Popular Posts
-
M uch of what you may find benefits or causes problems for you whilst taking levothyroxine will probably result from trial and error, howev...
-
"W hat allows the brain to work quickly and efficiently is its energy supply . If this is impaired in any way, then the brain will go slow ....
-
This week is Thyroid Awareness Week in the UK. 1 IN 5 have it. That means you should either have it or know someone who does. But it's undia...
-
Click To Play
-
'Switch' means change. 'Switch' means exchange. 'Switch,' to me, implies that you are either going back to something or that you will go b...
-
"I f it is possible I want to stand in front of millions of people and say: " The jungle is the most important thing for huma...
-
I HAVE a theory. The theory is that it is possible to train your body to the way you want it to be. I'm talking about food. I'm talking abo...
-
Well done, the Daily Mail: you've finally done it: written an article which tells people what the thyroid actually does, and what it doesn'...
-
I have the thyroid-thing: I see all these people on the trains, see their necks and their faces; see they're exhausted; see they're sleeping...
Search This Blog
Posts
TAGS
Which Charity
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Causes of Thyroid disease
11:31 | Posted by
Louise Sopher
CAUSES
"Hyperthyroidism affects up to one in 50 people and can occur at any age, most commonly between 20 and 50." "Hypothyroidism is ten times more common in women than in men and usually occurs over the age of 40."
(BBC Health)
The most common cause of thyroid disease is autoimmune disease. (Hashimotos thyroditis in hypothyroid patients.) This is where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's tissue, assuming it to be some kind of invader. If it attacks the thyroid it can first stimulate the thyroid and then destroy it. Graves disease is a cause of hyperthyroidism and is where the body produces abnormal antibodies, causing the thyroid to produce more hormones.
Thyroid disease can also be caused by an insufficient iodine intake, which can lead to a goitre (enlargement of the thyroid gland) and hypothyroidism. This is still one of the most common causes worldwide however in the West it is less likely because of the introduction of iodized salt, meaning that our food is not lacking in iodine. However, "approximately 40% of the world’s population remains at risk for iodine deficiency." (Thyroid.org - American Thyroid Association)
Hypothyroidism can also be caused by the radioactive treatment of hyperthyroidism. In fact, any exposure to radiation has been found to lower the production of thyroid hormones - in the case of the Chernobyl incident, for example, one of the aftermath effects has been an increase in thyroid disease and thyroid cancer amongst the people who were living in the area.
Some people are born with thyroid disease, especially if it is autoimmune. This is because someone in their family has the disease.
Some drugs can lead to hypothyroidism. Most websites point to lithium (used to treat depressive disorders) as a drug which can cause this.
It is argued that some foods can also cause thyroid disease - in particular soy products and "goitrogenic" foods, however this is most likely only the case when consumed in massive amounts and so is unlikely to be the cause of a thyroid disease.
TREATMENT
Hypothyroidism is usually treated with synthetic thyroxine drugs such as Levothyroxine. This provides for the naturally occuring thyroid hormone which is not being produced by the body.
The usual adult starting dose is 50 to 100 micrograms however it can take some time to find the correct dose, and the dose may be raised as time goes along. As an example, I started last year on 75 micrograms, then went to 75, with one day of 50; and I am now taking 100 micrograms with one day of 125 - and waiting to find out whether this will have to be raised again as the blood tests suggests. Most people need to take the drugs for the rest of their life.
Hyperthyroidism may be treated with drugs such as through the use of beta-blockers; or surgery may have to be done to remove some of the thyroid tissue. ROI (Radioactive Iodine) may be used to treat hyperthyroidism, however this often results in hypothyroidism (which may then be treated with drugs as above).
The usual adult starting dose is 50 to 100 micrograms however it can take some time to find the correct dose, and the dose may be raised as time goes along. As an example, I started last year on 75 micrograms, then went to 75, with one day of 50; and I am now taking 100 micrograms with one day of 125 - and waiting to find out whether this will have to be raised again as the blood tests suggests. Most people need to take the drugs for the rest of their life.
Hyperthyroidism may be treated with drugs such as through the use of beta-blockers; or surgery may have to be done to remove some of the thyroid tissue. ROI (Radioactive Iodine) may be used to treat hyperthyroidism, however this often results in hypothyroidism (which may then be treated with drugs as above).
Labels:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
- May 2012 (2)
- March 2012 (1)
- February 2012 (1)
- January 2012 (2)
- December 2011 (1)
- July 2011 (1)
- March 2011 (2)
- January 2011 (1)
- October 2010 (2)
- August 2010 (2)
- July 2010 (1)
- June 2010 (1)
- May 2010 (2)
- April 2010 (2)
- March 2010 (1)
- February 2010 (1)
- January 2010 (9)
- December 2009 (9)
- November 2009 (4)
- October 2009 (2)
- September 2009 (6)
- August 2009 (7)
- July 2009 (11)
- June 2009 (8)
0 comments:
Post a Comment