What Is Thyroid Disease?

Week 3 – LOM Assignment The thyroid is responsible for taking iodine and converting it into thyroid hormones which are released into the blood stream and transported throughout the body where they control metabolism.1 The thyroid is a vital part of the human body as every cell in the body depends on it for metabolic regulation. Too much or too little thyroid hormone secretion can result in hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is caused when the thyroid secretes too many thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism causes a rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure and tremors. Other symptoms include increased nervousness, inability to concentrate, weakness, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, frequent bowel movements, weight loss and irregular

Graves ' disease is an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism). The thyroid gland is an important organ of the endocrine system. The gland is located at the front of the neck above where the collarbones meet. This gland releases the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which control body metabolism. Controlling metabolism is important for regulating mood, weight, and mental and physical energy levels. When the body makes too much thyroid hormone, the condition is called hyperthyroidism. Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism and is most common in women over age 20. But the disorder can occur at any age and can affect men as well. Some of the symptoms of Graves diseases are

Commonly, problems with the thyroid involve an abnormal production level of these hormones. It is called hyperthyroidism if there the thyroid hormones are overproduced, and this can cause things like Graves’ disease, Toxic adenomas, and subacute thyroiditis (7). Hypothyroidism is the underproduction of the hormones which can be caused by an inflamed thyroid, iodine deficiency, a non-functioning thyroid gland and more. Hypothyroidism is especially dangerous in infants and newborns as the lack of these thyroid hormones can lead to mental retardation and dwarfism (7). However, in humans hypothyroidism can be caused by things such as a pituitary disorder, a defective thyroid or a lack of the gland completely. (7)

There are many causes of hyperthyroidism, but the symptoms of hyperthyroidism are the same no matter what causes the over expression of thyroid hormones. The main symptoms of hyperthyroidism are fatigue, shortness of breath, weak muscles, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and heart palpitations. Interestingly, even with an increase in appetite the patient will have weight loss.

Hyperthyroidism , part of the endocrine system, is a the gland that makes hormones that controls the way every cell in the body uses energy. Your thyroid is located in the front of your neck where the collarbones meet. Having this disease can affect some vital signs. Having hyperthyroidism can cause heart palpitations and high blood pressure. Therefore, because of having this disease, blood pressure and pulse need to be checked and documented every visit. It is important to collect vital signs and note them because it could help diagnose a patient.

Graves’ Disease is identified as an autoimmune disorder that directly affects the thyroid gland. Characterized as the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, Graves’ Disease encompasses an overactive, enlarged thyroid gland, which produces an excess of thyroid hormones [1]. Approximately 3% of the United States population is affected by Graves’ Disease and 60-80% of patients affected with Graves’ disease are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism [2]. The approximate female to male ratio is 5/1, with majority of those cases being diagnosed in adults over the age of 20. The peak incidence of cases fall between 40-60 years old [3]. In addition, a higher incidence of Graves’ Disease appears in African Americans and persons of Asian descent as compared to Caucasians in the United States.

Even though Hyperthyroidism in, Graves’s’ disease is an autoimmune disorder because of the increase demand on the body if left untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to serious complications , such as an increase in cardiac output, higher oxygen consumption and increased metabolic rate along with coagulation issues (Porth & Gaspard, 2015). The CNS reacts to too much thyroid hormone too much hormone induces anxiety and nervousness.

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are both disorders of the thyroid gland and both have to do with the secretion of triiodothyronine and thyroxine. The thyroid hormones are stimulated by the thyroid stimulating hormone, which come from the adenohypophysis, and controls the release of triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism, also known as Grave’s disease, means that there is means there is too much thyroid hormone in the system. Symptoms are weight loss, high basal metabolic rate, sweating, nervousness, and rapid heart rate. Hypothyroidism, also known as myxedema, is when there is not enough secretion of thyroid hormones. The symptoms are the exact opposite there is weight gain, lethargy, mental sluggishness, and reduced heart rate.

