Hypothyroidism Essay

3. The subject who was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism was given propylthiouracil (prevents Thyroxine production and conversion

Week 3 – LOM Assignment The thyroid is responsible for taking iodine and converting it into thyroid hormones which are released into the blood stream and transported throughout the body where they control metabolism.1 The thyroid is a vital part of the human body as every cell in the body depends on it for metabolic regulation. Too much or too little thyroid hormone secretion can result in hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is caused when the thyroid secretes too many thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism causes a rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure and tremors. Other symptoms include increased nervousness, inability to concentrate, weakness, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, frequent bowel movements, weight loss and irregular

Thyrotoxicosis is a clinical condition caused by excess circulating serum thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), or both with suppression of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). A negative feedback loop involving the hypothalamus, pituitary, and thyroid gland regulates the production and release of thyroid hormones. (Fig. 1) The hypothalamus releases thyroid-releasing hormone (TRH), stimulating the pituitary gland to release TSH, in turn stimulating the thyroid gland to release T4 and T3. Enhanced production of T4 and T3

Most T3 and T4 released into the bloodstream are bound to proteins. Only the "free" component is biologically active and it is this component which decides the manifestations of thyrotoxicosis. The hormones exert their effects mainly by binding to nuclear receptors in cells to affect expression of genes.

Thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), are implicated in numerous process, including growth and development of muscle, bones and the central nervous system (CNS); metabolism by increasing basal metabolic rate, calorigenesis and appetite; and have cardiovascular effects due to they make the heart beats faster and harder. Deregulation of the correct function of the thyroid can lead to different pathological process such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis, goiters, thyroid cancer and solitary thyroid nodules. The determination of thyroid hormones, especially FT4, together with TSH is an important element in clinical routine diagnosis. It is useful when thyroid disorders are suspected and also for the monitoring of therapy.

Thyroid research came about after a paper published in 1850, written by Thomas Curling talking about two girls who had severe malformation and were placed in an idiot asylum. One of the girls, 10, could not walk or talk very well; the other, 6 months, “was plump but had a marked idiotic expression, a large face with a small

The thyroid gland is found in the front of the neck and produces two main hormones. The hormones are called thuroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). Together these hormones regulate the body’s metabolism by increasing energy use in cells, regulate growth and development, help to maintain body temperature and aid in oxygen consumption. These two hormones are regulated by hormones produced by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The hypothalamus senses changes in body’s metabolic rate and releases a hormone known as thyropin-releasing hormone (TRH). This hormone then flows through connecting vessels to the pituitary gland which signals it to release another hormone. This hormone is known as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH then makes

Because of the endocrine system’s critical role in so many important biological and physiological functions, impairments in any part of the endocrine system can lead to disease or even death. For example, diabetics have deficiencies in insulin release and/or action, and people with type I diabetes will die without insulin replacement. Aldosterone is also critical for life, and adrenal diseases affecting aldosterone function can be life-threatening. Often, under- or over-secretion of hormones such as thyroid hormone results in metabolic disturbances and many physical and neurobiological changes, due to thyroid hormone’s key role in day-to-day cellular metabolism and brain function. Other hormonal dysfunctions include infertility, growth disturbances,

Hypothyroidism is caused by the thyroid’s gland inability to produce thyroid hormone as required by the body. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism requires the laboratory testing of the thyroid stimulating hormone known as TSH. When the TSH is found to be elevated, a clinician should repeat the test along with a free thyroxine (T4) measurement. If the TSH is found to be elevated, while the T4 is normal, the patient is said to suffer from subclinical hypothyroidism. However, if the TSH is elevated and the T4 is low, the diagnosis is primary hypothyroidism (Gaitonde et al., 2012).

Hypothyroidism is not a disease itself, but is a condition that a disease state causes (Buckley & Schub, 2008). Many of the causes of hypothyroidism are related to autoimmune conditions, where the body attacks itself, rendering the thyroid useless (Raisbeck, 2009). In fact, this is the most common cause of hypothyroidism (Raisbeck, 2009). Second to autoimmune disease is overcorrection of hyperthyroidism by surgery or radiation treatment (Walker, 2009). Thyroidectomy is the third most-prevalent cause, usually for the treatment of cancer

Starting during prenatal development and continuing throughout life, thyroid hormones pay an important role in the cardiovascular system, the relationship in which has been seen to change in the case of thyroid dysfunction. The relationship between the heart and the thyroid has been demonstrated through a series of experimental and clinical studies and the results determined that in the case of hypothyroidism parameters such as blood volume and heart rate have been seen to decrease from 100% and 72-84bpm to 84.5 % and 60-80bpm respectively. The regular measurements of both the patients cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance have also been seen to change, shifting from 4.0-6.0 L/min and 1500-1700 dyn·sec/cm-5 to <4.5 L/min and 2100-2700

Taking L-thyroxine is the main treatment mechanism; therefore, medication compliance is the one of the most important part in education. The clinical effect of L-thyroxine may include normalizing abnormalities associated with hypothyroidism. Optimal treatment of hypothyroidism may lead to improvement of various symptoms. In neuropsychological aspect, patients may show improved motor skills, myopathy and depression. With treatment, patient’s overall energy level may enhance constipation symptoms may improve and weight problem may lessen if thyroid balance was a main contributor. It has been shown that treatment of hypothyroidism would also improve lipid profiles in patients (Roe, 2015).

Thyroid hormone deficiency in the body is risky to the malfunction of the vital organs. Alterations like lowering and slowing of the biological processes in the body are assumed by the illness. These variations may replicate those that come about with age. The symptoms associated with hypothyroidism may be difficult to describe especially in the old persons. Hypothyroidism can show different manifestations and signs, depending on the health condition, age and sex of the patient. Thus, for it to be treated appropriately, the nursing practitioner has to have the correct diagnosis (Garber, 2012). Since the disorder is more evident at old age, it is, therefore, vital for thyroid disorder among the aged to be a matter of discussion (Laurberg, 2005). Thus, this thesis aims at discussing the effects of hypothyroidism to a seventy years old male

The body’s metabolism speed, which can be controlled mainly from the thyroid gland is affected by it.

Both hypo and hyperthyroidism are a result of a disease in caused by malfunction of the thyroid gland located in the neck as represented by the image below left. The causes of chronic hypothyroidism are fairly distinct. Around the world in third-world and developing countries, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. This used to be true as well for developed countries, but today this is a less common cause as iodine usually finds its way into our diets without too much trouble. In modern-day developed countries, hypothyroidism is mainly a result of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a birth defect which lacks a thyroid gland or a deficiency of hormones from either the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland.