Download Disorders of the Thyroid

By: Jessica Stevens

Actions of the thyroid
◦ Controls body temperature
◦ How body burns calories
◦ Controls how fast food
moves through digestive
tract
◦ Muscle strength

Thyroid hormones:
◦ T3-thyroxine
◦ T4-triiodothyronine
◦ Calcitonin
Hyperthyroidism is present when the thyroid
gland is over secreting hormones.










Diarrhea and weight loss
Eye problems
Enlarged thyroid gland
Hair and skin changes
Heat intolerance
Heart palpitations
Clubbing
Menstrual cycle changes
Muscle weakness
Easily bruised






Nervousness
Restlessness
Anxiety
Irritability
Sleeplessness or insomnia
Exhaustion
Everyone wants to know how to
diagnose these disorders…
Early diagnosis is key to treatment and recovery.

How do we diagnosis these disorders??
◦ Thyroid stimulation hormone (TSH) test
 Normal levels of TSH are 0.4-4.5milliunits/L.
◦ Thyroid hormone test
 In adults, a normal total T3 level is 80-230 ng/dL.
Total T4 levels should be at 5-14 mcg/dL.




Grave’s disease.
A benign nodule on the thyroid.
Thyroiditis.
Taking too much of the synthetic thyroid
hormone.
Who is more prone to develop Grave’s disease??
That’s right
FEMALES…



With Grave’s Disease, the immune system
begins to attack the thyroid and produces
antibodies that mimic TSH.
Women are more likely to develop Grave’s
disease.
Hereditary and environmental influences.

Radioactive iodine
◦ Typical treatment is 3-12 millicuries.
◦ However, this treatment can cause hypothyroidism.
◦ It must also be followed by thyroid replacing
hormones.


Beta-Blockers
Antithyroid medication-Propylthiouracil (PTU) or
Tapazole

Hypothyroidism is present when the thyroid
gland is producing little or no thyroid
hormones. Thus slowing things down....








Cold intolerance
Slow digestion
Weight gain
Fatigue
Thin, coarse hair
Brittle fingernails
Muscle aches
Dizziness


Ringing in ears
Numbness
◦ Carpal tunnel




Poor memory
Skin changes
Voice changes
Milky discharge
from breasts
Hypothyroidism can be linked to psychiatric
depression.
Roughly 15% of all patients suffering from
depression are found to be hypothyroid.
Some symptoms found are:
 Paranoia
 Aural and Visual hallucinations





Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Treatment for hyperthyroidism
Congenital hypothyroidism
Radiation therapy given to the head and/or
neck
Side-effect hypothyroidism


Thyroid replacement pills-most common
Some medicines can cause hypothyroidism.
◦ Stop the medication and symptoms should cease.



Cronin, Colleen. (2005) Hyperthyroidism.
Retrieved March 19, 2008, from WebMD web
site: http://www.webmd.com/a-tozguides/hyperthyroidism-topic-overview.
Katz-Wise, Sabra L. (2006). Hypothyroidism.
Retrieved March 19, 2008, from WebMD web
site: http://www.webmd.com/a-tozguides/hypothyroidism-topic-overview.
Rosenthal, M. Sara (1999). The thyroid
sourcebook for women. Lincolnwood, IL:
Lowell House.

In conclusion, people with proper medical
attention and patient compliancy can lead a
healthy, active lifestyle with these conditions.