Thyroid. Signs of the disease with hyper- and hypothyroidism of the thyroid gland.

The thyroid gland is one of the main glands of internal secretion, the hormones of which regulate the metabolic processes of the whole organism. It is located in the neck, in front of the larynx. The weight of this organ on the average is from 30 to 40 grams. Morphofunctional unit of the thyroid gland are follicular cells in which two vitally important iodinated hormones are formed: thyroxine and triiodothyronine, as well as one non-iodinated - calcitonin. The functional task of these hormones are:

• Active stimulation in the cellular elements of oxidative processes;
• Regulation of water, fat, mineral, carbohydrate, protein metabolism;
• Participation in the growth and development of the whole organism as a whole;
• Influence on the work of the central nervous system.

The thyroid gland, the symptoms of which are caused by either its hypofunction or hyperfunction, is subject to the control of the pituitary-hypothalamic system. Hypothalamus, the highest regulator or reducer of the neuroendocrine system, and adenohypophysis in the norm of a completely healthy person due to complex neurochemical reactions ensure the control of the thyroid gland. It is from the well-coordinated work of these two anatomical structures that the increase in the production of hormones in the follicles of the thyroid gland due to their deficiency depends, as well as the slowing of their production when the organism is saturated with these very important and necessary biologically active substances.

Thyroid gland (signs of the disease, its hyperfunction, manifested by weight loss, excessive sweating and nervous excitability) among other things regulates blood pressure. Therefore, along with the above signs of hyperproduction of thyroid hormones, there is another important point - a persistent and very unstable increase in blood pressure, difficult to stop hypotensive medication. Also there is a compensatory increase in this organ, which is the thyroid gland, the signs of its disease in this case are represented by the following complaints:

• Feeling of excessive compression;
• Awkwardness and discomfort in the neck;
• Thickening of the cervical region;
• Eyelids (Graves' disease);
• Attacks of suffocation;
• Tachycardia, which increases with the slightest physical exertion;
• sleep disturbance;
• Low-grade fever;
• Increased appetite, which does not help to get better;
• Frequent diarrhea;
• Irrelevant irritability, etc.

All this serves as a bright clinical picture of diffuse-toxic goiter, the signs of this disease are so memorable that it will be very difficult to confuse the struma with some other pathology. A completely different situation is demonstrated by a decreased function of the thyroid gland. Symptoms are diametrically opposed: the patient is sluggish, apathetic, seems fat, eyes "swim", the patient always wants to sleep, the appetite is reduced, but this does not help him lose weight. The heartbeat is smooth, but slow, permanent constipation. Sometimes the thyroid gland, whose symptoms are associated with myxedema, can also be slightly enlarged. However, this hypertrophy does not progress, as in thyrotoxicosis.

A special condition occurs when sclerosing the thyroid gland occurs. A similar phenomenon occurs in autoimmune thyroiditis, which is also called "goiter of Hoshimoto", as well as in chronic fibrotic thyroiditis, or "Ridella's craw". The end result of both pathological processes is the substitution of the glandular tissue of the thyroid gland with connective tissue, which, of course, can not produce thyroid hormones. These two diseases lead to disability of patients. They should always be differentiated from oncological conditions.