Graves’ disease is autoimmune that effects the thyroid in front of the neck. This thyroid creates T3 and T4 which helps regulate how the body uses energy. We have a small gland called pituitary in the brain that helps the thyroid regulate the hormone level properly. With grave’s disease the immune system creates antibodies that act like TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) which than makes the thyroid to create more hormones than what the body needs to have. This is called hyperthyroidism. Graves’ disease causes the body to speed up such as the heart and the metabolism. The symptoms for graves’ disease are goiter (enlarged gland) Anxiety and irritability, A fine tremor of your hands or fingers, Heat sensitivity and an increase in perspiration

Thyroid enlargement or goiter, known by the term is the most common clinical manifestation of the disease of the thyroid gland. Its appearance reflects the presence of abnormalities in the synthesis of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which is often caused by a deficiency of iodine consumption. Goiter itself can be divided into two types, namely, diffuse and multinoduler. Goiter can also be divided up based on thyroid function in the event of the enlargement, namely the normal (non-toxic), overactive (toxic), or even the less active (goiter hypothyroid). The appearance of this goiter can reach 50% of the population.

Graves disease is the swelling of the neck and protrusion of the eyes resulting from an overactive thyroid gland. Women are five times more likely to suffer from Graves disease, the most common ages are between 20 and 40 ("Graves' disease." par. 1). It is common for people with Graves disease to get it after they have had an infection or they have been under a lot of physical or mental stress. Graves disease only affects around 0.5% of the population, but it is the underlying cause of hyperthyroidism about 80% of the time (Brent, Gregory A. par. 3). Hyperthyroidism is when your thyroid is overactive, this causes an increased heartbeat and metabolism. I found this topic to be interesting because I’ve never heard of this disease before. Its name caught my attention and when I started a brief search on the disease, I wanted to deeper explore the topic. Graves disease affects many people in many different ways, which can make it hard to diagnose. Many of the small symptoms add up to this dangerous disease

Central Idea: The thyroid controls so many things in your body and if not well taken care of can cause major damage to a person or their life.

More than roughly 12 percent of the United States will be diagnosed with a thyroid condition in their lifetime. An estimated 20 million having some form of thyroid disease, one of the most prevalent of these being hyperthyroidism. An estimated 60 percent are completely unaware that they have a thyroid condition, which can put them at risk for certain conditions. The conditions can become severe with complications such as cardiovascular disease or cancer. Majority of the thyroid conditions diagnosed are life-long and can be managed with the right medical attention. Through the use of the correct imaging to diagnose the disease, most of them can be found early on. If found, the majority of thyroid disorders are manageable and treated

Hyperthyroidism is caused by an excess of thyroxine (T4) or triiodothyronine (T3), or both. This excess is a result of a malfunction of the thyroid gland as indicated by the picture below. There are many different symptoms of hyperthyroidism, some of the most common being major weight loss despite having a insatiable appetite, anxiety, heat intolerance, fatigue, weakness, hyperactivity, irritability, apathy, depression, and sweating. In addition, many experience shortness of breath, loss of balance, nausea, vomiting, osteoporosis, and diarrhea. However, those who undergo hyperthyroidism later in life may not experience most of these symptoms at all and instead only feel constantly fatigued and considerable weight loss. Nonetheless, neurological symptoms may occur in addition to the physical manifestations. These neurological symptoms include tremor, chorea (ticks), myopathy (muscle weakness), and temporary but periodic paralysis. There are a variety of ways to treat hyperthyroidism, depending on the age of the patient, the size of their thyroid gland, and their general health. The most common treatments include beta-blockers, which do not actually cure hyperthyroidism but mask some of the symptoms such as tremors, anxiety and so on. This, however, is not advised for those with heart or lung problems. Another possible treatment for this disease is radioactive iodine, or RAI. RAI therapy is the most common treatment for hyperthyroidism

Chronic diseases such as hyperthyroidism can be debilitating if not managed well. Hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid gland that secrets too much hormones throughout the body causing many different clinical manifestations within all systems. The thyroid gland is located right underneath the larynx also known as the voice box, and straddling the windpipe.