Thyroid function and its diseases

The thyroid gland is one of the most important glands in the body and is located in front of the neck. Hormones secreted by the thyroid gland are needed to regulate metabolism and energy production in all cells of the body. When the thyroid gland is malfunctioning, it can It affects every part and system of the body from the gastrointestinal tract to the central nervous system, and therefore thyroid dysfunction is associated with widespread and serious complications.

The two most common thyroid diseases are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, which according to global statistics, the number of people with hypothyroidism is higher than other diseases related to this gland, and women are more likely to suffer from it than men.



The role of thyroid hormones in the human body:

The three main hormones T3, T4, and Calcitonin are secreted by the thyroid gland. T3 and T4 hormones are used to speed up the body's metabolism and cell growth, metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats, activity of the mind and central nervous system, temperature regulation and Body weight, energy production, etc. are used. (The speed of the body's metabolism is the amount of time that the body converts food into energy and uses it, or in other words, the speed of activity of organs such as heart, liver, muscles , Gastrointestinal tract, etc.) If the body's metabolism is too fast or too slow in both cases you will not feel good, when the body's metabolism is slow you will feel tired and lack energy and if it is fast you will feel restless and You will experience hyperactivity.

Another hormone produced by the thyroid gland is calcitonin, which is responsible for regulating the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. These elements, along with some other minerals such as magnesium, are needed to have healthy and strong teeth and bones. .



How does the thyroid gland work?

The main function of the thyroid gland is to produce two hormones, T4 and T3, and for this purpose, it collects and stores iodine from the blood surface and uses it to produce these two hormones. Of course, the thyroid needs other elements for activity, such as manganese, zinc, selenium and potassium, but the main element is iodine.

Hormones secreted in the brain by the hypothalamus and pituitary glands control the activity of the thyroid gland. When the levels of T3 and T4 hormones in the blood are low or the body's metabolism slows down, the hypothalamus releases a hormone called TRH into the bloodstream. This hormone enters the pituitary gland through blood vessels and stimulates this gland to secrete the hormone TSH. TSH stands for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. TSH enters the bloodstream and is absorbed by the thyroid gland, stimulating thyroid cells to secrete more T3 and T4 hormones. Therefore, to diagnose thyroid problems such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, the levels of three hormones T3, T4 and TSH are measured.

The hormone calcitonin is secreted by the thyroid gland when the amount of calcium in the blood increases and causes a decrease in calcium and phosphorus in the blood, which it does by reducing the activity of cells in the bones. Orders to reduce their activity.



Hypothyroidism:

When the hormones T3 and T4 are not produced enough, it is called hypothyroidism and its symptoms include the following:

Feeling tired and depressed, lowering body temperature and feeling cold when others feel comfortable or even hot, constipation, weight gain, hair loss, thinning hair, etc.

Hyperthyroidism:

When the hormones T3 and T4 are secreted too much by the thyroid gland, it is called hyperthyroidism and its symptoms can include feelings of restlessness and hyperactivity, difficulty concentrating, increased heart rate, fever and excessive sweating. , Noted difficulty sleeping and losing weight.



Treatment of thyroid problems

In both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, I believe that in the first step, there is no need to use alternative hormones or hormone production inhibitors. This treatment is just like there is a problem in your car engine and instead Diagnose and repair it, tow your car, but this type of treatment is prescribed by many doctors.

For example, people who use hormone replacement pills such as levothyroxine, etc. for hypothyroidism will never get rid of the effects of hypothyroidism completely, although the symptoms of the disease will be reduced, but problems such as hair loss, obesity will continue. And overweight, constipation, lack of energy, fatigue and weakness, etc. persist and indicate that they are not completely cured.

Alternative hormones should be used when the thyroid gland is removed due to cancer or other problems during surgery and there is no longer a thyroid gland that produces hormones, or when the gland problem is acute and out of treatment. Natural results do not achieve the right result.

 All the glands of the body need tools called minerals and vitamins to produce hormones, enzymes and proper activity, and as mentioned at the beginning of the article, the thyroid gland needs to secrete the hormones T3, T4, and Calcitonin. Contains the elements zinc, manganese, selenium, iodine, vitamins C, B6 and so on.



Excess or deficiency of some minerals in the body can cause hypothyroidism or overactive thyroid gland, for example, iodine, manganese and selenium deficiency reduce the production of thyroid hormones and hypothyroidism or increase the elements of iron and Copper in the body causes them to accumulate in the thyroid gland and disrupt its function.

By examining the amount of minerals, vitamins and their regulation, in most cases, the activity of the thyroid gland returns to normal and there is no need to use alternative hormones, and their consumption only makes the thyroid gland sluggish and treatment difficult.

Dysfunction of the thyroid gland and its relationship with minerals

1. Nutrition: As explained, the thyroid gland needs iodine, selenium, zinc, manganese and some vitamins such as B6, C, etc. for its activity. People are deficient in these nutrients.

2. Materials and Elements Interfering with Iodine Function: In today's water and food, halogens such as fluorides, chlorides, and bromides are abundant and can replace iodine in the thyroid. These substances also interfere with the absorption and metabolism of iodine.

3. Excess copper and mercury in the body: Many people have excess copper and mercury in their body due to environmental pollution. These two elements interact with elements such as zinc, selenium and manganese that the thyroid needs to function. Copper is an essential element for human health, but its excess disrupts the activity of the thyroid gland and even other glands in the body such as the adrenal glands. The thyroid gland is very sensitive to copper. Part of this is because the thyroid is easily affected by the sympathetic nervous system. Problems such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism are directly related to copper imbalance in the body.

Mercury is a toxic metal that does not play any beneficial role in the body, and if its amount increases in the body, it can cause various diseases, including hypothyroidism. This toxic metal is used through fillings in teeth (amalgam) Eating too much fish and other fish enters the human body.

Stress: Stress in any form, including insomnia, living in crowded cities, emotional, mental problems, etc., upsets the mineral balance in the body and the thyroid balance. When a person is stressed, the adrenal glands help the body to respond to stress by producing various hormones, which leads to the consumption of large amounts of zinc, magnesium and B and C vitamins. Continued stress causes more consumption and eventually depletion of reserves of these substances, these nutrients are vital for thyroid activity.