Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

A weighty problem

Disorders related to thyroid can be treated, but the problem lies in identifying the symptoms

PHOTO: SAMPATH KUMAR G.P.

DOPPLEGANGER EFFECT Symptoms of thyroid disorders often are confused with symptoms of other disorders

Have you noticed a sudden weight gain, lack of energy, fatigue, memory problems, hair loss, depression, difficulty in sleeping and swallowing, constipation, intolerance to cold, dry skin, irregular or heavier than usual menstrual periods in women, loss of interest in sex? This could be because your thyroid gland has become under-active — a condition referred to as hypothyroidism. On the other hand, have you noticed shaking, increased nervousness, irritability, weight loss, fatigue, palpitation, a sense of feeling hot, frequent bowel movements, shorter or lighter menstrual periods, difficulties in becoming pregnant and carrying the child to term in women and loss of interest in sex? This could be because your thyroid gland has become overactive, a condition known as hyperthyroidism.

The other thing to watch out for is a thyroid nodule or lumps, about four per cent of which are cancerous. The thyroid gland can also become enlarged (called goiter) or become inflamed (thyroiditis) causing hyper or hypothyroidism.

The thyroid gland is a small gland located in your neck that impacts almost all major processes that help you live. Universal iodisation of salt has reduced incidences of iodine deficiency related thyroid disorders. Symptoms of thyroid disorders often appear gradually and can also get confused with symptoms of other disorders.

The positive thing about thyroid disorders is the fact that testing and subsequent diagnosis is easy. The difficulty is in recognising the symptoms and suspecting the disease. Constipation, hair loss, fatigue and cold sensitiveness can be the fallout of hypothyroidism, but these could also be because of over-exhaustion or aging. Likewise, feeling tense and overworked could signal hyperthyroidism or it could be plain stress. An elevated level of the free serum TSH hormone in your blood indicates that you have hypothyroidism excepting for the rare cases. A higher than normal level of free T4 and low levels of TSH in the blood indicates hyperthyroidism. "Ultrasound thyroid scans can help zero in on cysts and nodules in the thyroid. Radioactive iodine uptake studies can help differentiate the forms of thyroiditis, while CT scans help locate abnormal position of the gland, pressure effects and additional abnormalities in the gland," says Dr. S. Murthy, endocrinologist and diabetologist. But one should be specific about the tests and every patient need not undergo all these investigations.

"Neonatal screening for thyroid disorders is a must, as in newborns and childhood, thyroid disorders can cause mental retardation," says Dr. P.G. Sundararaman, endocrinologist. In the school age period, thyroid disorders can cause growth retardation, he adds, calling for thyroid screening when growth seems stunted.

For hypothyroidism, treatment hinges on hormone replacement therapy. Thyroid hormone can be taken in pill form on a daily basis. "Intake of soya-based products blocks absorption of thyroid hormone tablets," warns Dr. Sundararaman. As regards hyperthyroidism, a combination of drugs and radioactive iodine therapy or surgery can bring about healing.

Thyroid nodules should be tested for cancer through biopsy. In large goitres with or without pressure effects and with malignant or pre-malignant pathology, surgery is the treatment of choice, says Dr. Murthy.

Who is at risk

Those with a family history of thyroid or other immune-system problems such as insulin-dependent diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and pernicious anaemia need to be especially wary of thyroid disorders.

Pregnancy and delivery

Women over 50 and men over 60 are at increased risk. By and large, thyroid diseases are more common in women than in men. And women need to be especially careful about monitoring for thyroid disorders, as it can cause abnormally early or late onset of puberty and menstruation, irregular or abnormally light or heavy menstrual periods, or even absent menstrual periods. Thyroid disorders can even prevent ovulation and put the ovaries at increased risk for cyst development, cause untimely milk production in the breast even while preventing ovulation. Thyroid disorders during pregnancy can harm the foetus, trigger premature labour, and lead to postpartum thyroiditis. Thyroid disorders can hasten menopause. Besides, symptoms of hyperthyroidism like non-menstruation, hot flashes, insomnia and mood swings may be mistaken for early menopause.

HEMA VIJAY

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail