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Thyroid disease is a medical condition that affects the structure and/or function of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck and produces thyroid hormones [ 1 ] that travel through the blood to help regulate many other organs, meaning that it is an endocrine organ .
Data from the Danish Investigation of Iodine Intake and Thyroid Disease shows that within two cohorts (males, females) with moderate and mild iodine deficiency, the levels of both thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies are higher in females, and prevalence rates of both antibodies increase with age.
Yearly thyroid function tests are recommended in people with Down syndrome, as they are at higher risk of thyroid disease. [62] Guidelines for England and Wales from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommend testing for thyroid disease in people with type 1 diabetes and new-onset atrial fibrillation, and suggests ...
Regardless of the inconsistent findings, a 2007 study by Andersen et al. states that the distinction between sub-clinical and overt thyroid disease is in any case somewhat arbitrary. [55] Sub-clinical hyperthyroidism has been reported in 63% of euthyroid Graves' disease, [56] but only in 4% of cases where Graves' disease was in remission. [57]
Thyroiditis is generally caused by an immune system attack on the thyroid, resulting in inflammation and damage to the thyroid cells. This disease is often considered a malfunction of the immune system and can be associated with IgG4-related systemic disease, in which symptoms of autoimmune pancreatitis, retroperitoneal fibrosis and noninfectious aortitis also occur.
After long-term heavy strain, levels of thyroid hormones decrease. [2] This is exacerbated by other stressors such as undernutrition and lack of sleep, such as in a military training setting. During endurance exercise, before exhaustion, elevated thyroid hormone levels may happen due to increased expected energy demand (type 2 allostatic load). [2]
The most common type of hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease, may additionally cause eye problems (Graves' ophthalmopathy) and skin changes of the legs (pretibial myxedema). [6] Thyroid disease may also cause muscle weakness in the form of thyrotoxic myopathy, but this is constant rather than episodic. [5]
Thyroid hormone treatment is also included if required. Failure of some patients to respond to this first-line treatment has produced a variety of alternative treatments, including azathioprine , cyclophosphamide , chloroquine , methotrexate , periodic intravenous immunoglobulin, and plasma exchange.