Hyperfunction of the thyroid gland: causes, symptoms and methods of treatment

Unfortunately, hyperthyroidism is considered one of the most common diseases of the organs of internal secretion. It is also interesting that in women such a disease appears about 7-8 times more often than in men. Hyperfunction of the thyroid gland is a rather dangerous disease that requires careful diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Hyperfunction of the thyroid gland: causes . In fact, there are many reasons for the development of such a disease. Quite often hyperthyroidism appears as a result of an overabundance of iodine in the body. This happens when a person independently takes high doses of iodine without special need, and also with the constant and unnecessary use of preventive drugs to protect the thyroid gland.

In addition, the cause of hyperfunction can be severe trauma or strong nervous strain, persistent stress or a serious tragedy in life. Sometimes such a disease manifests itself against the backdrop of inflammatory processes in the gland tissues. In some cases, the increased function may be the result of a previous severe bacterial infection. There is also a factor of genetics.

Hyperfunction of the thyroid gland: symptoms . The increased release of thyroid-stimulating hormones into the blood causes the active decomposition of glycogen and protein stores. That is why signs of hyperthyroidism can be considered a strong weight loss, increased allocation of sweat and heat energy, as well as a constant feeling of intense heat and tachycardia.

In addition, over time the sick person begins to complain of a strong weakness in the muscles, trembling of the limbs, and sometimes all parts of the body. The increased concentration of hormones also affects the nervous system, causing strong excitability.

In some cases, the thyroid gland is greatly enlarged and changes in its size are visible even for the unaided eye. Another, rather characteristic symptom - is a pop-eyed. It can be accompanied by increased and abundant release of tears, as well as swelling of the eyelids and skin around the eye. It is worth mentioning that sometimes hyperthyroidism is not accompanied by a pop-eyed.

Hyperfunction of the thyroid gland: treatment. In modern medicine, three main methods of treating hyperthyroidism are used - conservative, surgical, and also a method using radioactive iodine.

The choice of method of treatment directly depends on the patient's condition, the form of the disease, the stage of its development, as well as some individual characteristics of the patient's body, for example, age characteristics or the presence of allergies.

Pharmacological treatment involves the taking of special drugs that instantly reduce the level of hormones produced. As a rule, even a short-term reception of such drugs causes noticeable improvements in the patient's condition. In the future, a person should take a minimum dose of these medicines within a year to completely heal. In no case should you stop taking the medication without the endocrinologist's advice, as the result may be a relapse form of the disease. In addition, during the treatment the patient should undergo regular checkups, since taking certain drugs can cause hypofunction.

Surgical treatment involves partial removal of thyroid tissue. In this case, the patient remains a part of the gland, which is enough for the normal functioning of the body. This method is used only in cases of severe goitre, as well as if pharmacological drugs do not work.

Treatment with iodine is based on the increased absorption of this element by the thyroid gland. In this case, the radioactive iodine, which is absorbed by the gland tissues, irradiates it from the inside and significantly reduces the level of hormones synthesized by it.