Tips for those who do not want to miss the disease of the thyroid gland

Do you think that you personally are not concerned with the problems associated with the thyroid gland? In this case, you simply underestimate the role of this gland in the body. The main feature of diseases of the thyroid gland is the latency of their course. In order not to miss the disease of the thyroid gland, we give you some important advice.

After a certain period of time, go through the

examination. Thyroid gland diseases are widespread in the world, especially among women. On the first place in the developed countries there is an autoimmune thyroiditis, from which in the USA about ten percent of the population suffers. With this disease there is a gradual decrease in thyroid function. At the same time, many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism are expressed vaguely and look like signs of aging or menopause. The same can be said about the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, which can be erased, especially in the elderly. Sometimes the symptoms of hypothyroidism may appear and with increased thyroid function. For these reasons, it is recommended that regular examinations be carried out to determine the functional activity of the thyroid gland, starting at the age of thirty-five, regularly every 5 years. Naturally, if violations are detected, the intervals between examinations should be shorter.

Check the functional activity of the gland during those periods of your life when the need for thyroid hormones changes.

Many physical conditions, for example, pregnancy or the aging process of the body, cause chemical changes in your body that can change the need for the amount of thyroid hormones. Such processes occur, for example, in any situation leading to an increase in the level of estrogen: taking oral contraceptives, pregnancy. The more hormone-binding proteins are in the blood, the more hormones they block, and the less they enter the cells. Therefore, in such situations, it is sometimes necessary to begin taking or increasing the dose of the drugs taken. A blood test will help determine the adequacy of the prescribed therapy. Conversely, chemical changes leading to a decrease in the formation of thyroxine-binding proteins require a decrease in the dose of hormones taken, as the amount of hormones blocked in the blood decreases and the amount of hormones entering the cells of the body tissues increases.

This situation may occur in the development of diseases associated with excessive production of androgens or the intake of drugs containing these hormones. In such cases, a systematic control of the level of thyroid hormones is required, which should be conducted at least once every three months.

Conduct regular examinations of your neck

The method proposed by the American Endocrinology Association seems to be quite simple and effective, therefore it is given without changes. You must have a mirror that you can hold in your hand and a glass of water.

1. Holding a mirror in your hand, look at the area below the Adam's apple and above the clavicle, it is here that your thyroid gland is located.
2. Focus the mirror on this area, slightly flip the head.
3. Take a sip of water and see if any protrusions appear during swallowing in the observed area. Repeat several times.
4. If you notice any formation, contact your doctor. It can be either an enlarged iron, or a knot in it.

Consume enough iodine

Iodine is the basis for the formation of thyroid hormones. Lack of iodine is observed now in many countries of the world. The relative deficiency of iodine is also present in the soils of North-West Russia, and, accordingly, in the plants growing there, hence - in milk and meat of animals that feed on them.

We get iodine with food. The greatest amount of iodine is found in fish, in smaller quantities it is found in meat, eggs and milk and very little in fruit and vegetables. If you are a vegetarian and strictly follow the posts or just a pensioner and are forced to sit on the vegetables of the suburban area, almost certainly the amount of iodine you consume will be insufficient. The easiest way to fill this deficit is to consume iodized salt or bread with its addition. The daily requirement for iodine is 150-200 μg. A teaspoon of salt contains 400 mcg, a slice of bread - 200 mcg. Calculate yourself.

If possible, stop taking thyroid hormones

People who take thyroid hormones often come to see doctors, who have never studied its functional activity. At one time they had a weakness, they began to get fat, and the doctor advised them to start taking a thyroxine, which they continued to do year after year. In many of these patients, after the drug is discontinued, the hormone levels are within normal limits. When questioned, they admit that taking hormones, they still experience weakness and have problems with being overweight. The doctor, apparently, should not prescribe them hormones without a preliminary examination of thyroid function and especially alone continue their uncontrolled reception.

REMEMBER! !! It's always better that your own gland work than replacing its products with hormones injected from the outside.

There is one more group of patients with whom hormone replacement therapy has been prescribed in accordance with the data of laboratory studies, but later it can be canceled. We are talking about patients with chronic thyroiditis, when the process is often reversible, and the functions of the gland are restored. If you were prescribed hormones due to hypothyroidism developing after chronic thyroiditis, after completing treatment, ask the doctor to cancel hormones and check the function of your gland.

Remember the interaction of

medications. Many medications interact with thyroid hormones, so be sure to consult your endocrinologist if you are prescribed a new or canceled old medicine or its dosage is significantly changed.

Drugs can affect the production of hormones in various ways: reduce or increase the production of hormones of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland that regulate the activity of the thyroid gland, altering the production of thyroid hormones or the ratio of T3 and T4.At the cellular level, they can change both the capture of hormones by the cells, and the action of hormones within them.

The main medicines to which attention should be paid are: lithium, amiodarone, estrogens, steroids, aspirin( at a dose of more than 3000 mg), iron, iodine, propranolol.

Stay healthy!