PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, May 24: Tata Main Hospital’s nuclear medicine physician, Dr Abhishek Kumar created awareness on thyroid diseases, its manifestations and cures on the eve of World Thyroid Day.
World Thyroid Day is observed every year on May 25.
Dr. Abhishek Kumar has over 16 years of experience in nuclear medicine. He completed his MBBS and MD, Nuclear Medicine from AIIMS, New Delhi.
Importance of Thyroid gland
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland situated in the front of the neck, it is part of the human endocrine system and produces and releases thyroid hormones like Thyroxine.
The function of the thyroid is to control the speed or the level of our metabolism. It is important for its role in the growth and development of children and also in pregnancy for the development of the foetus.
“Deficiency of thyroid hormones in children can result in slow growth, lack of activity and poor performance in school. In severe cases, stunted growth can also be seen. Thyroid diseases can be hereditary and are seen to run in families,” said Dr Abhishek Kumar.
Hypothyroidism and its cure
He pointed out that hypothyroidism, also known as underactive thyroid is seen with low thyroid hormone levels on blood tests. It is more commonly seen in women and signs like weight gain, lethargy, intolerance to cold, feeling dull, menstrual irregularities and weakness can be seen.
It can be accompanied by swelling of the thyroid gland, also known as goitre. Iodine deficiency is one of the most common causes and using iodized salt helps in the prevention of this form of goitre.
Another cause of hypothyroidism can be the presence of goitrogens in food, which are compounds that interfere with the production of thyroid hormones, he explained.
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In an article, Dr Abhishek said there are many goitrogen-containing food items, common ones being cauliflower, cabbage, turnip and cassava which need to be consumed in moderation in these patients.
The treatment of hypothyroidism is with thyroxine hormone tablets which are taken empty stomach in the morning.
Treatment usually continues for lifetime. Follow-up with the doctor is recommended every 1 to 2 months initially and on assuming control of disease status, the gap of visit can be widened.
Thyroiditis and its cure
Another form of endocrine thyroid disease is thyroiditis which is basically an overactive thyroid.
The thyroid gland releases excess thyroid hormones in this condition. Here either the thyroid gland is producing excess hormones or some infective cause releases the stored hormones from the thyroid gland in excess, also known as thyroiditis.
He explained that thyroiditis can be accompanied by sore throat, fever and pain in the neck. Hyperthyroidism is treated with anti-thyroid medications.
For thyroiditis, there is symptomatic treatment which resolves on its own over time. Common signs of hyperthyroidism are weight loss, anxiety, intolerance to heat and tremors.
One should visit a doctor and get tested for thyroid disease in case of these complaints. Follow-up with the doctor is initially at a month gap, which is widened after resuming control of thyroid hormone levels.
Another treatment option for over-functioning thyroid gland is with radioactive iodine, it destroys the thyroid cells and stops further production of excess thyroid hormones. It is used in patients who have been on antithyroid medications for a long duration or in cases where control is not achieved despite anti-thyroid medications.
Thyroid cancer and its cure
According to Dr Abhishek, thyroid cancer, another disease of concern commonly manifests as hard neck swelling. It is usually not painful and shows an increase in size over time. Difficulty is swallowing, hoarseness or change in voice can also be seen in thyroid cancer.
It is for the risk of cancer, people should immediately see a doctor in case of any type of neck swelling and avoid self-diagnosis. The doctor will evaluate the swelling and order necessary tests to rule out cancer.
The mode of treatment for thyroid cancer is surgery wherein the entire thyroid gland is removed.
“We, at TMH Jamshedpur offer the best treatment for all types of thyroid diseases with the state-of-art modern equipments and techniques. We have facility for thyroid scans, thyroid surgeries and treatment with radioactive iodine,” added the senior doctor.
