Causes And Medications For Thyroid Problems

Located in the front part of the neck below the Adam’s apple, the thyroid gland is an important gland which is responsible for the secretion of thyroid hormones that regulates the metabolism of the body.Thyroid hormones are essential and vital for regulating the energy of the body and for the proper use of vitamins, hormones and maturation of the body tissues. Whenever the thyroid gland becomes diseased, problems such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can ensue.

Causes for thyroid disorder

Hypothyroidism can result owing to treatment of hyperthyroidism by surgical methods or radioactive destruction of thyroid tissue. Antithyroid antibodies present in people suffering from diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis etc can cause limited production of thyroid hormones.

Hypothyroidism can also be a genetically caused and may be seen from birth. This type of thyroid malfunctioning can be found out early through nationwide screening of the disease among newborns. Problems related to thyroid hormone production can cause Hashimoto thyroiditis in which case an increased amount of TSH is created. This can in turn lead to enlargement of the thyroid gland itself known as goiter. There will be a clear enlarged swelling n the front of the neck in this case. Medications such as lithium can also lead to drug-induced hypothyroidism.

Medications and treatment

Thyroid problems can be arrested through the use of beta blockers which help by stopping many of the body’s responses to hyperthyroidism. It also helps to curtail nervousness, agitation and tremor associated with this problem. It can also bring down the fast heart rate. In persons with mild symptoms this is given as tablets and for those suffering from severe symptoms it is given as an IV preparation.

Propylthiouracil is an antithyroid drug which works by blocking thyroid hormone synthesis. This drug can take time to give significant results. Also skin rash, decrease in white blood count may be some of the side effects associated with this medication. If you suffer from high fever while taking this medicine you must call the doctor and seek immediate medical help. Methimazole also works just like the aforesaid drug. This drug can take a longer time than propylthiouracil to give full effects. Side effects are also similar to propylthiouracil. Iodide works to cure disorders of the thyroid by hampering the release of thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland which may be over functioning.