Low levels of thyroid hormone in the blood cause underactive thyroid. It happens when the thyroid gland produces fewer hormones than necessary. In other cases the pituitary gland can also cause the condition. The condition is characterized by weakness, slow heart beat, irregular menstrual cycle and some others.

Other symptoms of the condition are fatigue, cold intolerance, pain in joints and muscles, constipation, appetite loss, etc. Weight changes are also frequent as well as dryness of skin; memory and concentration problems are also reported.

It is very important to diagnose and start the treatment of the condition in time otherwise it is fraught with complications. One of them is myxedema. This means that the hormone levels have become too low and they cause puffiness of face, lack of sensation in arms and legs, weakness, hair loss, sleepiness and the like. Elderly people in particular are prone to suffer from hearing ability, memory loss, depression and uneasiness.   Myxederma combined with infections, injuries or some medications are also able to evoke coma; in this case it can turn to be dangerous.

It is recommended that a blood test should be carried out in case an underactive thyroid is suspected. Hormone levels can be kept normal if a daily dose of a thyroxine tablet. Pregnant women with underactive thyroid should be given a medication in order to make sure the baby will grow healthy.

Any surgery is a hard trial for a body; thyroidectomy is not exclusion. Each individual case requires different time to recover. First day after the operation should be completely spent in bed in order not to overexert a patient and exclude the risk of further complications. For the most part the initial diet of a patient will represent only fluids; a normal diet can be taken in three days if a patent feels all right and there are no reasons for worry. For a fortnight any kind of heavy work will be forbidden for a patient but in general this operation is not the one that delays a person from his/her normal daily activities for too long. Nevertheless, it is crucial to follow all the instructions and recommendations given by a doctor after operation.

Majority of patients suffer from mild sore throat and pain while swallowing therefore after the surgery it is still recommended to go on with liquids and soft foods for about a week.

A small quarter-inch tube will stay coming out of the skin of the neck after the surgery. It is designed for the prevention of fluid build up. It is removed soon and after that for 24 hours a patient is allowed to have a shower.

After surgical effects include temporary neck stiffness and soreness and therefore it is not recommended to drive after an operation. Driving presupposes the freedom of movement as it is necessary to be able to look in all the directions. Post-operative state will not allow this for a period of time. It is also not advised to drive after administration of pain-relievers. However, the condition of stiffness is not a subject of worry. It will definitely fade away after several weeks if a patient practices proper exercises.

Post-operative patients will have to undergo medication therapy treatment. It is very important that a patient completes the course be it antibiotics, or pain-relievers, or etc. Another important thing is regular check-up with the doctor after the operation. They should not be missed in order that the recovery process was not going unattended.

Thyroidectomy is not considered a dangerous operation, nevertheless some complications are possible. The most common is hoarseness or change in voice. But it generally happens only in 1 out of 250 people undergone the operation.

Another post-operative complication is hypothyroidism – a condition when insufficient amount of thyroid hormones is produced. In this case medications called thyroxin drugs are prescribed. This hormone replacement therapy will help to keep the amount of hormones on the necessary level. Provided they are absent or scarce a patient will suffer from fatigue, weight and hair problems, depressive states and etc. Thyroid hormones are essential to keep up the metabolic process.

Low blood levels of calcium are also reported in post-operative patients aw well as cases of infections caused by surgery; but they are not that frequent. It is very important to be patient after the surgery and follow all the requirements and recommendations. Only in this case full and quick recovery can be guaranteed.

The treatment of the condition fully depends on the type of it.

In case of hypothyroidism it is important to know whether it is a T3 or T4 deficiency. If it is the former case then levothyroxine (an artificial supplement of thyroxine) is given; if the latter – liothyronine should be taken twice or thrice a day. In other cases Armour thyroid medication can be given as it contains both T3 and T4.

Hyperthyroidism is treated with other cures. In order to prevent the gland from producing excessive amounts of hormones and in general to control the production propylthiouracil, or PTU (2-3 times a day), and methimazole (once a day) are administered.

Apart from the above medications there are some others. For instance, beta-blockers are used when the heart-related consequent effects of hyperthyroidism need to be controlled. Iodide solutions are also used in the purposes of reduction of hormone production; especially in the case of Graves’ disease. Radioactive Iodine (I-131) represents the most powerful remedy which purpose is to eliminate cells of cancer in the thyroid; another purpose of it is to treat hyperthyroidism and nontoxic multi-nodular goiter. This medication is considered effective and harmless altogether as no adverse effects have been known so far. It has, nevertheless, a contraindication: pregnant women should not take it.

It is very important to take any thyroid medication in the morning because they perform the best if the stomach is empty. It is also recommended to wait half an hour after administering the drug and then eat. It will also make the process of drug absorption a lot more effective. As well as washing the pills with water.

It is recommended not to take a laissez-faire attitude to the problem of thyroid in order not to face any complications later.

Speaking about thyroid gland one should mention that it is the largest endocrine glands in the body and it is responsible for the process of energy consumption and protein production. One more task it performs is that it stands in control of our bodily sensitivity to other hormones. This gland is situated in the neck underneath the thyroid cartilage.

The thyroid hormone is produced by the thyroid and is essential as it is stimulates the metabolism process. In case when too much of the hormone is produced hyperthyroidism may occur. The condition is characterized by the increase in the processes in the body and has the following symptoms: fast heart beat, anxiety, palpitations, diarrhea and weight loss.

