How does it work
The regulatory mechanism through which the thyroid secretes hormones can be compared to the thermostats in your house. If the room temperature drops below a set standard, the thermostat will kick in to activate the heating, hence increasing the room temperature. Once the desired temperature is reached or should that be over the standards, the thermostat switches off. In the case of the thyroid, the thermostat is the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (aka 'TSH'), which is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland located in the skull. In a healthy individual, the pituitary gland senses the level of T3 and T4 and, should they drop below their standard value, it releases TSH to encourage the thyroid to secrete more hormones. Once the desired values are reached, the pituitary gland stops secreting TSH hence reducing the amount of T3/T4 secreted by the thyroid.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism refers to any one of a number of disorders that lead to an underactive thyroid, hence insufficient hormones secreted by the gland for the body's needs. This leads to a slow metabolism.
Symptoms: Tiredness, weight gain, feeling cold, depression, poor concentration, constipation, dry skin, puffy face, muscle weakness, aches, thinning hair.
Causes: Autoimmune diseases (Hashimoto's), over-response to hyperthyroidism treatment, radiation therapy, thyroid surgery, medications (lithium), congenital disease, iodine deficiency, pregnancy, pituitary disorders.
How is the diagnosis made?
Diagnosing thyroid disorders is like assembling a big puzzle. It is achieved by putting together various information elicited from your medical history, your symptoms, your physical examination and your blood test results. By having all these pieces together, your doctor will determine how well your thyroid is performing, if you have a thyroid disorder, and the best individual therapeutic approach.
Can thyroid disorders be treated?
The short answer to this question is: YES! Thyroid disorders and their associated symptoms can be treated. The treatment will highly vary depending on the underlying condition that is causing your thyroid disorder, your medical history, medications you already take, and blood test results. Treatment modality can be a combination of medications, surgery, and lifestyle changes.