What are the most common thyroid diseases?

The most common thyroid diseases are presented below in the text.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a condition of reduced secretion and action of thyroid hormones. It occurs more often in women and in older people. The main cause of hypothyroidism is chronic autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid gland (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis). It can occur as a consequence of treating hyperthyroidism or as a consequence of thyroid surgery.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include dry skin, thin hair, and brittle nails. Over time, chronic fatigue and exhaustion appear, as well as depression.

Treatment of hypothyroidism is carried out by replacing the hormones that are lacking in the body. The disease can be kept completely under control if the therapy is taken regularly. Treatment is most often lifelong.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a condition of increased secretion and action of thyroid hormones. It occurs at any age, but is more common in women aged 20 to 50.

The cause of hyperthyroidism is an autoimmune thyroid disease (Basedow’s or Graves’ disease). Symptoms include fatigue, heart palpitations, hair loss, and protrusion of the eyeballs.

Treatment of hyperthyroidism initially involves medication (thyreostatics and beta blockers), and if necessary, surgery or treatment with radioactive iodine is recommended.

Euthyroid goiter (struma)

The term goiter or struma refers to an enlarged thyroid gland. The most common cause of this thyroid disease is iodine deficiency, and it occurs more often in women. The development of the disease is also affected by taking medications, stress, infections, and the amount of iodine.

A symptom of this condition is a feeling of tightness in the neck; less commonly, hoarseness and difficulty swallowing may also occur.

The diagnosis of goiter is made clinically. An ultrasound examination will show the size of the thyroid gland, the structure of the tissue, and the presence of nodules.

It is treated surgically if the patient experiences breathing or swallowing difficulties due to the size of the goiter.

Thyroid autonomy disease

Thyroid autonomy diseases include the following conditions: diffuse autonomy, toxic adenoma, and multinodular toxic goiter. In all of the listed diseases, the thyroid gland produces an excess of hormones.

Most patients have no symptoms, while some have a clinical picture similar to hyperthyroidism. Most often, heart function disturbances are the only sign of these diseases.

All of the listed diseases require drug therapy in order to normalize thyroid hormone levels in the blood. Younger patients are often advised to undergo thyroid surgery, while older patients are advised treatment with radioactive iodine.

Thyroid inflammations

Acute inflammation

It is very rare. It appears through the spread of bacteria from the surrounding area or through thyroid injuries. Thyroid inflammation is treated with antibiotic therapy or surgically.

Subacute thyroid inflammation – granulomatous de Quervain’s thyroiditis

It represents a transient inflammatory process of the thyroid gland that occurs after viral infections of the upper respiratory tract. The disease is characterized by fatigue, general weakness, and a painful swelling of the thyroid gland with pain when swallowing.

Diagnosis is determined based on the clinical picture and thyroid ultrasound findings. The recommendation is to treat this disease with higher doses of acetylsalicylic acid or ibuprofen along with a beta blocker. In 5-10% of patients, permanent hypothyroidism requiring lifelong treatment has been recorded.

Chronic autoimmune thyroid disease: Hashimoto’s disease, lymphocytic thyroiditis

Hashimoto’s disease most commonly occurs due to a disorder in the functioning of the immune system with the presence of a genetic predisposition. The disease is more common in women.

Symptoms include autoimmune destruction of thyroid tissue, the occurrence of goiter with or without thyroid function disorder (hypothyroidism, less commonly hyperthyroidism).

At the beginning of the disease there are usually no symptoms, while later hypothyroidism may develop. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are treated.

Thyroid tumors

Thyroid tumors can be benign or malignant and are most often asymptomatic. A risk factor for the occurrence of tumors is radiation, and it can also be hereditary. Thyroid tumors are somewhat more common in women.

We may suspect a thyroid tumor if we notice a nodule on the thyroid gland or an enlarged lymph node in the neck. If there is suspicion, it is necessary to perform a cytological puncture with ultrasound.

At our polyclinic, you can have thyroid tests done. If you have a question for us or would like to schedule an examination, feel free to contact us!