Thyrotoxicosis of the thyroid gland in the world of modern medicine is considered a fairly common disease, which is diagnosed mainly among young people, whose age is from 20 to 45 years, but sometimes also among the older age group. Elevated thyroid hormones cause a number of dangerous reactions in the body. Thyrotoxicosis of the thyroid gland can be considered a kind of poisoning of the body with thyroid hormones.
Thyrotoxicosis of the thyroid gland: causes . Increased thyroid function can develop in different conditions of the body. For example, thyrotoxicosis quite often is a companion of various kinds of autoimmune diseases, during which an excess number of leukocytes is produced, which in turn leads to hyperfunction of the gland.
In addition, various types of damage to the body of the gland itself can be the cause of such a disease. Sometimes a picture is observed when the connection between the thyroid gland and the hypothalamic-pituitary system is lost - hormones begin to be produced uncontrollably and spread through the body along with internal fluids. This condition is observed among patients with a tumor of the gland.
Thyroid inflammation can also lead to the development of thyrotoxicosis. For example, this condition is often diagnosed in women after childbirth. Sometimes an excess of iodine in the body can lead to gland hyperfunction , which happens when it is taken uncontrollably. Excessive use of substances that stimulate the thyroid gland can very likely lead to the development of such a violation.
Thyrotoxicosis of the thyroid gland: symptoms . An increase in the level of thyroid hormones affects, first of all, the nervous system. People with this disease become extremely nervous, emotional and excitable. Patients often complain of instability and tearfulness. In addition, an excess of hormones activates the processes of protein breakdown, and this leads to a sharp and strong weight loss, increased sweating, tachycardia. If you notice some of these signs, then most likely you need to make an appointment with an endocrinologist.
In addition, patients with thyrotoxicosis often enough complain of diarrhea, baldness, a violation of the monthly cycle, a decrease or complete disappearance of sexual desire.
In that case, if the size of the gland increases, then the processes of swallowing or speech can be much more difficult. A fairly characteristic sign of some forms of thyrotoxicosis is the so-called "eye-eye", when the eyeballs literally bulge outward. Patients begin to be afraid of bright light, their tear secretion increases, and their eyelids constantly swell.
Thyrotoxicosis of the thyroid gland: treatment methods . It is worth recalling that only an endocrinologist should deal with the treatment of such a disease. Today, there are various methods of treating such a disease, and the choice of method of treatment depends on many factors, for example, the causes, forms and stages of the development of the disease are taken into account.
Conservative treatment aims to reduce the amount of hormones produced. For this purpose, patients are prescribed special drugs that block the absorption of iodine by the thyroid gland, making it impossible to further synthesize thyroid hormones.
In addition, in some cases, doctors resort to surgical methods of treatment. During the operation, part of the body of the gland is removed, leaving, nevertheless, such a part of it that could ensure the normal functioning of the body. Typically, this method is used to remove the tumor.
There is another, quite specific method of treatment - the introduction of radioactive iodine into the body . The thyroid gland very actively assimilates this element and accumulates it in its tissues. At the same time, iodine irradiates the body of the gland and reduces its volume.