Thyroid diseases are affecting an increasing number of women than men, depending on age and family history. All thyroid diseases result from a lack of thyroid hormone or too hormone production. The thyroid mainly produces two types of hormones, T3 or triiodothyronine and T4 or thyroxine. For our thyroid to function properly, it should produce 80% of the T4 hormone and 20% of the T3 hormone.
Additionally, the thyroid gland also produces calcitonin to regulate blood calcium levels phosphate. It’s produced by the parafollicular cells called the C-cells of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland plays a prominent role in regulating and maintaining the health and body energy levels.
Researching thyroid disease and its causes, symptoms, and types, look at a couple of thyroid disorders that cause an imbalance in energy levels.
1. Thyroiditis
Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland commonly caused by a viral illness. Some individual thyroid disorders cause inflammation and show up in different ways. The individual may experience general neck pain, sore throat, and fever. The inflammation increases the amount of thyroid hormone secreted into your body, leading to hyperthyroidism. The inflammation can also decrease the production of hormones, causing hypothyroidism.
2. Causes of thyroiditis
Thyroiditis can result from a viral or bacterial infection attacking the thyroid. Antibodies attack the thyroid gland can cause thyroiditis. It can also be caused by certain medications that damage thyroid cells.
Other causes include:
- Hashimoto’s disease, where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and eventually weakens it, resulting in a decreased thyroid hormone production.
- Subacute thyroiditis, where the thyroid alternates between producing too much hormone and too little hormone.
3. Symptoms of thyroiditis
A closer look at thyroid disease and its causes, symptoms, and types present the common symptoms of thyroiditis. However, there are no symptoms unique to this condition. In the case of gradual and chronic thyroid cell damage, symptoms of hyperthyroidism are experienced.
These are:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Constipation
- Dry skin
- Depression
- Intolerance to heat
In case of rapid thyroid cell damage where the thyroid hormone leaks out and increases thyroid hormone levels in the blood, symptoms of hypothyroidism are common.
These include:
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Palpitations
- Weight loss
- Intolerance to cold
- Muscle weakness
4. Diagnosing thyroiditis
While looking at thyroid disease: causes, symptoms, and types, it’s important to know how thyroiditis is diagnosed.
These are the most common ways to diagnose the condition:
- Blood tests are one of the most effective ways, since thyroid hormones circulate in the blood. Your doctor can easily figure out the type of thyroiditis you have.
- Radioactive iodine uptake test (RAIU) lets your doctor check how much iodine your thyroid has absorbed. Before the process, you are given radioactive iodine samples as pills or liquid and observed for 24 hours.
- In a thyroid scan, your doctor will inject radioactive iodine and then use a device to take several images of the thyroid.
5. The treatment
Thyroiditis is usually treated by giving beta-blockers to decrease palpitations and tremors. Hormone replacement therapy is given in case of thyroiditis caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Irrespective of the type of treatment, the patient is kept under observation and treatment is reduced with signs of improvement.