Causes of thyroid disease

The thyroid gland produces hormones that affect virtually all processes in the body. Thyroid disease can range from the most innocuous (such as goitre and the formation of goiter), which do not require treatment to life-threatening (thyroid cancer).

The most common diseases of the thyroid gland - hypothyroidism is caused by insufficient activity of cancer and hyperthyroidism, which becomes the cause of the increased activity of the thyroid gland and excess hormones produced by it.

Causes of excess hormones

The main reason all kinds of diseases associated with hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism: increased secretion of thyroid hormone   - An excess of hormones produced by the thyroid gland, but the nature of these diseases can be different:

• Graves' disease: the main reason - the excess of thyroid hormones Thyroid hormones: mechanism of action and physiological effects .
• Toxic thyroid adenoma: thyroid nodes produced in the thyroid gland, autonomously produce hormones, disrupting the body's hormonal balance.
• Subacute thyroiditis: an inflammation of the thyroid gland leads to excessive amounts of hormones splash, causing temporary hyperthyroidism. Usually, the symptoms of the disease disappear on their own within a few weeks, in rare cases - a few months.
• Disorders of the pituitary gland or malignancy in the tissues of the thyroid gland: in rare cases, the disease can become a cause of hyperthyroidism.

The reasons for the lack of hormones

Hypothyroidism, on the contrary, it is the result of insufficient activity of the thyroid gland and its hormones produced by the deficit. As for the normal body needs a certain level of thyroid hormones and their deficiency leads to a decrease in energy and other unpleasant consequences. The group of the main causes of hypothyroidism include:

• Hashimoto's thyroiditis: the cause of this autoimmune disease - the body's immune system produced antibodies that destroy the thyroid gland and disturb the production of hormones.
• Surgical removal of the thyroid gland: In some cases, for the treatment of thyroid diseases requires partial or complete her surgical removal or destruction of the tissue cells of the thyroid gland chemicals.
• Excess iodine: some medicines for colds and sinusitis, drug amiodarone, used in the treatment of certain cardiovascular diseases, as well as a number of other medicines may contain excessive amounts of iodine. The increased risk of hypothyroidism as a result of an excess of iodine is observed in people previously faced with thyroid problems.

Without proper disease consequences of hypothyroidism can be dangerous to human health. In very rare cases, hypothyroidism can cause myxedema coma, a rare but potentially fatal condition that requires immediate medical intervention.

Hypothyroidism is especially dangerous for babies and small children. Deficiency of thyroid hormones in the body of newborns and young children may lead to the development of cretinism (mental retardation) and dwarfism (slowing down and complete growth arrest). In most countries today decided to check the level of thyroid hormones in infants for a short time after birth. Upon detection of the first signs of hypothyroidism in infants and young children, treatment begins immediately.

In infants and young children, as in adults, hypothyroidism can be caused by:

• Disorders of the pituitary gland
• Disorders of the thyroid gland
• The absence of the thyroid gland

The main symptoms of hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism - Symptoms: What should pay particular attention   in young children and infants - inactivity, lack of activity, poor appetite, prolonged sleep Dreams: how to understand our dreams .

Preparations for the treatment of thyroid diseases

Those who take drugs for the treatment of thyroid diseases, such as levothyroxine, well aware that the directions on the package says, taken in the morning on an empty stomach. Results of recent studies suggest that levothyroxine better, indeed, taken on an empty stomach, but before going to bed - it contributes to a better absorption of active ingredients, reduce the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone, and increased levels of thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

Why is that? Scientists offer several explanations for this.

Acceptance of the drug on an empty stomach suggests that you will have some time after having taken the drug. But how much time must pass before a meal? Even if you wait at least 30 minutes before you start to breakfast, contained in food or food supplements may still matter to some extent hinder the absorption of the drug. The work of the gastrointestinal tract slows down at night, which means that levothyroxine is longer pass through the intestines, and the time of its impact will increase, which will provide better absorption of the drug.

The process of conversion of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3) in the evening might be more effective.

Receiving medication before bedtime Dreams: how to understand our dreams   It has obvious advantages for the patient:

• It is easier, because you do not have to worry about how to have time to take levothyroxine, breakfast, and do not be late for work. Many people from the need to take the drug even skip breakfast, but that is absolutely not good for health.
• Taking levothyroxine easier izbezhyat its interaction with calcium, iron, fiber, and other substances, which may reduce the effectiveness of the drug.
• Coffee lovers will not have to wait an hour after taking the pill in order to enjoy an invigorating drink.
• Due to the improved absorption of levothyroxine, some patients may feel better than when they took the drug in the morning.

Coffee and drugs to treat diseases of the thyroid gland

Many people around the world start the day with a cup of coffee or espresso. At the same time, in the light of the many Luda with various diseases of the thyroid gland, which has to take drugs containing levothyroxine (ie, Synthroid, Levoxyl or Eltroxin) as part of hormone replacement therapy. Most of these people taking the drug in the morning.

However, not everyone knows that taking the drug for hormone replacement therapy of thyroid Thyroid hormones: mechanism of action and physiological effects   simultaneously in a cup of coffee in the morning can turn into a problem. In several studies it was found that those who washes down levotiksin coffee, coffee drinks or shortly after the administration of the tablet is significantly reduced drug absorption.

It is known that increased levels of thyroxine Thyroxine - the main thyroid hormone   (T4), - a reflection absorption lekotiroksina - because coffee is reduced on average by 25%, in some patients - 57%. On average, the efficacy of the drug falls to 23-55%.

Scientists have found that coffee affects the absorption of levothyroxine, if the patient drink it within an hour after taking the medicine.

What is not evaluated in the study,

It is important to cancel some of the factors, the impact of which was not assessed in the study.

• The study did not show a difference of honey influence normal and decaffeinated coffee.
• There was studied the effect of coffee on patients for replacement therapy assigned any other drugs than thyroxine. There is no scientific conclusions regarding preparations containing synthetic triiodothyronine (T3). Nor studied antithyroid drugs such as methimazole, used to treat hyperthyroidism.
• Not studied the influence of other caffeinated beverages, including - tea.

Advice to Patients

What the researchers advised those who take levothyroxine, it is clear: after taking the drug need to wait at least sixty minutes before you drink coffee. If for some reason, you should talk to your doctor about the possibility of taking levothyroxine at a different time of day. It is important to note, however, that experts still recommend taking medications for hormone replacement therapy of the thyroid gland in the morning, at least one hour before a meal and three hours before taking any dietary supplements Food additives - basic classification Juices and products containing iron, calcium or fiber.