To understand thyroid disease, please pay attention to these seven issues

The thyroid gland plays an important role in the human body. However, combined with the analysis of literature reports in recent years, the incidence of thyroid diseases has a clear upward trend and is showing a trend of younger age. So what are the physiological functions of the thyroid gland? What are the common thyroid diseases? Why is the incidence of thyroid diseases increasing among young people? What issues should we pay attention to in the prevention and treatment of thyroid diseases? This article reviews a lot of literature and discusses the relevant knowledge of thyroid diseases in easy-to-understand language, aiming to help more people objectively understand thyroid diseases, master the prevention measures of thyroid diseases, and reduce the incidence of thyroid diseases among young people in my country.

What is the thyroid gland? The thyroid gland is one of the important endocrine organs of the human body. The thyroid gland in the human body is located below the thyroid cartilage in the neck, on both sides of the trachea, and 2-3cm below the male "Adam's apple" corresponds to the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland also moves up and down due to the swallowing action during eating . For example, the incidence of "thick neck disease" in China was relatively high in the early days. Subsequent studies have shown that the disease is related to iodine deficiency. The corresponding disease in medicine is goiter. The country has improved the incidence of "thick neck disease" in China through the active promotion and use of iodized salt, and it has been effectively controlled.

What are the functions of the thyroid gland? Only by knowing the functions of the thyroid gland can we clarify its importance and provide a reference for the analysis of the younger age of thyroid diseases. According to the current research and analysis on the thyroid gland, from the perspective of physiological functions, its main functions are:

0 1 Promote growth and development

As an endocrine organ, the thyroid gland can secrete thyroid hormones, which can have an effect on almost all cells in the human body. In the first five months after the birth of a baby, the thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones to promote the growth and development of the baby, which is crucial for the growth and development of bones, brain, and reproductive organs. The occurrence of many diseases in childhood is related to insufficient secretion of thyroid hormones, which further affects the production of pituitary glands and the secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, such as cretinism.

0 2 Heat generation

The thyroid gland can secrete thyroid hormones, which increase tissue oxygen consumption. The increase in tissue oxygen consumption can promote heat production in the body, thereby maintaining normal vital signs of the human body and ensuring the heat supply of tissues such as the liver, kidneys, myocardium, and skeletal muscles. Abnormal thyroid function can cause different symptoms, such as:

Hyperthyroidism : Increased secretion of thyroid hormones causes the body to produce more heat, speeding up the basal metabolic rate and manifesting a "feeling of hunger";

People with hypothyroidism : insufficient secretion of thyroid hormones, less heat production by the body, lowered basal metabolic rate, and symptoms such as loss of appetite, lethargy, and slow reaction.

0 3 Ensure the normal metabolism of the three major nutrients

The normal growth and development of the human body is closely related to the supply and metabolism of the three major nutrients: carbohydrates, fats and proteins. In the metabolism of the three major substances, the thyroid gland plays an important role.

The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones, which promote protein synthesis, ensuring the protein synthesis needed for bones, skeletal muscles, liver, etc., and ensuring the growth and development of the human body, especially infants and young children.

Thyroid abnormalities can cause abnormal secretion of thyroid hormones. Excessive secretion of thyroid hormones can cause the decomposition of skeletal muscle protein, making the body thin and weak. Thyroid hormones promote sugar absorption and liver glycogen decomposition, ensuring the body's effective use of sugar. In the case of hyperthyroidism, thyroid hormone secretion will increase, which will accelerate the metabolism of sugars and fats, increase the body's oxygen consumption, and increase heat production.

0 4Other functions

As research on thyroid function continues, other related effects of thyroid hormone secreted by the thyroid gland have also been confirmed, such as:

Thyroid hormones maintain the excitability of the nervous system. In cases of hyperthyroidism, more thyroid hormones will be secreted, increasing the excitability of the central nervous system.

Thyroid hormones can act on the myocardium, increase heart rate and enhance myocardial contractility.

What are the common thyroid diseases? From the perspective of common thyroid diseases, they include hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid nodules, thyroiditis, etc.

From the nature analysis, thyroid diseases include benign thyroid lesions and malignant thyroid lesions, and treatment measures are flexibly adopted according to the characteristics of different diseases. For example, surgical treatment is usually required for thyroid malignant tumors, large-diameter thyroid nodules, and retrosternal goiter.

Analysis of the current status of thyroid disease incidence According to existing data reports, the total number of patients with thyroid diseases in China is over 200 million, of which the prevalence of thyroid nodules is 18.6%. At the same time, thyroid cancer has gradually become one of the malignant tumors with the fastest increasing incidence. According to the "National Cancer Report" released by the National Cancer Center in 2019, the overall incidence of thyroid cancer ranks 7th among malignant tumors, and thyroid cancer ranks 4th among malignant tumors in women. Not only that, the number of thyroid cancer cases continues to rise at a rate of about 20% per year. Some data indicate that the incidence of thyroid disease has shown a rapid upward trend since the age of 15, and reaches a peak in the age group of 50-54 years old, further indicating that thyroid disease accounts for a high proportion in young people.

Reasons for the younger age of thyroid disease The incidence of thyroid disease in young people has been increasing year by year. The increase in incidence is related to many factors, such as long-term work pressure or mental stress, environmental pollution, unhealthy lifestyle, malnutrition, radiation, etc.

