8 Thyroid-related diseases and how to identify

The thyroid is a gland located in the anterior part of the neck, which has an extremely important role in helping to regulate the body's metabolism and balance, being related to the functioning of the heart, brain, liver and kidneys. In addition, the thyroid also influences growth, menstrual cycle, fertility, weight and emotional state.

These effects are possible because the thyroid secretes hormones T3 and T4 in the bloodstream, being able to spread throughout the body. The thyroid is controlled by the pituitary gland, another gland located in the brain that, in turn, is controlled by a region of the brain called the hypothalamus, so changes in any of these regions can cause thyroid-related diseases and symptoms, including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis or thyroid cancer, for example.

The tests that can indicate changes in the thyroid are the measurement of T3, T4 and TSH in the blood, in addition to others such as antibody measurement, ultrasound, scintigraphy or biopsy, which can be ordered by the endocrinologist to better investigate the reason for the changes. Learn more about the tests that measure the thyroid.

8 Common Thyroid Diseases

Thyroid malfunction can happen due to several diseases, and only the doctor's assessment can differentiate and confirm them, however, we mention here some of the most common in the population. Find out how each one of them manifests and their treatments.

1. Hyperthyroidism or Hypothyroidism

Hypo and hyperthyroidism are diseases caused by changes in hormone levels secreted by the thyroid, and can have congenital, autoimmune, inflammatory or secondary causes to other diseases or side effects of treatments, for example.

In general, in hyperthyroidism there is an increase in the production of hormones T3 and T4 and a decrease in TSH, while in hypothyroidism there is a decrease in T3 and T4 with an increase in TSH, however, there may be variations depending on the cause.

Signs and symptoms of Hyperthyroidism	Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism
Increased heart rate or palpitations	Tiredness, weakness and indisposition
Nervousness, agitation, restlessness	Physically and mentally slow
Insomnia or difficulty sleeping	Difficulty concentrating and poor memory
Slimming	Body swelling, overweight
Increased sensation of heat, reddish skin, pink face	Dry and rough skin
Emotional instability	Constipation
Diarrhea	Cold intolerance
Warm, moist skin	Sexual impotence
Goiter	Hair loss
Body tremor	Cold feeling

To learn more about the symptoms that indicate these diseases, check out symptoms that indicate thyroid problems.

2. Thyroiditis - Inflammation of the thyroid

Thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid, which can happen for several causes including viral infections, such as coxsackievirus, adenovirus and the mumps and measles viruses, autoimmunity, or intoxications by certain drugs, such as amiodarone, for example.

Thyroiditis can manifest itself in an acute, subacute or chronic form, and the symptoms range from asymptomatic conditions, to more severe ones that cause thyroid pain, difficulty in swallowing, fever or chills, for example, depending on the cause. Understand how thyroiditis happens and its main causes.

3. Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a form of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, which causes inflammation, cell damage and then impaired thyroid function, which may not secrete sufficient hormones into the bloodstream.

In this disease the thyroid usually increases in size, causing a goiter, and symptoms of hypothyroidism or alternating between periods of hyper and hypothyroidism may be present. It is an autoimmune disease that generates antibodies such as anti-thyroperoxidase (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg), anti-TSH receptor (anti-TSHr). See the treatment by clicking here.

4. Postpartum thyroiditis

Postpartum thyroiditis is one of the forms of autoimmune thyroiditis, which affects women up to 12 months after the baby is born, being more common in women with type 1 diabetes or other autoimmune diseases.

During pregnancy, the woman is exposed to the baby's tissues, and to prevent rejection, the immune system undergoes several changes, which may increase the chances of developing autoimmune diseases. This change is usually manifested with symptoms of hypothyroidism, but it does not always need treatment because thyroid function can return to normal in 6 to 12 months.

5. Goiter

Goiter is an increase in the size of the thyroid. It can have several causes, including lack of iodine, inflammation of the thyroid due to autoimmune diseases or the formation of nodules in the thyroid, and can cause symptoms such as tightness in the throat, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, cough and, in cases more severe, even difficulty breathing.

Its treatment is variable according to the cause, and may consist of the use of iodine, medicines for hyper or hypothyroidism or, in cases of nodules and cysts, even the performance of thyroid surgery. Learn more about what a goiter is, how to identify and treat it.

6. Graves' disease

Graves' disease is a form of hyperthyroidism due to autoimmune causes, and in addition to the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, it may present an enlarged thyroid, protruding eyes (eyelid retraction), formation of hardened and reddened plaques under the skin (myxedema).

Treatment is done with the control of thyroid hormone levels, with drugs such as Propiltiouracil or Metimazole, for example, or with radioactive iodine. See more details about the symptoms and treatment of this disease here.

7. Thyroid nodule

The cause of the appearance of a cyst or nodule in the thyroid is not always discovered. There are several types of nodules in the thyroid, and fortunately most of them are benign, and can present through a lump in the anterior part of the neck, which does not cause pain, but which can be seen when the person swallows food, for example.

It can be identified by palpation, and tests such as ultrasound, tomography and thyroid scintigraphy, and sometimes the doctor may order a biopsy to know its type and whether it is benign or malignant. Generally, only the nodule is monitored, except when the person has symptoms, when there is a risk of thyroid cancer or when the nodule changes its appearance or grows more than 1 cm. See more details by clicking here.

8. Thyroid cancer

It is the malignant thyroid tumor, and when it is discovered, tests, such as whole body scintigraphy, should be performed to see if other parts of the body have been affected. The treatment is done with the removal of the thyroid through surgery, and there may be a need for other complementary therapies such as the use of radioactive iodine, for example. In cases of more severe and aggressive tumors, radiotherapy may also be used. See 7 symptoms that may indicate thyroid cancer.

Also watch the following video and learn what food to eat during thyroid cancer treatment: