malignant ones - lymphoma and anaplastic changes. Often tissue degeneration occurs against the background of existing disorders, such as goiter or adenoma.

In a healthy gland, the tumor occurs mainly in a separate area and gradually spreads to the entire organ. Very often, cancer in the early stages is detected as a single nodular formation that does not cause pain. But it has one distinctive feature - it is capable of rapid growth, causing tissue compaction. Also characteristic is the germination of the tumor through the shell of the organ and fixation of the trachea and esophagus. All this leads to shortness of breath, difficulty eating, hoarseness. papillary cancer occurs more often in people aged 30-40 years. In many cases, it is accompanied by the occurrence of metastases in the lymph nodes. For follicular cancer characterized by slow growth and metastasis not only in the cervical lymph nodes, but also in bone tissue. Medullary cancer often occurs as an independent disease. The tumor is able to produce such biologically active substances as serotonin, calcitonin, prostaglandins. They cause "hot flashes", reddening of the skin, especially on the face and neck, and violation of the stool.

An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) is an overactive thyroid gland associated with excessive production of hormones. There are three types of hyperthyroidism. Primary hyperfunction of the thyroid gland is associated with disorders of the gland itself, for example, an increase in size, autoimmune reactions, inflammation of the thyroid gland.

The cause of secondary hyperthyroidism is a violation of the functions of the pituitary gland, as a regulator of the balance of hormonal levels, giving the wrong signals to the organs that synthesize hormones. And the tertiary hyperfunction of the thyroid gland is associated with the pathology of the functioning of the hypothalamus.

Sometimes subclinical hyperthyroidism of the thyroid gland, if this does not apply to hyperthyroidism of pregnant women, is allowed to be treated with folk remedies or use drugs prescribed by a specialist in appropriate dosages.

The peculiarity of simultaneous subclinical hyperthyroidism and pregnancy is that the treatment is carried out only in stationary conditions with regular monitoring of the level of concentration of the corresponding hormones.

Conservative treatment of hyperthyroidism, as a rule, is aimed at suppressing the increased synthesis of hormones. This is achieved with drugs that counteract the accumulation of iodine in the body, which prevents the secretion of thyroid hormones. For these purposes, preparations based on methimazole and propylthiouracil are widely used. Diagnosis of the thyroid gland is reduced to determining its size and the presence of nodes of formations of a different density.

With hyperthyroidism, the symptoms are due to the fact that all processes in the body are significantly accelerated due to the excessive synthesis of various hormones.

The acceleration of all processes primarily affects the work of the cardiovascular system - arrhythmia, palpitations, as a result of which high blood pressure is often noted, which causes additional concern in hyperthyroidism in pregnant women.

Another feature of the disease is fever, a constant feeling of heat, profuse sweating even in a cool room. Often this is observed with hyperthyroidism in pregnant women. Another feature of hyperthyroidism in pregnant women is a slight trembling of the limbs and fingers.

Despite the accelerated processes in the body, the patient often takes possession of drowsiness, phlegm, lethargy. Despite the high physical activity in hyperthyroidism, the symptoms are accompanied by increased fatigue and weakness.

Increased appetite is another symptom of hyperthyroidism, but not everything is so simple, since the patient's stool is disturbed, it becomes frequent, and indigestion appears. Subclinical hyperthyroidism in children is always accompanied by diarrhea.

In this regard, a feature of the treatment of the disease is a specially adjusted diet, which reduces the discomfort of such manifestations (disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract). Treat hyperthyroidism in such cases should be complex, using drugs against diarrhea and folk remedies.

Subclinical hyperthyroidism in children and hyperthyroidism in pregnancy are not uncommon cases of visual impairment and general eye problems. Often this is expressed in a painful attitude to bright light, with hyperthyroidism in pregnant women there is profuse lacrimation, accompanied by swelling of the eyelids.

Patients have an abnormal widening of the eye slits and a "bulging" of the eyeball, which looks as if the patient is extremely surprised or in a state of horror or in great pain. In severe cases, this overexertion of the optic nerve can lead to partial or complete loss of vision.

Increased activity of the synthesis of hormones by the thyroid gland causes serious disturbances in the activity of the central nervous system. Patients have a number of mental disorders of varying severity - this is emotional imbalance, extreme irritability, resentment, quarrelsomeness.

Sometimes patients have an unreasonable feeling of fear, anxiety, which leads to insomnia. Often, increased mental activity and confusion of thought processes lead to incoherent or excessively accelerated speech.

Subclinical hyperthyroidism has symptoms such as brittleness, thinning and hair loss, impaired nail growth, and the skin becomes moist and thin.

Violation of the salt and protein balance causes the patient to have a constant feeling of thirst and, due to abundant fluid intake, the patient experiences frequent urge to urinate. Mistakenly, this symptom can be diagnosed as one of the diseases of the kidneys or urinary tract.

Diagnosis of dysfunction of the synthesis of thyroid hormones reveals a variety of signs of disorders of the reproductive and reproductive systems in men and women. Pathological disorders in the reproduction of sex hormones can affect deviations in the sexual development of adolescents, it can be both premature and delayed sexual development.

Deviations in the synthesis of sex hormones in women can cause menstrual irregularities, and in severe cases, lead to infertility. In men, the imbalance of androgens and testosterone is characterized by erectile dysfunction and a significant decrease in potency.

Subclinical hyperthyroidism during pregnancy can often be "masked" and not show the above symptoms. The usual signs of the disease may be absent, and hyperfunction of the thyroid gland is diagnosed based on the study of the hormonal background of patients.

The reasons

The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is a disease called toxic goiter. This is a widespread autoimmune disease that affects women more often than men. Toxic goiter is the cause of 75% of cases of diseases associated with a violation of hormonal levels, including such as hyperthyroidism.

Subclinical hyperthyroidism, the treatment of which in this case is associated with the repair of damage to the thyroid gland, can cause other disorders, such as inflammation of the gland (thyroiditis).

The form of hyperthyroidism caused by thyroiditis is characterized by inflammatory foci of thyroid tissue, which are well detected by diagnostics using ultrasound. But there is another more important and unpleasant factor in such a course of the disease - a violation of the structure of the thyroid tissue, progressing, can cause, following the hyperfunction of hormone synthesis, a decrease in hormone production.

Fortunately, such a subclinical case is rare and the normal recovery of gland activity after surgical or conservative treatment is more common, after which the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and numerous folk remedies will be prescribed for some time.

Plummer's disease is also a common cause of hyperthyroidism, the symptoms of which are manifested in the excessive synthesis of hormones by the pancreas. In this case, the activity of the gland is associated with regulatory disorders of the pituitary gland, which controls the balance of hormones in the body.

Such pathologies of the pituitary gland can be caused by a number of reasons, ranging from mild traumatic brain injury to damage as a result of surgical intervention. Plummer's disease should be treated only by resorting to complex therapy with a constant study of the hormonal background.

Tumor diseases of the pituitary cortex are secondary causes of hyperthyroidism and are much less common. Diagnosis of hyperthyroidism in such cases is significantly difficult, especially because there is no visible damage to the thyroid gland itself.

Pituitary tumors cause a reduced receptor ability of the brain to act as a regulator of hormone concentration, which can cause both decreased and increased activity of thyroid hormone synthesis. In such cases, medications and attempts to treat conservatively rarely bring the expected effect, so surgical removal of the tumor is most often used.

Diet for sickness

Diet plays an important role in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Patients almost always have an increased appetite, despite the fact that patients often lose weight due to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.

The increased hormonal activity of the patient, the acceleration of all biochemical and biological reactions in the body, of course, will make itself felt with frequent feelings of hunger. Such a hormonal "fire" requires quality nutrition in the form of high-calorie foods, this is not surprising and does not contradict the recommendations of nutritionists.

Patients with hyperthyroidism are advised, at least for the duration of treatment, to stop smoking and drinking alcohol. The diet is made taking into account the need for a high content of proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins in the diet. Also, one should not forget that diarrhea and other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are most often observed among the symptoms of the disease, so the selection of food should help normalize the stool.