Seven issues that should be paid attention to in the younger age of thyroid disease

0 1 Insufficient or excessive iodine intake

Combined with modern medical research, there is a close relationship between iodine and the thyroid gland. Iodine is one of the important substances necessary for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. In the treatment of "thick neck disease", the intake of iodized salt can achieve the purpose of prevention and treatment, which further illustrates the role of iodine intake in the prevention of thyroid diseases. In fact, when the human body does not take in enough iodine, it will affect the synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones, resulting in low levels of thyroid hormones in the body, which will increase the level of thyroid stimulating hormone accordingly. When thyroid stimulating hormone is continuously stimulated, follicular hyperplasia is prone to occur, increasing the risk of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer.

my country has a vast territory, and different regions have different eating habits. For example, people in some areas have long consumed marine fish and seafood, which are high-iodine areas. Surveys show that the incidence of thyroid cancer in these areas is also high, and papillary cancer accounts for a large proportion, indicating that excessive iodine intake is also not conducive to thyroid health and increases the risk of thyroid disease. When the human body consumes excessive iodine, it will cause disorders in the endocrine metabolic system, which can easily cause hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis, thyroid nodules, thyroid tumors and other diseases.

Based on the above analysis, young people need to ensure the rationality of iodine intake in preventing thyroid diseases, avoid excessive iodine intake, and avoid insufficient iodine intake to ensure the balance of their own iodine intake.

0 2Avoid radiation to the neck

In recent years, through the summary of relevant data of thyroid cancer patients, some patients have a history of neck radiation, and more and more studies have pointed out that the head and neck are exposed to radioactive substances, which increases the possibility of thyroid malignant nodules. In thyroid examination, color Doppler ultrasound or puncture pathology should be used as much as possible to avoid radiation examination of the thyroid area.

Patients with thyroid diseases should also avoid contact with radioactive substances and avoid using computers for long periods of time.

Some occupations may require long-term exposure to ionizing radiation. Such people are at high risk of thyroid disease and need to pay attention to thyroid examinations.

Some young people should protect their necks in accordance with medical requirements when undergoing radiation examinations. Effective neck protection can prevent the incidence of thyroid diseases.

0 3 Don’t stay up late often

Some studies have conducted statistical analysis on the living habits of patients with thyroid disease, and the results show that many patients had problems such as staying up late for a long time, high work pressure, and excessive psychological tension and anxiety before becoming ill.

People who often stay up late will have their immunity reduced, their skin will become dull, and they will be prone to oily skin and acne. Women who stay up late for a long time will also affect their menstrual cycle and cause it to become disordered. Staying up late for a long time will cause endocrine disorders, cell metabolism disorders, abnormal normal cell division, and failure to remove necrotic thyroid cells in time, causing thyroid inflammation, thyroid nodules, etc. Therefore, "staying up late for a long time" is the biggest "accomplice" of thyroid diseases. Young people should not stay up late, pay attention to the combination of work and rest, have a regular daily routine, and maintain a happy spirit.

0 4Beware of vitamin and mineral deficiencies

Women are prone to deficiency of various substances, and some deficiencies are closely related to thyroid health. In addition to iodine, deficiencies in vitamin D, zinc, iron, selenium, etc. can also have adverse effects on the thyroid gland. When the human body is deficient in the above vitamins and minerals, there may be no obvious symptoms, so many people do not know whether they have vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies may affect thyroid function and cause thyroid lesions.

Hashimoto's thyroid disease is a thyroid disease and also an autoimmune disease. Studies have found that the occurrence of this disease is related to low levels of zinc, vitamin D, vitamin A, selenium, etc. in the human body.

Some women may have problems such as picky eating and partial eating, which affects their intake of vitamins and minerals from food, causing their own vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which in turn affects human health, such as increasing the incidence of thyroid disease.

Young people need to undergo regular vitamin and mineral tests to determine whether they have any vitamin and mineral deficiencies. At the same time, they should emphasize a balanced diet and pay attention to the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure that vitamins and minerals are supplemented and maintained at normal levels.

0 5Avoid being overweight or obese

Being overweight and obese can easily cause metabolic disorders in patients, which can affect the endocrine system and increase the risk of thyroid disease.

Young people need to pay attention to controlling their weight and avoid being overweight or obese when preventing thyroid diseases.

0 6Avoid obvious mood swings

Significant mood swings can also affect the occurrence of thyroid disease. For example, hyperthyroidism is related to long-term mental trauma and mental stimulation. If you are in a state of tension, anger, fear, anxiety and other negative emotions for a long time, these mood swings will affect and stimulate the endocrine glands, causing increased secretion of different hormones, affecting the stability of the internal environment, and increasing the risk of thyroid disease. Therefore, maintaining emotional stability is also crucial to the prevention of thyroid disease.

0 7Put yourself in a relatively safe environment

The environment we live in contains various toxic and harmful substances, especially some heavy metals and hormones, which can affect the conversion of thyroid hormones in the liver. Therefore, we should try to keep ourselves in a safer environment, such as using non-toxic cosmetics, using environmentally friendly products, paying attention to food hygiene and safety, etc.

In short, young people should pay attention to the prevention of thyroid diseases. They need to pay attention to many aspects in their daily lives, ensure balanced nutrition, a reasonable weight, stable emotions, establish a healthy life concept, develop healthy living habits, pay attention to diet and daily life, etc. Ensure your own health through a healthy life in many aspects and prevent thyroid diseases. Once found, please go to a regular medical institution for treatment in time, and if necessary, early surgical intervention.

Author: Gao Pingfa (Deputy Chief Physician of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Chongming Hospital, Shanghai Health and Medical College)

Reviewer: Wu Wei (Director of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Chongming Hospital, Shanghai Health and Medical College)

Editor: Jia Jing (Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine)

Some drawings: Li Chuan (Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine)