The thyroid may be tiny, but its role in the body is mighty.
Thyroid Gland
The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, in front of and to each side of the top of the Tracheo. The thyroid exerts a powerful effect on the metabolism of the body in general, that’s responsible for controlling the way your body uses energy.
It secretes hormones that affect everything from your heart rate to your body temperature.
The thyroid hormone is called thyroxine and is rich in iodine.
Deficiency or absence of thyroxine occurring:-
1 In a young child result in retarded growth and gross mental deficiency (cretinism).
2 In an adult causes myxoedema. All body functions are slowed down, the patient being fat the action is slow and mentally lethargic.
Over secretion of thyroxine results in enlargement of the thyroid (goitre) the disease is called thyrotoxicosis, exophthalmic goitre( since the eyeball protrudes) or graves disease. The patient's metabolic rate is greatly increased. He or she is thin, nervous and often shows a nervous tremor of the hands.
Another form of thyroid enlargement (endemic goitre) is due to the deficiency of iodine in the diet or drinking water.
Parathyroid Glands
These four bodies lie on both sides of the neck just under the upper halves of the thyroid and are concerned in controlling the balance of certain minerals in the body mainly calcium & phosphorus.
Overactivity of these four bodies results in loss of phosphate from the body. The body tries to make up for this loss by calcium from the bones. The bones become rarefied. There is an excess of calcium in the blood, the muscles are flabby and the patient has general depression of the nervous system.
When the parathyroid is underactive or accidentally removed with the part of the thyroid gland with which parathyroid glands are embedded, there is very little calcium in the blood and convulsions and tectonic spasms follow.
Everyone, unless it’s been surgically removed—has the potential to develop a thyroid problem.
For women, the possibilities are much greater.
Women are more likely to have a thyroid problem than men.
Common Thyroid Diseases in Women
Thyroid disorders vary in type and severity for all genders, but there are some that appear to be more common in women.
These thyroid diseases are:
Hypothyroidism is the deficiency or less production of thyroxin hormone
Hyperthyroidism is a higher production of the thyroxine hormone
Thyroiditis especially postpartum thyroiditis is the inflammation of the thyroid gland
Goitre is an abnormally enlarged thyroid gland
Thyroid nodules are swelling in one section of the thyroid gland
Thyroid cancer, when cancer cells form in the tissues of the thyroid gland.
How Thyroid Disease Symptoms Affect Women?
Thyroid problems are more common in women due to some of the causes of the symptoms are gender-specific.
Woman’s reproductive system is been affected by thyroid resulting disturbance in the menstrual cycle, ovulation, and pregnancy.
In women, thyroid diseases results may be:-
Irregular, light, or heavy menstrual periods or even stop the flow altogether for months (amenorrhea).
Lead to early menopause (before age 40) if your body’s immune system caused the thyroid disease.
It's difficult to get pregnant especially with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
When the hormone imbalance due to thyroid disease affects the menstrual cycle it also impacts ovulation.
Cause health problems during pregnancy.
Having untreated hyperthyroidism or hyperthyroidism during pregnancy can cause health problems for mom and baby, including:
Problems with baby’s growth, development, and health, low birth weight, miscarriage or stillbirth Or preeclampsia, a serious syndrome in a pregnant woman causing high blood pressure and kidney and organ problems.
If you are trying to have a baby, is it important to check for thyroid problems before getting pregnant?
When you’re pregnant, your thyroid hormone levels elevate naturally, because thyroid hormones help with the baby’s brain development.
It can be harder to detect thyroid issues once you are pregnant because of the normal change in hormones that happen during pregnancy.
Why Are Women More Likely to Have Thyroid Problems?
Little is known about what causes thyroid issues in all genders, but some risk factors may hint at why the condition’s prevalence weighs more heavily on women:
Having an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus is a risk factor for developing thyroid disease. Autoimmune diseases are also much more common in women than they are in men.
Having been pregnant, especially within the past 6 months, is another risk factor for both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
Regular screenings aren’t recommended for thyroid disease, but if you’re having hyperthyroid or hypothyroid symptoms, especially if you’re trying to get pregnant, it’s wise to see a doctor.
Health complications caused by untreated thyroid disorders can be avoided with proper treatment.