When is surgery on the thyroid required? Thyroid Cancer – Thyroid cancer is a definite indication for surgery. In most of the cases, the entire gland is removed. Goitre that is not cancer – A goitre causing pressure effect like difficulty in swallowing, breathing difficulty or hoarseness of the voice are also indications for surgery. […]
Diet and Thyroid
There is not much to worry regarding diet in thyroid disease. Our salt and water is iodinated now and you do not need to take extra iodine. If you have a goitre, it is advisable to avoid goitrogens: soybean related foods, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc, they release a compound called goitrin […]
Tests for Thyroid
Blood Tests Blood sample is taken to check the thyroid function. A common check is T3, T4 and TSH. Sample can be taken at any time but it is better taken in the morning. A total T3 or T4 does not always reflect the metabolically available thyroid hormone in the body as this depends on […]
Do I worry for Borderline or Subclinical Hypo-Hyper-thyroidism?
What are subclinical or borderline thyroid problems? When the level of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) are normal and there is a variation in the level of TSH, it is called as subclinical or borderline thyroid disorders i.e., with high TSH, it is called as subclinical hypothyroidism and low TSH called as subclinical hyperthyroidism. You […]
Treatment of High Thyroid, Hyperthyroidism
What are the causes of Overactive thyroid? There are three common causes of overactive thyroid: Antibody mediated: Autoimmune in nature, here the antibody produced, stimulates the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormone. In most of the cases, the gland is big in size, this is called Graves’ disease. The name is given after the […]
Treatment of Low Thyroid, Hypothyroidism
Why do we develop Underactive Thyroid? This is usually an autoimmune process. Autoimmunity is the failure of an organism to recognize its own constituent parts as self, which allows an immune response against its own cells and tissues. Any disease that results from such an immune response is termed an autoimmune disease. Here body produces […]
Can Thyroid create problem in my Pregnancy?
Is thyroid important in pregnancy? Yes, it is. A normal thyroid balance is very important for conception and for continuation of pregnancy. Hypothyroidism can affect pregnancy in several ways: In women It can cause infertility in women because it can prevent the production of eggs. A pregnant woman with hypothyroidism is at higher risk for […]
Do’s and Dont’s of Radioiodine Treatment
Before receiving RAI or getting an Iodine scan done, women should tell the doctor if she is pregnant or breast-feeding. After RAI you are not supposed to stay in the same room with children for 10 days. As such the amount of RAI given for therapy of overactive thyroid does not cause significant damage to […]
Isotope scan of the Thyroid
Radioiodine is used to assess the function of the thyroid gland. A small amount of the substance 2-5mCi (which will not affect the function of the gland) is given either as a pill or a tasteless liquid and images of the gland are taken afterwards. Normal thyroid glands take this uniformly and a small amount […]
Radioiodine Treatment for Hyperthyroidism
What is radioiodine? Iodine is the natural substance used by the thyroid gland to produce its hormones. Radioactive Iodine is taken up by the thyroid gland in a similar way as that of the natural Iodine. It is used to assess the functional status of the thyroid gland (RadioIodine scan) as well as for the […]