As of: January 30, 2024, 3:32 p.m
By: Judith Braun
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A small but important organ: the thyroid.
Responsible for metabolism, it can be the cause of various diseases.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped organ in the human body that plays a key role in metabolism.
If you don't feel 100% fit, a thyroid disease could be the cause.
There are various diseases that can come from the thyroid and lead to different symptoms and effects.
Thyroid: Six diseases can come from the butterfly organ
The thyroid gland is located in the neck below the larynx.
It produces hormones that control the entire human metabolic process.
© Sorapop/IMAGO
Endocrine gland problems in a third of adults:
Around one in three adults experience problems with the endocrine gland during their lifetime.
Undetected thyroid problems:
Those affected often do not realize that they have a thyroid problem because many symptoms can also occur with other diseases.
Need to see a doctor:
If you experience any symptoms, it is recommended to see a doctor and have the symptoms clarified.
Diseases of the thyroid gland
: Various diseases can arise 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 produces too few vital hormones.
The non-specific symptoms, such as lack of drive, depressed 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.
The body's immune system attacks and destroys tissue, resulting in reduced or stopped hormone production.
3. Cold nodule
: Doctors speak of a “cold nodule” when certain areas of the thyroid produce little 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 can include sweating, hair loss, weight loss, difficulty sleeping and nervousness.
Iodine deficiency is the most common cause, but it can also be genetic.
5.
Graves' Disease
: This autoimmune disease causes hyperthyroidism as the immune system attacks its own body.
Typical warning signs include diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, hyperactivity or depression.
The disease can be caused by genetics, environmental factors or viral infections and usually does not heal on its own.
6. Hot nodule
: Hot nodules develop, especially in older people with large thyroid glands, which produce increased levels of thyroid hormones.
In contrast to cold nodules, they cannot become malignant, but lead to an overactive thyroid 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 in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at her own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.