Status: 15.01.2024, 10:04 a.m.
By: Judith Braun
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A small but important organ: the thyroid gland. Responsible for metabolism, it can be the cause of various diseases.
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ of the human body, which is significantly involved in metabolism. If you do not feel one hundred percent fit, a disease of the thyroid gland can be the cause. There are different diseases that can come from the thyroid gland and lead to different symptoms and effects.
Thyroid: Six diseases can come from the butterfly organ
The thyroid gland is located in the throat below the larynx. It produces hormones that control the entire human metabolic process. © Sorapop/IMAGO
- Endocrine gland problems in one-third of adults: About one in three adults will experience problems with the endocrine gland during their lifetime.
- Undetected thyroid problems: Sufferers often do not realize that they have a thyroid problem, as many symptoms can also occur with other diseases.
- Need for a visit to the doctor: It is recommended to consult a doctor and have the symptoms clarified if you experience any symptoms.
- Diseases of the thyroid gland: Various diseases can originate from the butterfly organ. The main ones are hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, cold nodule, hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease, Hot nodule:
- 1. Hypothyroidism: This occurs when the thyroid gland produces too few vital hormones. The non-specific symptoms, such as lack of drive, depressive mood, weight gain and fatigue, often go unnoticed for months or years.
- 2. Hashimoto's thyroiditis: The most common cause of hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's leads to chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland. The body's immune system attacks and destroys the tissues, resulting in reduced or stopped hormone production.
- 3. Cold nodule: Medical professionals speak of a "cold nodule" when certain areas of the thyroid gland produce few or no hormones. Although these nodules rarely become malignant, the risk of degeneration increases as the nodule grows.
- 4. Hyperthyroidism: Unlike hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism leads to excessive hormone production, which speeds up metabolism. Symptoms may include sweating, hair loss, weight loss, sleep disturbances, and nervousness. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause, but it can also be genetic.
- 5.Graves' disease: This autoimmune disease leads to hyperthyroidism as the immune system attacks its own body. Typical warning signs are diarrhea, palpitations, hyperactivity or depression. The disease can be triggered by genetic predisposition, environmental factors, or viral infections and usually does not heal on its own.
- 6. Hot nodule: Especially in older people with large thyroid glands, hot nodules develop, which produce more thyroid hormones. In contrast to cold nodules, they cannot become malignant, but lead to hyperthyroidism with corresponding symptoms such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, as well as possible cardiac arrhythmias.
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This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It is in no way a substitute for a visit to the doctor. Individual questions about clinical pictures may not be answered by our editorial team.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model to optimize at her own discretion. All information has been carefully verified. Learn more about our AI principles here.