The saturation of nutrition with mineral salts and vitamins is important. Foods that cause stimulation of the nervous system and the cardiovascular system should be excluded. During the period of the disease, these systems already work for wear and tear in emergency mode. Such prohibited products include tea, coffee, chocolate. For the same reason, one should not abuse spicy food and food abundantly flavored with spices and spices.

Hypothyroidism- This is a disease caused by a decrease in the production of thyroid hormones compared to the norm. The thyroid gland itself is called "sluggish" or underactive. Lack of thyroid hormones leads to slower metabolism in the body.

thyroid function- convert iodine from food into the two main thyroid hormones.

Symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland

Hypothyroidism is also called the "silent disease" because it comes on gradually. Most people fail to recognize this disease. However, this is not their fault, because its symptoms are subtle, and what makes things even worse is similar to the signs of aging. The severity of symptoms is determined by the degree of thyroid hormone deficiency. Low thyroid hormone levels affect different parts of the body in different ways. Since thyroid hormones are responsible for regulating the metabolism in the body, their lack leads to a slowdown in all metabolic processes. The following is a list of symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism can develop in both men and women, but women are eight times more likely to have the condition. It affects people of all ages. Severe cases of hypothyroidism in adults are called myxedema.and in children - cretinism.

One of the main causes of an underactive thyroid is Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or inflammation of the thyroid gland. This is an autoimmune disease in which the body does not perceive the thyroid gland as a native organ and attacks it with antibodies, as if it were a foreign body. This not only harms the ability of the thyroid gland to produce hormones, but also leads to the destruction of the thyroid gland itself. Some other causes of underactive thyroid are diets that do not provide enough iodine, malfunctions of the pituitary or hypothalamus, thyroid infections, radiation treatment of hyperthyroidism, and birth defects.

Anatomical location of the thyroid gland

Low levels of thyroid hormones

When the levels of T4 and T3 hormones in the blood fall, the hypothalamus releases "thyrotropin-releasing hormone" (TRH) into the bloodstream. As the level of TSH in the blood rises, the pituitary receives a signal from the hypothalamus to release "thyroid-stimulating hormone" (TSH). And TSH, in turn, stimulates the production and release of thyroid hormones into the blood. If the level of thyroid hormones in the blood is high, the hypothalamus stops releasing TSH. The pituitary gland catches the low levels of TG and stops releasing TSH, thus regulating the level of thyroid hormones in the blood. Such a connection exists between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and thyroid gland - all these structures work in interaction with each other.

The normal level of TSH in the blood ranges from 0.4 to 4.0 mIU/L. Determining the levels of thyroid hormones occurs by conducting a blood test and removing the free thyroxine index (FTI). If thyroid hormone levels are out of the normal range for any reason, this is cause for concern. High levels of thyroid hormones in the blood are defined as hyperthyroidism, while low levels of thyroid hormones are called hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is more common than hyperthyroidism.

Thyroid

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-like organ located just below the larynx (voice box) or Adam's apple and is an important part of the endocrine system. It consists of two lobes located on both sides of the trachea and united by thyroid tissue called the septum.

thyroid function- convert iodine from food into two main thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). T4 is the main hormone produced by the thyroid gland, however it is inactive and needs to be converted to T3. Thyroid hormones are vital for regulating the body's metabolism, controlling body temperature, maintaining calcium balance, and overall body growth and development.

The thyroid gland is controlled by a pea-sized endocrine organ in the brain called the pituitary gland, which in turn is regulated by the hypothalamus (brain region).

A person with low thyroid hormone levels may not experience all of the aforementioned symptoms. Since the symptoms of an underactive thyroid are also similar to those of other ailments, the only way to accurately determine the level of thyroid hormones is to conduct a blood test. Self-diagnosis is not recommended - it is always best to consult a medical practitioner. Treatment of an underactive thyroid gland is carried out with the help of simple and effective means.

Warning: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a medical professional.

Video

The thyroid gland produces iodine-containing hormones necessary for metabolic processes and brain activity. It is shaped like a butterfly and is located directly below the larynx. A person may not be aware that he has problems with the production of thyroid hormones, because the symptoms of this phenomenon are often vague. If you notice several of the signs listed below at once, we advise you to contact an endocrinologist for an examination. A simple blood test will show the level of iodine-containing hormones.