On the other hand a reverse condition is also possible when the hormone production is lacking. It is called hypothyroidism and can be caused by iodine deficiency. The symptoms are the following: depression, goiter, muscle cramps and joint pain, also carpal tunnel syndrome, exhaustion and intolerance or increased sensitivity to cold.

There are certain foods rich in essential nutrients that can assist in keeping the thyroid healthy. Tyrosine is one of them; it is contained in as avocado, banana and pumpkin seeds. Another ingredient is zinc. It can be found in seafood, nuts and a variety of meats. Also pay attention to peas and turkey. Just be careful about your diet and you will see that no drugs will be necessary.

The thyroid gland is located in the neck and resembles a butterfly in shape. It consists of two lobes that are separated by isthmus. A normal healthy thyroid does not exceed a quarter and is not seen or felt. In its swollen form it is called goiter. The latter may result from the scarcity of iodine in a person’s daily allowance. Thyroid gland contains two types of cells that produce hormones. The first are follicular cells that are responsible for the production of thyroid hormone. Its task is to influence heart rate, body temperature, and energy level. The second type of cells created by the gland is C cells. These cells create calcitonin, a hormone which purpose is to control the blood calcium level.

Cancer can affect any part of the body. The disease starts to develop in cells. In a healthy organism cells grow and then divide from new ones; when they get old and die and are replaced by new cells. But there happens something that makes the whole process go the wrong way. New cells develop when the body has no necessity in them and old cells do not die in time therefore forming excess of tissue also called growths or tumors. The ones found on the thyroid bear the name of nodules.

These nodules can be benign or malignant. The former are not considered cancer because these cells have no tendency to spread to other parts of the body. 90% of the thyroid nodules are considered benign. The latter tumors (malignant) are cancerous and can be very severe and in some cases even dangerous. These cells are able to spread and affect adjoining tissues and organs; it also enters the bloodstream and the lymphatic system and therefore forms new tumors. This process is called metastasis.

Thyroid cancer has several types. Papillary and follicular thyroid cancers are the most widespread types and are treated successfully in case they were detected in time. They start to form in the follicular cells and are characterized by slow speed of growth and development. Another form of thyroid cancer is medullary thyroid cancer and it is not as widespread as the previous two. It originates from C cells and is treated easier if detected before it metastasizes. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is the rarest and has the most abnormal cell forms that are hard to recognize. This type of cancer originates from follicular cells and is extremely hard to control because of the great speed the cells grow and spread at.

In cases when metastases appear cancer cells are detected in lymph nodes, nerves, or blood vessels. Provided cancer reached lymph nodes the lungs or bones can be affected as well. Metastases create new tumors that consist of the same cells that the primary tumor has. This means that cancer cells found in lungs will be thyroid cancer cells and the illness will be metastatic thyroid cancer, not lung cancer and therefore should be treated as such. New tumors are often called “distant” or metastatic disease.

The condition can be evoked by a number of causes. The most frequent among them are Graves’ disease, functioning adenoma, abnormal secretion of TSH, excessive iodine intake, excessive intake of thyroid hormones, thyroiditis, and toxic multinodular goiter.

Hyperthyroidism can show no signs and symptoms if the condition is relatively mild; though the illness can be recognized according to some definite sings. It has also been noticed that in senior patients (older than 70) symptoms can be absent too. Their appearance in general is connected with an increase in the metabolic rate in the organism. The most common symptoms of hyperthyroidism are: intolerance to heat, excessive sweating, changes in heart rate to more rapid, problems with concentration, exhaustion, tremor, nervousness and agitation, loss of weight, irregular and scant menstrual flow, and increased intestinal discharge.

Cases of irregular heart rhythms and heart failure are also known in some people. Moreover, more complicated and severe hyperthyroidism can evoke a condition called “thyroid storm”. It is accompanied by hypertension, fever, and heart failure; in rare cases mental changes (i.e. delirium) are possible.

The condition is treated by different methods. First of all, it is important to relieve the symptoms and allow a person to feel better. One of the main issues is to ease a rapid heart rate. Beta-blockers are a good help for the relief of this condition. They change the way thyroid hormone reacts to increased metabolism; although they are not a cure for the condition itself. It is important to get professional medical consultation and not treat yourself the way you think is right. The treatment is usually selected in accordance with the size of the thyroid gland, the patient’s age, as well as the state of general health and existing contraindications.

The condition can be attended by the administration of medications. The most frequently prescribed in the U.S. are methimazole (Tapazole) and propylthiouracil ( PTU). These remedies work by interfering with the hormone production. They rarely have an adverse effect of agranulocytosis. Long-term treatment is characteristic for the people who suffer from Graves’ disease because of the possibility of its remission if deprived of such treatment.

Hyperthyroidism is also cured by radioactive iodine. It is available in tablets or in liquid form and is commonly given singularly in the purposes of hyperactive gland ablation. This is a different type of iodine than the one used in a scan; it has been successfully practices for more than 50 years with the only contraindications for pregnant and nursing women.

Hyperactive thyroid gland, eventually, can be attended surgically. In earlier years its partial removal was a common practice. The main purpose of the operation is to take away the tissue producing too much of hormone. And though the operation is not considered dangerous it is nevertheless fraught with some adverse effects. There is a risk that hypothyroidism, or an inadequate production of thyroid hormone can start; and this will require thyroid replacement therapy. Though, after the appearance of radioactive iodine therapy and antithyroid drugs surgery is practiced not that often and mostly in the cases of pregnant women and children with allergic reaction to antithyroid remedies and also in cases when the size of the thyroid gland is too big and can be attended only surgically.