What are the symptoms of thyroid? What causes thyroid? Why do people get affected to thyroid? Should one continue medicine of thyroid for lifetime?

Question

Bonyji, first thing is that thyroid is a gland present in all of us, producing essential hormone thyroxine, needed for brain development and functioning plus for almost every vital metabolic activity in the body. Deficiency of hormone thyroxine is known as hypothyroidism and excess of that hormone is hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a common condtion. Seen more often in women. Reasons why it occurs are not very clear. One of the important cause is deficiency of iodine in diet leading to swelling of the gland (goitre) and hypothyroidism. That is one of the reasons why iodinated salt is to be consumed. Second important cause is an autoimmune disease called hashimoto's thyroiditis where there are anti tpo antibodies are produced destroying thyroid gland leading to hypothyroidism. Symptoms are weight gain, early tired feeling, fatigue, slow heart rate, dry skin, dry hair, hair fall, irregular menstruation, excess flow, intolerance to cold and swelling of face, feet and legs. Other symptoms include depression and anxiety disorder, difficulty in speech and no clarity in thinking. Only treatment is to give thyroxine tablets for life time. Inaddition regular exercise also required to avoid weight gain.

Prabhakar Laxman Jathar · Accepted Answer

Bonyji, first thing is that thyroid is a gland present in all of us, producing essential hormone thyroxine, needed for brain development and functioning plus for almost every vital metabolic activity in the body. Deficiency of hormone thyroxine is known as hypothyroidism and excess of that hormone is hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a common condtion. Seen more often in women. Reasons why it occurs are not very clear. One of the important cause is deficiency of iodine in diet leading to swelling of the gland (goitre) and hypothyroidism. That is one of the reasons why iodinated salt is to be consumed. Second important cause is an autoimmune disease called hashimoto's thyroiditis where there are anti tpo antibodies are produced destroying thyroid gland leading to hypothyroidism. Symptoms are weight gain, early tired feeling, fatigue, slow heart rate, dry skin, dry hair, hair fall, irregular menstruation, excess flow, intolerance to cold and swelling of face, feet and legs. Other symptoms include depression and anxiety disorder, difficulty in speech and no clarity in thinking. Only treatment is to give thyroxine tablets for life time. Inaddition regular exercise also required to avoid weight gain.