The American Thyroid Association has estimated that about 20 million U.S citizens have some thyroid disorder. In addition to this, up to 60% of these people do not know that they have the condition. Also, women are 8 times more likely to have this disease than men. Undiagnosed thyroid problems put you at a risk of contracting serious conditions, such as infertility, cardiovascular diseases, and osteoporosis. Moreover, undiagnosed pregnant women are at risk of miscarriages or having children with severe developmental problems. There are several thyroid disorders which in turn have various causes. Understanding the cause of these diseases plus having a thyroid test is the key to controlling the development of this condition.
What Is a Thyroid Disease?
This is a medical disorder that compromises the functioning of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is an endocrine gland that produces hormones which are responsible for regulating the body’s metabolism. Although there are several thyroid diseases, almost all of them originate from the abnormal hormone production of the thyroid. When the gland produces too much hormone, the resulting condition is referred to as hyperthyroidism. When it produces an insufficient amount of hormone, the disorder is known as hypothyroidism. Hence, we shall use hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism as our basis for finding the significant causes of thyroid disorders.
Hyperthyroidism
This condition occurs as result of an overactive thyroid gland. This results in an abundance of the thyroid hormones.
Causes of Hyperthyroidism
Graves Disease
For the thyroid to produce hormones necessary for metabolism, it has to receive orders from the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) which is secreted by the pituitary gland. Graves’ disease is a condition whereby the body’s immune system malfunctions which leads to the release of abnormal antibodies which mimic TSH. This causes the thyroid to produce excess hormones which result in hyperthyroidism.
Nodules in the Thyroid Gland
These are solid or fluid-filled lumps that may form on your thyroid. On most occasions, they are non-cancerous. However, in some instances, they may produce thyroxine (the hormone produced by the thyroid) without orders from the pituitary gland. This, therefore, results in excess hormone production.
Excessive TSH production
At times, other medical conditions unrelated to the thyroid may trigger thyroid problems. For instance, the presence of a tumor in the pituitary gland may initiate the excess secretion of TSH. This, in turn, leads to the overproduction of thyroid hormones.
Medication for Hypothyroidism
Since hypothyroidism results from the thyroid producing insufficient amounts of hormone, a physician may prescribe medicine that boosts thyroxine production. If the intake is not monitored correctly, there is a risk of taking an excess of these drugs which leads to overproduction of the hormone.
Thyroiditis
This is the inflammation of the thyroid. It mainly occurs due to a viral illness such as a sore throat or fever which causes pain when swallowing. The gland is also tender to touch. This inflammation has a tendency of leaving the thyroid “leaky” which causes an increase in the amount of thyroid hormone entering the blood.
Hypothyroidism
This is the condition where the thyroid gland is underactive. Consequently, it is not able to produce enough of its hormones.
Causes of Hypothyroidism
Hashimoto’s Disease
This is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the inflammation of the thyroid due to attacks from the immune system. These attacks result in the gradual decay of the thyroid’s tissue. Subsequently, the thyroid’s ability to produce hormones becomes impaired. Hypothyroidism eventually occurs when the gland can no longer provide enough of the thyroid hormone required by the body.
Issue with the Thyroid Gland Itself
If a medical condition necessitates the surgical removal of the thyroid, you will develop hypothyroidism. In addition, the lack of a thyroid may be congenital (being born without one).
Radioactive Treatment for Hyperthyroidism
Sometimes, radioactive therapy is required to treat hyperthyroidism. The fallout from this procedure is that it may lead to an underactive thyroid. This is because radioactive treatment may considerably erode the thyroid rendering it incapable of performing at optimum capacity. This, then, leads to hypothyroidism.
Malfunctioning of Other Glands
Now, you might have a perfectly functioning thyroid but have problems with other glands that regulate the thyroid’s operations. For instance, a faulty hypothalamus or pituitary gland may cause the thyroid not to secrete enough of its hormones, or even become inactive, because it is not receiving signals from these organs.
Iodine deficiency
Diets low in iodine play a significant factor in the development of hypothyroidism.
Genetic Defects
On rare occasions, one may be born with damaged hormone regulatory genes.
As previously stated, almost 60% of the population has one form of thyroid problems or the other but are unaware of it. Getting to know what causes thyroid disorders is therefore crucial so that you know whether you are at risk of this condition. If you would like to learn more about different thyroid problems and how to you can prevent them, you can do it here.