Sleep problems

Before, you always slept well, but at some point, suddenly everything changed. Now insomnia has become your constant companion. This may be one of the signals of endocrine system problems. Sometimes the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormones T3 and T4 (triiodothyronine and thyroxine). These substances irritate the central nervous system, which in turn leads to insomnia. But this problem also has a flip side. When a person after waking up feels tired, lack of energy, or stays in bed longer than usual, this may indicate insufficient production of iodine-containing hormones.

Sudden attacks of anxiety

We already know that excess hormone production affects the nervous system. That is why a person can suddenly show signs that indicate psychological problems. For example, you have never suffered from panic attacks. But now you notice that you have no control over your emotions. You constantly worry about things you haven't done. This condition may indicate an overactive thyroid gland. Watch your symptoms for a while. If irritation and anxiety are with you on a regular basis and you see no good reason for this, it is due to increased brain stimulation.

Changes in digestion

Frequent constipation can also indicate problems with the endocrine system. Thyroid hormones have a certain effect on the functioning of the digestive tract. Insufficient production of hormones leads to constipation, and their excess creates the opposite effect.

thinning hair

The next sign has an external manifestation. A malfunction in the endocrine system can cause thinning of the hair on the head and on the eyebrows. Both reduced function and hyperactivity of the thyroid gland lead to failures in the growth cycle of the hair follicles. The strands on the head grow and rest in turn. While most of the hairs are in the active growth phase, the rest is in a dormant state. Failure of the thyroid gland leads to an increase in the number of resting strands. And this means that the hair looks noticeably thinned and weakened.

occasional sweating

Excessive sweating, especially at rest, is a common symptom of an overactive thyroid. This organ regulates the production of energy in the body. Elevated hormone levels cause the metabolism to explode. In turn, an accelerated metabolism and leads to regular occasional sweating.

Unexplained weight gain

Have you noticed that your old favorite jeans are tighter to the body. Surprisingly, weight gain has nothing to do with lifestyle changes. You regularly go for a run or walk and do not change your eating habits. The reason for the sudden weight gain may lie in the lack of iodine-containing hormones. This slows down the metabolism and causes the body to burn calories more slowly.

Constant hunger

It is easy to guess that with increased production of triiodothyronine and thyroxine, the opposite effect is observed. A person can rapidly lose weight, forgetting about activity and eating whatever they want. Sometimes people note inexplicable bouts of hunger, and gastronomic excesses are not deposited either on the stomach or on the sides.

brain fog

When the thyroid gland does not work properly, it affects the functions of the brain. Reduced activity of the endocrine system gives a feeling of clouding of the mind. Some patients who see an endocrinologist report short-term memory loss. It often happens: a person just wanted to tell his friends about something interesting, but in a matter of seconds he forgets about it. And no matter how hard he tries to remember this episode, all attempts to find the loss remain in vain. Sometimes people notice general mental fatigue, and this interferes with concentration at the workplace.

Too much energy

This state can be compared to an increased surge of adrenaline or drinking five cups of coffee. An unmotivated surge of energy leads to certain thoughts. This may be due to the overload of the body with iodine-containing hormones. Thyroid products, produced in excess, speed up most processes in the body. For example, at rest, you may suddenly feel a strong heartbeat, while blood pressure remains normal.

Daily nap cravings

And again we see the opposite effect. Daytime fatigue and constant cravings for daytime sleep can also indicate problems in the endocrine system. But now they are associated with insufficient production of hormones. Thus, the body is forced to conserve energy reserves and plunge into daily hibernation. The body needs an extra burst of important chemicals.

Disruptions in menstrual cycles

This hidden symptom can mislead the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity. They can easily confuse changes in the nature of the menstrual cycles with the imminent onset of menopause. In this case, it is important to keep a calendar. If the menstrual cycle is stretched, and the discharge during menstruation becomes abundant, prolonged, including blood clots, this may be due to an excess of hormones. If the cycles become shorter, and the discharge short and scarce, the reason is diametrically opposite here.

Infertility or miscarriage

Women who have difficulty conceiving may undergo more than one examination before identifying the problem. If there are no infertile relatives in the family history or cases of miscarriages in the early stages of pregnancy, first of all, doctors advise to examine the functions of the thyroid gland. Low hormone levels affect ovulation and predispose the female body to infertility or miscarriages. In this case, hormonal supplements are indicated.

Developmental delay in children

Few parents pay attention to the silent symptoms that indicate a malfunction of the endocrine system in children. It is difficult for kids to express their condition in words, so they need constant monitoring. When a child begins to lag behind his peers in terms of height and weight, when he is naughty and complains of pain in the muscles, when teachers indicate a lack of attention and focus on the lessons, you have every reason to turn to an endocrinologist.

How to get rid of thyroid problems?

Overactive hormone production is easily regulated. Doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs that slow down the production of T3 and T4 hormones. If the hormonal level is difficult to restore, surgical intervention is indicated to partially or completely remove the glands. In the event of a reduced level of hormone production, lifelong treatment with the synthetic drug levothyroxine is required, which helps to restore balance and eliminate unpleasant symptoms.

Not so easy because the symptoms of her disease are similar to those of other diseases. But there are some signs, the manifestation of which should alert and prompt you to go to the hospital for examination. What changes in the work of the body should be paid attention to?

Signs of an overactive thyroid gland

Pathology of the thyroid gland, in which an increased level of hormones is produced, is called thyrotoxicosis. You can suspect changes in the thyroid gland by the following signs:

• a sharp, sudden increase in pressure;
• palpitations, rapid pulse;
• feeling hot, sweating;
• trembling in the fingers.

In women with increased secretion of hormones thyroid gland the mental state is disturbed, manifested in irritability, irascibility, rapid mood swings, sudden tears, and a feeling of anxiety. Emotional swings can happen for no apparent reason, after which there is a feeling of weakness and lethargy.

In some cases, the disease is accompanied by trembling in the body. At first, it is not very noticeable and only affects the fingertips. In time, as the disease progresses, the trembling spreads throughout the body and cannot be contained.

Sometimes, with diffuse toxic goiter, the organs of vision can be affected. Due to changes in the fatty tissue of the orbit of the eyes, the appearance of bulging eyes is created, tearing appears, and a sensation of a foreign body appears under the eyelids.

As a result of an accelerated metabolism, the body releases an increased amount of heat. The patient constantly wants to lower the ambient temperature, he is comfortable in a room with a lower air temperature, and in a normal environment, comfortable for other people, it is hot and stuffy.

The patient has a very good appetite, but despite this, the person begins to quickly lose weight, but there is also the opposite reaction - body weight increases. This course of the disease is very rare, has its own name - "fat based", and is an exception to the rule.

If thyrotoxicosis is observed in a pregnant woman, the fetus suffers from hypoxia, which is why there is a high probability of a violation of the intrauterine development of the child. If you are planning to have children, you need to carefully consider the symptoms that indicate changes in the functioning of the thyroid gland.

Signs of an underactive thyroid gland

Insufficiency of hormonal activity of the thyroid gland leads to exactly the opposite consequences, and is called hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism manifests itself in the following symptoms:

• , drowsiness;
• pressure drop;
• fast fatiguability;
• violation of the heart rhythm, its decrease;
• memory impairment;
• changes in the structure of nails and hair, they become dull, dry, dandruff appears;
• decrease in body temperature, constant chilliness in warm weather.

The mood in hypothyroidism is almost always depressed, there is lethargy, apathy. Despite the usual diet, body weight is steadily increasing, and this process cannot be regulated.

If you notice some of these signs in yourself, and it worries you, you need to do an ultrasound of the thyroid gland and take tests for hormones and antibodies. To prevent the disease, nutrition should be balanced - enough iodine and tyrosine should be present in food. Iodine enters our body with seafood (seaweed, fish, squid, shrimp) and sunflower oil. Regular salt can be replaced with iodized salt. The intake of tyrosine in the body can be regulated by eating milk, eggs, legumes.