The thyroid gland and its hormones
The thyroid is an endocrine gland odd. It lies just under the skin, below the convex cartilage in the front of the neck. With such placement can quickly spot the potential expansion of the organ, which is most often the cause of thyroid disease.
Produces thyroid hormones necessary for life such as triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and calcitonin (CT). This gland also secretes thyroglobulin (Tg).
Triiodothyronine (T3) is especially important during the development of the central nervous system. Growth hormone deficiency in infancy can lead to irreversible changes in the brain which may result in mental retardation.
Thyroxine (T4) - This hormone is very important for the mental and physical development of young organisms, as well as the effect on lactation and reproduction by regulating activity of the gonads. A deficiency of thyroxine can cause so. cretinism in children. In adults, lead to general weakness and slowing the body. An excess of this hormone indicates hyperthyroidism and also have adverse consequences.
Calcitonin (CT) causes a reduction in the level of calcium in the blood include the deposition of the element in the bone, which prevents osteoporosis.
Thyroglobulin (Tg) is produced by the cells of normally functioning thyroid gland and the cancer has spread. Significantly Exceeding the thyroglobulin in the blood is considered as an indicator of thyroid cancer.
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What factors influence the activity of the thyroid gland?
The function of our thyroid gland is affected by:
the level of iodine in the body,
hypothalamus (part of the brain) combined with the pituitary.
After the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986, it was probably in Poland, a child who does not wypiłoby glass of liquid iodine (iodine inorganic). He had to protect us from the effects of radiation and did the job. It turned out that it contained iodine effectively protected the thyroid contemporary kilkulatków from absorption of radioactive iodine.
Iodine is essential to thyroid function correctly. Our natural environment is poor in this element, especially in mountainous regions. Fortunately, today the market is not devoid of iodine salt. In normal use salt gland provide the right amount of this element. Iodine is also compact in foods such as seafood, water, iodized salt. The supply of the element itself should take care especially pregnant women.
Support for the thyroid gland hypothalamus and pituitary gland located in the brain that releases TRH (TRH) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Both TRH and TSH stimulate or inhibit the production of thyroid hormones. Caution! Reduced TSH indicates hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism increased its!
Symptoms, which can not be ignored
Excessive or insufficient production of hormones by the gland can cause a number of deficiencies in our body. Untreated thyroid disorders may reduce the quality of life and cause physical and mental retardation.
An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), is excessive production of thyroid hormones. It is more common in women than in men.
Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
feeling hot,
excessive sweating,
weight loss despite increased appetite,
rapid pulse, palpitations,
enlarged neck circumference,
anxiety,
shaking hands,
insomnia,
protrusion of the eyeballs (in the case of Graves disease).
An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is insufficient production of thyroid hormones. There are about five times more common in women than in men, the incidence of this disease increases with age. It was found that occurs in about 5% of the population over 60 years old.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
weight gain,
significant weakness,
drowsiness,
feeling cold, especially hands and feet,
subcutaneous edema,
constipation,
dry skin,
increased brittleness of hair,
bradycardia.
Since the development of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism can also contribute so. autoimmune processes, used in the diagnosis of the determination of antibodies. They are helpful in the diagnosis of Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Pregnancy and thyroid function
Pregnancy has a significant impact on the body's endocrine women, including stimulates the thyroid gland. Stimulation of the thyroid gland is responsible for the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG-a hormone produced by the 8th day of pregnancy the embryo and then the placenta). Thyroid hormones are essential for the proper development of the fetus. Hyperthyroidism (0.2% of pregnant women) during pregnancy can lead to such to miscarriage, premature detachment of the placenta, premature birth.
More often, however, there is hypothyroidism, which affects about 2.5% of pregnant women and can cause impairment of the child's development. Hypothyroidism in older children may include: loss of performance rights, sluggishness, drowsiness, weakness, numbness.
In some thyroid diseases, maternal thyroid antibodies are produced that inhibit the formation of thyroid hormones in the fetus.
What are the ways to prevent thyroid disease?
At the moment, there is, in addition to the consumption of products containing iodine, effective methods of prevention of thyroid disease. However, if you came to the symptoms described above - should be investigated immediately. Most of enlarged neck circumference (ie enlarged thyroid gland), we learn from your friends, which is easier to see the difference in our appearance - not to offend them! In addition, each person has the ability to control the same parameters such as the size of the thyroid gland and its consistency (eg, can be compacted, hard, irregular, nodular).
As the level of thyroid hormones?
In order to estimate the baseline endocrine usually is ordered in a medical laboratory determination of hormone levels in the blood TSH, FT3 and FT4 (called fractions free - free - hormones T3 and T4, as they are the only biologically active). These are simple, inexpensive and painless test performed with a blood sample.
Untreated thyroid disease can result in serious health consequences. Do not underestimate the symptoms - as soon as we find them let us go to the doctor. Modern medical diagnostics to quickly identify thyroid disease, by doing a simple blood hormone tests including TSH, FT3, FT4.
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