Thyroid Gland Problems Explained By An Endocrinologist
17 Mar 2022
The thyroid gland is the largest endocrine gland in the human body, affecting all organs and systems - cardiovascular, nervous, digestive, etc. It plays a key role in various processes in the human body, affecting the metabolism, psyche, and energy levels. Dr. Daniela Krasimirova, an endocrinologist with over 25 years worth of experience in the field, shares the symptoms and causes for changes in the normal function of the thyroid gland as well as ways to treat it.
Dr. Daniela Krasimirova’s work focuses on endocrinology and emergency medicine. She specializes in diagnosing and treating patients with diseases associated with dysfunction of the endocrine glands (pituitary, thyroid, adrenal glands, gonads), prediabetes, gestational diabetes, diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, impaired bone mineral density.
The most common condition regarding the endocrine system is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which is a type of autoimmune disease. The disease can develop in both men and women but is most common in women aged 30-50 years. In the last two decades, the number of patients affected by this condition has doubled. Worldwide, there are over 200 million people with some form of dysfunction of the thyroid gland, according to The Lancet.
Dr. Krasimirova examined the reasons for these problems. She cited stress, family predisposition, certain viral or bacterial infections in the body, and toxic environments or exposure to toxic chemicals as the main causes of glandular problems.
The symptoms of glandular dysfunction are numerous and are often confused with other health conditions. Dr. Krasimirova pointed out what symptoms people should watch out for in case of hypofunction or reduced gland function:
- slow heart rate
- fatigue and tiredness
- weight gain
- memory impairment
- depressed mood
The symptoms of hyperfunction or increased gland function were also important to mention, namely:
- weight loss
- irritability, nervousness
- tremor of the hands
- changes in the menstrual cycle
- muscle atrophy
Dr. Krasimirova advises that if problems are suspected, the following tests can be done: levels of the hormones TSH, T3, and T4; antibodies, in particular, thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPO Ab), TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb), and to perform an ultrasound examination of the gland. If additional causes are sought, more tests for related infections may be performed.
In case of changes in the functioning of the thyroid gland, the affected people should follow a diet and take supplements, because deficiencies are usually observed, stressed Dr. Krasimirova. She recommended eliminating gluten, dairy and sugar from your daily diet and increasing your intake of vegetables, olive oil, and seafood.
Did you know that modern technology can help with thyroid care? With the Medrec:M mobile application you can store hormone tests, ultrasounds, monitor symptoms, and share them with your doctor. Conducting a remote consultation is just one of the conveniences of the application, as well as better adhering to the prescribed therapy plan. Try the app completely free now.