Thyroid knowledge popularization

In recent years, the occurrence of thyroid diseases has attracted more and more public attention, and the debate about the thyroid has reached a new height. Let us learn about this important organ that looks like a butterfly. The thyroid gland is a small organ in the neck of the human body, shaped like a butterfly. It weighs only 20-30 grams, but it is an important endocrine gland in the human body. The main function of the thyroid gland is to synthesize, store, and secrete thyroid hormone.

01 The role of thyroxine:

1. Affect metabolism - energy metabolism and material metabolism.

2. Growth and development—mainly brain and bones.

3. Improve the excitability of the central nervous system, strengthen heart function and control the effects of other hormones.

Classification of thyroid diseases:

1. Abnormal thyroid function, such as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

2. Thyroid nodules, benign and malignant.
Causes of thyroid disease:

01 Psychological factors

Psychological factors such as work pressure, insomnia and inner depression are particularly related to various endocrine diseases. Therefore, we must learn to adjust our psychological balance, relieve stress, pay attention to physical and mental health, and improve the working environment.

02 Radiation

The thyroid gland is extremely sensitive to radiation, and radiation is everywhere in society today. Cell phones, computers, electrical appliances, and instruments all generate radiation to varying degrees, and the radiation dose for an adult in a year is equivalent to the radiation dose for a chest CT scan. Therefore, people who exceed the radiation dose are common, and radiation may be the primary cause of the rapid increase in the incidence of thyroid disease.

03 Iodine-derived factors

Iodine is an important substance for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Iodine deficiency or excessive iodine intake can cause hypothyroidism or iodine-induced hyperthyroidism.

04 Autoimmune factors

For example, toxic diffuse goiter is mainly caused by autoimmune process; familial inheritance, familial hereditary enzyme deficiency can cause thyroid hormone synthesis disorders, leading to goiter and hypothyroidism.

05 Iatrogenic factors

Improper surgery or radioactive iodine treatment can cause hypothyroidism.

06 Other factors

For example, infection can cause acute thyroiditis, pituitary tumors can cause pituitary hyperthyroidism, and dysplasia can cause congenital thyroid abnormalities.

How to protect your thyroid gland?

01 Keep a good mood and avoid overwork

Although negative emotions and mental stress will not directly affect the thyroid gland, they can disrupt the nervous and endocrine systems, cause immune dysfunction, and destroy the "compatibility" with self-antigens, thereby causing the thyroid gland to be attacked by the immune system.

02 Avoid ionizing radiation. The thyroid gland is the most sensitive organ to radiation in the human body, so it should be kept away from radiation environments as much as possible.

03 Pay attention to your diet and consume iodized salt in moderation

1. Avoid spicy and irritating foods, such as pepper, chili, cinnamon, onion, garlic, tobacco and alcohol, as these foods may stimulate the thyroid gland.

2. Eat less pickled foods, such as pickled vegetables, pickled meat, salted duck eggs, etc. These foods may contain nitrite after processing, and nitrite has a certain relationship with the occurrence of cancer.

3. Insufficient or excessive iodine intake will have adverse effects on the thyroid gland and lead to thyroid disease. It is best to eat iodized salt, but the daily salt intake per person should not exceed 5 grams. If the patient needs iodine-131 treatment after surgery and some Hashimoto's patients, they should avoid eating iodine-containing foods, such as kelp, seaweed, laver, hair algae and other seafood, as well as iodized salt.

4. It is recommended to eat a variety of foods rich in vitamins, including fresh vegetables and fruits. However, if you are taking medication, it is recommended to eat less cruciferous plants (cabbage, cauliflower, radish, mustard, rapeseed, etc.).

04 Check yourself in the mirror

Face the mirror and tilt your head back slightly to expose your neck.

First look: Are the two sides of the neck symmetrical and swollen? If there is a nodule, you can look in the mirror to see if it is growing. Usually the nodule will be more obvious when it grows to 2 cm.

Second, look for: Find the thyroid gland that moves up and down with the swallowing action. Third, touch: Take a mouthful of water and touch the lower part of the neck (on both sides of the Adam's apple) with your fingers. When you swallow the water, feel for small bulges, small lumps or hard nodules. If you find any problems, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

05 Check your thyroid function regularly

After the age of 35, especially for women, it is best to self-examine the thyroid appearance and do thyroid function tests and thyroid color ultrasound every year; women during pregnancy must undergo thyroid function tests; before preparing for pregnancy, it is recommended that women screen thyroid function: thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid autoantibodies and other related indicators.

Thyroid examination precautions

1. A normal diet has no effect on thyroid function testing, so you do not need to fast on the day of blood draw. However, you should be careful to avoid overeating, especially eating a lot of sugary foods.

2. Some patients may need to check their liver function, blood sugar and blood lipids at the same time when having blood drawn for thyroid function tests. In this case, blood should be drawn on an empty stomach to avoid affecting other results.

Note: Free FT3 and FT4 are better. Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies can be tested at the same time if you are considering chronic thyroiditis. The thyroid gland is an important endocrine gland in our body and has a great impact on our health. Therefore, in our daily lives, we must pay attention to the protection of the thyroid gland and have regular thyroid examinations.