Millions of people around the world have thyroid problems, which can affect many parts of the body.
The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that helps control your metabolism, energy, and growth. When it doesn’t work properly, it can lead to serious health issues.
There are different types of thyroid disorders. The two most common are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
Some autoimmune diseases, like Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, are also major causes.
One of the biggest reasons people develop thyroid problems is due to autoimmune diseases. Normally, the immune system protects your body. But in autoimmune diseases, it mistakenly attacks healthy parts of your body.
In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the immune system damages the thyroid gland over time. This leads to hypothyroidism, which means the thyroid doesn’t make enough hormones.
In contrast, Graves’ disease causes the immune system to make the thyroid work too hard. This leads to hyperthyroidism, where the body makes too many thyroid hormones. These extra hormones speed up the body’s systems, which can cause problems like weight loss, anxiety, and rapid heartbeat.
Scientists don’t yet fully understand why the immune system attacks the thyroid, but both genetics and the environment seem to play a role.
If other people in your family have thyroid issues, you’re more likely to develop one too. Certain genes can make a person more likely to get Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s disease, and they can also affect how bad the condition gets.
Your surroundings also matter. Iodine is a mineral your thyroid needs to make hormones. If you don’t get enough iodine in your diet, your thyroid might not work well, leading to hypothyroidism.
This happens more often in places where the soil doesn’t have much iodine. But getting too much iodine—often from supplements—can also be a problem and may lead to hyperthyroidism in some people.
Other things in the environment, like radiation or harmful chemicals such as pesticides, may also hurt the thyroid and cause it to stop working properly.
Changes in hormone levels, especially in women, can also affect the thyroid. Women are more likely than men to have thyroid problems, especially during pregnancy or menopause. Hormones like estrogen may have an effect on how the thyroid functions.
Certain infections or medications can temporarily disturb the thyroid as well. For example, some viruses or bacteria may cause inflammation in the thyroid gland. Some medicines, like lithium used for bipolar disorder, may cause hypothyroidism in some people.
Smoking is another risk factor. Chemicals in cigarettes can harm the thyroid and may raise the chances of developing conditions like Graves’ disease.
Lastly, stress may play a role too. While the link is still being studied, long-term stress could affect hormone levels and contribute to thyroid problems over time.
Knowing the different causes of thyroid disorders helps doctors find better ways to treat them. For hypothyroidism, people usually take synthetic thyroid hormones to replace what the thyroid isn’t making. For hyperthyroidism, there are medications to reduce hormone production. In some cases, surgery or radioactive treatments may be needed.
Researchers are still learning more about how the thyroid works with the rest of the body. If you have a thyroid disorder, working with your doctor to monitor and manage your condition is key. With the right care, most people with thyroid problems can lead normal, healthy lives.
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