Understand thyroid disease in 3 minutes: Be alert to 3 symptoms

The thyroid gland is the main organ that regulates human metabolism and synthesizes thyroid hormones. It is the largest endocrine gland in the human body. If the thyroid gland is abnormal, the body's metabolism will also be abnormal. Women are 10 times more likely to suffer from thyroid diseases than men. Therefore, women should pay attention to thyroid diseases and understand the common symptoms of thyroid dysfunction.

The three most obvious symptoms of thyroid disease

Sign 1: A lump on the neck

Thyroid nodules are the most common and prevalent thyroid disease. Patients usually discover them during a physical examination or by noticing a lump in their neck. Physical examination may reveal nodules larger than 1 cm, which are often soft or firm, with a smooth surface, clear borders, and move up and down with swallowing.

Sign Two: Unexplained "Lack of Spirit"

The thyroid gland is an endocrine organ that secretes thyroid hormones that are essential for maintaining normal metabolism, growth, and development in the human body. If the level of thyroid hormones in the body is insufficient, it will lead to a decrease in metabolic rate, causing fatigue both physically and mentally.

Sign 3: Palpitations, sweating, and increased appetite

The opposite of hypothyroidism is hyperthyroidism, which is also a common thyroid disease. It is generally characterized by goiter, hypermetabolism, and sympathetic nerve excitation, causing symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, increased appetite and bowel movements, and weight loss.

Thyroid diseases can be divided into four main categories based on their pathological nature.

1) Simple goiter: including endemic goiter, sporadic goiter and iodine-induced goiter.

2) Thyroiditis: including acute thyroiditis, subacute thyroiditis, painless thyroiditis, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, and invasive fibrotic thyroiditis.

3) Thyroid tumors: These can be divided into benign and malignant thyroid tumors. Benign tumors include thyroid adenomas, hemangiomas, and fibromas; malignant tumors include papillary carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, angiosarcoma, and fibrosarcoma. Clinically, thyroid tumors often only present as thyroid nodules, therefore the terms "thyroid tumor" and "thyroid nodule" are often used interchangeably. In reality, a nodule is merely a morphological description; it includes tumors, cysts, masses formed by the proliferation of normal tissue, and thyroid masses caused by other diseases. Surgical examination has shown that approximately 80% of single nodules are benign tumors, and 20% are malignant tumors.

4) Thyroid developmental abnormalities: Common diseases include thyroglossal duct cysts or fistulas and ectopic thyroid glands.

So, how can thyroid diseases be prevented?

1. Control your emotions. Studies on thyroid diseases have found that fluctuating emotions can severely affect the secretion of thyroid hormones, thereby inducing thyroid diseases such as hyperthyroidism. Therefore, it is important to maintain a peaceful state of mind in daily life to avoid being triggered by mental stress.

2. A balanced diet should avoid both excessive iodine intake and insufficient iodine intake. Iodine plays a crucial role in the secretion of thyroid hormones. Therefore, the amount of iodine intake directly affects the occurrence of thyroid diseases. Excessive iodine intake can lead to hyperthyroidism; insufficient intake can induce goiter.

3. Keep your living and working environment well-ventilated; ensure quality sleep and maintain a cheerful mood, as a depressed mood can trigger illness; exercise regularly, especially aerobic exercise, to maintain good health and reduce the risk of viral infections.

4. Both contain abundant fiber; pay attention to consuming high-quality protein. For patients with thyroiditis complicated by hyperthyroidism, the intake of seafood such as kelp and seaweed should be temporarily limited to reduce the iodine content in the diet.

5. Avoiding psychological triggers, maintaining a regular lifestyle, and balancing work and rest are beneficial for preventing the onset of the disease. This can be achieved by eating in moderation, having regular sleep patterns, avoiding overexertion, cultivating a tranquil and detached mind (selflessness, few desires, a cheerful mood, and a happy spirit), following the laws of nature, and engaging in appropriate physical exercise.