What is the Thyroid?
It is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the front region of the neck, above the trachea. It produces two hormones called T3 and T4. These hormones are very important for human health, so much so that; They play a role in all kinds of body functions, from the functioning of the liver and kidneys to our hair health and even our concentration and speed of thought. For this reason, whether the thyroid gland is overactive or underactive is a problem.
What is Goiter?
Enlargement of the thyroid gland is called goiter. If we consider the thyroid gland as a deflated balloon, the inflated version of this balloon is goiter. It does not matter whether there are swellings, called nodules, in the thyroid gland or whether it secretes more or less hormones. Whether these are present or not, if the thyroid gland is enlarged, it is goiter.
What is Internal Goiter, What is External Goiter?
Actually, there is no such distinction in medicine. This is a myth made up among the public. Internal goiter among the public; External goiter is for cases where the thyroid gland works too much and produces too much hormone; It is used for cases where there are glands (nodules) in the thyroid gland and external interventions such as biopsy or surgery are required.
Are Thyroid and Goiter the Same Thing?
The thyroid is the normal, healthy thyroid gland that every person has. Goiter is used for the enlarged state of this gland. If we think of the thyroid gland as an uninflated balloon, goiter is the inflated version of this balloon.
How Do Thyroid Diseases Cause Complaints?
Thyroid diseases cause three different types of complaints. causes:
Complaints related to the enlargement of the thyroid gland: If the thyroid gland grows too much, it may protrude forward like a mass and cause a cosmetic problem in the neck. In addition, it causes difficulty in breathing by putting pressure on the windpipe behind it, difficulty in swallowing by putting pressure on the esophagus, or a feeling of getting stuck while swallowing. The feeling of "suffocating", which becomes more evident especially when lying down, is also a condition we see in large goiters.
Complaints due to overwork of the thyroid gland:The thyroid gland is like the accelerator pedal of the body; If you step on the gas too much, everything in the body accelerates; metabolism As the heart rate accelerates, weight loss occurs, sleep rhythm is disrupted, excessive mobility and restlessness occur, palpitations occur because the heart works fast, the need to go to the toilet frequently because the intestines work fast, etc.
The thyroid gland Complaints related to slow operation:Everything slows down like a car with low accelerator; As the metabolism slows down, problems such as gaining weight quickly, not being able to wake up in the morning, weakness and drowsiness occur, the skin dries out, hair loss begins, constipation occurs because the intestines work slowly, not understanding what is said because the thinking slows down, and making wrong decisions.
Do Thyroid Diseases Cause Weight Gain?
First of all, it is necessary to understand this well; Obesity is one of the most serious health problems in the world, so it is not a simple issue and the cause of only a small portion of obesity is known. So, we don't know what the cause is for most of the fat people. Underactive thyroid gland causes obesity, but this is a very rare cause of obesity. Therefore, every person with an obesity problem should have their thyroid hormones checked in the blood, but while doing this, they should keep their expectations very low that this will be the cause of the weight problem they are experiencing.
Does Goiter Make You Gain Weight?
Goiter is the enlargement of the thyroid gland. If the gland does not work slowly, the presence of goiter alone will not cause weight gain. It should not be forgotten that obesity is one of the most serious health problems in the world, that is, it is not a simple issue and the cause of a very small portion of obesity is related to the thyroid gland.
Do Thyroid Medications (Pills) Cause Weight Gain?
Thyroid medications do not cause weight gain, on the contrary, they prevent unnecessary weight gain by regulating the metabolism. Therefore, no patient should stop taking thyroid medications recommended by their doctor out of concern that they will gain weight.
Are There Really Foods That Cause Goiter?
Yes, there is. These are called goitrogenic foods or iodine-loving foods in medicine. When these foods are eaten, they absorb all the iodine in the body. They are. However, the thyroid gland requires plenty of iodine to produce hormones. When there is no iodine left in the body, the thyroid gland produces more cells, which causes the gland to enlarge.
Among these foods, the leading role belongs to kale. Because kale is the food that loves iodine the most. Additionally, foods such as white cabbage, radish and broccoli cause goiter when consumed excessively.
What are Thyroid Diseases?
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Thyroid diseases are divided into two groups:
1-Diseases that cause changes in the anatomy and appearance of the thyroid: These are thyroid nodules. Nodule; Gland is a word meaning swelling, protrusion and is a round, hard swelling that occurs inside the thyroid gland. Their sizes can vary from a few millimeters to a few centimeters. Their numbers also vary; They may be single or they may be dozens.
2-Diseases that change thyroid functions: These are diseases that cause the thyroid to either overwork or underwork.
