Thyroid Disorders, How much do you know?

The History Of Thyroid Disorders

Thyroid conditions have likely been around for hundreds of years, especially those caused by autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's or Graves' disease. The first mention of the treatment of a goiter, or an enlarged thyroid gland, is in 2700 BC when seaweed was a medical therapy in what is now China!

By the time the thyroid was given its name in 1656, much scientific progress already happened concerning the gland. Leonardo Da Vinci anatomically illustrated the thyroid, the process of a thyroidectomy determined, a needle biopsy taken.

Until the late 1950s, synthetic thyroid medications became available. However, by the 1970s, natural thyroid medications had primarily been replaced by synthetic thyroid substances produced by pharmaceutical companies. If thyroid medications were unable to treat the disorder successfully, thyroidectomies or iodine radiation might be considered, as they still are today.

Epidemiology of Thyroid Disease

Thyroid diseases are unique in their diagnosis, treatment, and visibility. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for effective management. The five most important thyroid diseases include hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, goiter/iodine deficiency disorders, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and thyroid cancer.

• Hypothyroidism (low production of thyroid hormone): It can affect individuals of all ages. Congenital hypothyroidism needs early diagnosis and therapy to prevent brain damage.
• Hyperthyroidism (increased production of thyroid hormone): It occurs due to overactive thyroid gland functioning, which accelerates the metabolism of the body.
• Goiter (Enlarged thyroid gland, may/may not be associated with thyroid functional change): Recent research established a link between iodine deficiency and endemic goiter, especially in the Himalayan regions. Iodine deficiency was shown to be associated with hypothyroidism in neonates.
• Hashimoto's thyroiditis (also called Hashimoto's disease) – an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune cells attack the thyroid gland): An Indian study found that among girls with a goiter, 7.5% had juvenile autoimmune thyroiditis (which includes Hashimoto's thyroiditis).
• Thyroid cancer: A disorder in which malignant (cancer) cells develop in thyroid gland tissues. Thyroid nodules are frequent; however, they are not always cancerous. There are several forms of thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer risk can be influenced by age, gender, and radiation exposure.

Tips to Prevent Thyroid Disease

There are a few tips to prevent thyroid disease. They include adopting various lifestyle factors and behaviors, such as: 

Getein’s Care

Epidemiological studies indicate that 1% of men and 5% of women have clinically detectable thyroid nodules and that the prevalence rises with age and in iodine-deficient communities. Therefore, timely detection and screening of thyroid disease is particularly important. And Getein also provides very comprehensive detection items, including T3, T4, FT3, FT4, TSH, TG-Ab, TPO-Ab, TG, Anti-TSHR, rT3. With these test items on Magicl 6000, a fully automatic, high throughput, chemiluminescence product, high detection speed and accurate detection results are guaranteed. Protect health, Getein is always by your side.