Thyroid Diseases

A common thyroid disorder is hypothyroidism, also known as underactive thyroid. In this condition, the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, which can lead to symptoms such as tiredness, fatigue, weight gain, sensitivity to cold, dry skin, constipation and depression. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland.

On the other hand, there is hyperthyroidism. In this case, the thyroid gland produces too many hormones, which can lead to symptoms such as weight loss, nervousness, palpitations, sweating and sleep problems. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is the autoimmune disease Graves’ disease.

In addition to these two main diseases, thyroid nodules can also occur, which can be either benign or malignant. Thyroid nodules can be caused by various factors, including iodine deficiency, inflammation or genetic predispositions.

The diagnosis of thyroid disorders usually involves a combination of physical examinations, blood tests to measure thyroid hormones, imaging such as ultrasound and, if necessary, a fine needle biopsy to examine thyroid nodules.

The treatment of thyroid disorders depends on the specific diagnosis. Treatment for hypothyroidism may involve the substitution of L-thyroxine to balance hormone levels in the body. For hyperthyroidism, various approaches can be used, including medication to block hormone production, radioiodine therapy or, in some cases, surgery to remove the thyroid gland or part of it.

From a holistic medicine perspective, gut health, toxic stress, but also deficiencies of important micronutrients should be considered.

Overall, appropriate diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders is important as they can have a variety of effects on health and well-being.

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