What is Thyroid Inflammation?
Like every organ, the thyroid gland also has inflammation. However, the feature of thyroid gland inflammation is that it is an inflammation that the body produces on its own, without any microbes (bacteria, viruses or fungi). Therefore, antibiotics are not used for this inflammation and it does not go away quickly, it takes a long time to heal. In this process, the functions of thyroid cells may be impaired; They can work slowly or fast. Therefore, such patients require close follow-up.
Are Thyroid Diseases Genetic?
In thyroid patients It is very likely to be genetic. Many thyroid patients have a family history of thyroid disease, albeit of different types. However, it should not be forgotten that the disease also occurs in people who do not have thyroid disease in any family member. In other words, not having a disease in the family reduces the risk but does not eliminate it.
Why Is Goiter More Common in the Black Sea Region?
There are two reasons for this. One of them is the high number of people living in high mountainous regions in the Black Sea region. In high mountainous regions, the amount of iodine in soil and water is low. Therefore, these people follow the natural path They cannot get enough iodine through food (i.e. food and water). The other reason is that kale is produced abundantly and loved in the Black Sea region. Kale is an iodine-loving plant and when it enters the body with food, it collects all the iodine in the body. Since there is no iodine left for the thyroid gland to produce hormones, the tissue tries to solve the problem by enlarging itself and as a result, the thyroid gland enlarges, that is, goiter occurs.
Why Are Thyroid Diseases More Common in Women?
Thyroid diseases, both benign and malignant (cancer), are three times more common in women than in men. is seen. Unfortunately, the exact reason for this is not known. It is thought that female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) play an important role here.
What is a Thyroid Nodule?
Nodule; Gland is a word meaning swelling, protrusion and is a round, hard swelling that occurs inside the thyroid gland. Their sizes can vary from a few millimeters to a few centimeters. Their numbers also vary; They may be single, or they may be dozens. The most important feature of the nodule is that it carries a cancer risk. However, this should not be forgotten. Only 5% of all nodules are cancerous. In other words, patients with nodules should not stress unnecessarily about this issue. The important thing is to determine which nodule may be cancerous. This is the job of a specialist physician.
Is Every Nodule Cancer?
It is never! The probability of cancer in a thyroid nodule is only 5%. In other words, patients with nodules should not stress unnecessarily about this issue. The important thing is to determine which nodule may be cancerous. This is the job of a specialist physician. It is sufficient for patients with nodules to consult physicians who specialize in thyroid and endocrine diseases.
What is Biopsy or Needle Biopsy?
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The word biopsy is used in medicine to mean taking a piece of suspicious tissue. Needle biopsy is performed by inserting a thin needle into the tissue without cutting the skin. The aim here is to understand whether the cells in the suspicious nodule are benign or malignant (cancer). Thyroid biopsies are done with a fine needle. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia without anesthetizing the patient. It is done immediately and completed in a few seconds. The taken piece is sent to the pathology department to be examined under the microscope. The final report will be available within a few days.
What Does Salt Have to Do with Thyroid Diseases?
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The thyroid gland needs iodine atoms to produce hormones. Iodine is essential for the thyroid gland. If natural iodine intake is insufficient, it has been determined that the most suitable food to replace it is salt, and the World Health Organization has recommended adding a certain level of iodine to salt. Our country also followed this recommendation. It is very important to consume salt with the phrase "iodized" on the salt packages we see on the market shelves to have a healthy thyroid gland.
What is Graves' Disease?
It is an inflammation of the thyroid gland that develops on its own, that is, without the introduction of an external bacteria or virus. The good news about Graves is that it has a low risk of cancer, meaning it is a benign disease. The bad news is that it is chronic, that is, it continues for years, and in approximately 1/3 of the patients, the disease hits the eyes and causes the eyes to protrude.
Patients with Graves' disease must be kept under close follow-up by a specialist physician. Because the disease may sometimes flare up, and in this case, the patient may need to take medication supplements or increase their dosage if they are taking medication.
When the eyes start to enlarge in Graves' patients, it is necessary to remove the thyroid by surgical intervention. Because in late cases, even if surgery is performed, the defect in the eyes will not be corrected, it will be permanent.
Is There a Cancer Risk for Graves' Disease?
First of all, it should be well understood that Graves is not a type of cancer. It is an inflammation that the body initiates on its own. The risk of cancer is extremely low. Patients with Graves' disease should be wary of neglecting the follow-up of their disease rather than cancer.
Does Every Thyroid Disease Affect the Eyes?
No thyroid disease other than Graves' Disease affects the eyes or causes disease in the eyes. This is a situation specific to Graves.
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