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Thyroid Hormones Imbalance And Its Consequences 

by — Last updated: 2014-11-27 in Lymphatic & Endocrine system

Table of Contents

Hormones are small molecules that participate in a wide range of body functions. Thyroid hormones are not the exception, since they regulate metabolism, among other mechanisms. When their balance is altered, the effects are certainly not good.

Messing with thyroid hormones can cause several side effects and promote the development of diseases related to thyroid hormonal imbalance. 

Hypothyroidism: cells as slow as a turtle

Hypothyroidism is characterized by a decrease in the levels of thyroid hormones. 

This illness is more common in old people and women tend to be more affected than men.
Hypothyroidism can be caused by a direct alteration to the thyroid gland, known as primary hypothyroidism, or it can be secondary to a defect in the pituitary or the hypothalamus, which also regulate the release of thyroid hormones.

Primary hypothyroidism is caused by a problem in the thyroid, which is usually a result of an autoimmune disorder. In this case, the immune system of the patient attacks the thyroid by not recognizing it as part of the patient´s body and destroys it, basically. Because the thyroid is damaged, it cannot produce thyroid hormones anymore. Primary hypothyroidism is related to specific diseases and syndromes, being the most known one Hashimoto thyroiditis.

The disease can also be caused by surgical treatments or complete removal of the thyroid gland, for example, in the case of thyroid cancer. Finally, since iodine is a major component of thyroid hormones, people with iodine deficiency can also present congenital hypothyroidism.

The symptomatology that accompanies hypothyroidism tends to be subtle and is mainly related to metabolic imbalances. 

For example, patients are not able to tolerate cold temperatures, they start forgetting things and show personality changes. They can also experience weight gain due to fluid retention and alterations in the metabolism of nutrients.

A patient with hypothyroidism can be recognized by changes in his or her facial features, such as facial puffiness and preorbital swelling, sparse and dry skin and hair and difficulties to articulate words or slow speech.

The treatment consists basically in the replacement of the physiological thyroid hormones with synthetic ones.

There are available in the market several preparations of synthetic thyroid hormones which contain T3 or T4, or a combination of both.

Hyperthyroidism: Hyperactive thyroid

Hyperthyroidism occurs when thyroid hormones levels are increased above the normal. 

This can happen either because of an overproduction of thyroid hormones or because of an increase in the release of these hormones, even when the production levels are in the normal range.

Hyperthyroidism is usually related to thyroiditis, which is basically an inflammation of the thyroid gland, but it is also caused by Graves disease and multinodular goiter. 

Graves disease is an autoimmune illness where autoantibodies promote the release of thyroid hormones. Patients undergoing this problem experience goiter and exophthalmos, an abnormal protrusion of the eyeball.

Because thyroid hormones are present in very high amounts, the symptomatology of the disease relates to an accelerated metabolism. 

Patients often show signs of nervousness, hyperactivity, palpitations, they sweat more and experience fatigue and weakness, increased appetite, weight loss, insomnia and sometimes, diarrhea.

Infiltrative dermopathy is also a common feature of hyperthyroidism patients. This problem can be detected as an induration of the skin, which shows a waxy texture, similar to the peel of an orange.

Hyperthyroidism is usually treated with anti-thyroid medications, such as methimazole and propylthiouracil, but sometimes it is necessary to ablate the thyroid by using radioactive iodine or surgery.

  • Photos by shutterstock.com

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