Causes of Thyroid Disease

Thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland on your neck and is located just below the Adam’s apple. The gland plays an important role in controlling the metabolism of the body, it produces hormones thyroxine, or T4, and triiodothyronine, or T3 and that travels through the blood to reach every part of the body. These hormones are important because they inform how fast to use energy and create proteins.Thyroid diseases are conditions that affect on the amount of thyroid hormones that are being produces. It has been found that women are more likely than men to have thyroid problems, with 1 in 8 developing a thyroid disorder during her life. Here is a list of common thyroid disorders.* HypothyroidismThis means that there is too little thyroid hormone, which means slowing of body functions; symptoms include weight gain, dry skin, constipation, cold intolerance, puffy skin, hair loss, fatigue, and menstrual irregularity in women. At times one needs to be careful about severe untreated hypothyroidism, called myxedema, can lead to heart failure, seizures, and coma. In children, hypothyroidism can have an adverse effect on growth and delay in sexual development.* HyperthyroidismThis is what happens when there is too much of hormone production and is known as "overactive thyroid”. The symptoms include increased heart rate, anxiety, weight loss, difficulty sleeping and tremors in the hands, weakness, and sometimes diarrhea. There may also be puffiness around the eyes, dryness, irritation, and, bulging of the eyes.* Graves DiseaseThis is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. This is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the affected person's immune system produces antibodies that attack his thyroid.  This causes inflammation, damage, and also the production of excess thyroid hormone.* Thyroid CancerOne if the greatest fears for thyroid related diseases is the thyroid cancer. There are four main types of thyroid cancers: papillary, follicular, anaplastic, and medullary cancer. About 80% of thyroid cancer cases are papillary and affects more women than men and is more common in younger people.  Anaplastic cancer also found in older women and is more aggressive and difficult to deal with. It should be mentioned here that thyroid cancer is not a very common disease to catch, it is very rarely found.* GoitersThis is a visible enlargement of the thyroid gland. Previously, this condition was relatively common and was largely due to the lack of iodine in the diet. Iodine is a very necessary component of thyroid hormone production.