- Treating this kind of thyroid condition, where the body produces an excess amount of hormones from the thyroid gland, could involve a variety of methods. The doctor could treat the symptom resultant of the thyroid. For instance, the patient could be recommended drugs like propranolol to fight the effects of extra hormones in the blood without changing the blood hormone level. The doctor could also suggest the administration of anti-thyroid drugs, such as methimazole and propylthiouracil. These drug compounds conglomerate directly in the thyroid tissue and stop hormone production. In the case of occurrence of the possible side effect of granulocytosis--repression of white blood cell production by the bone marrow--the doctor will deem fit to change the dosage of the drug to maintain as normal a blood hormone level as possible in the patient.
- Sometimes doctors recommend administering of oral radioactive iodine as a one-time procedure to ablate or destroy the biological function of a hyperactive thyroid gland. Only active thyroid gland cells are known to pick up radioactive iodine, which is why neighboring cells remain untouched in this effective local mode of therapy. Partial removal of the thyroid gland through surgery or partial thyroidectomy has to be done with utmost care because if too much of the over productive tissue gets removed, then hypothyroidism or less than optimum thyroid hormone secretion will set in. Sometimes this operation might lead to accidental injury or removal of certain glands and nerves of the neck and throat, resulting in low calcium.
- Most cases of hypothyroidism require treatment for life. Before artificial levothyroxine was available, dried tablets of animal thyroid glands were used, though not any more. While the most active form of thyroid hormone is T3, doctors prefer to use the T4 variety of thyroid hormone for majority of patients. This is because T4 lasts for longer, which means you take it once a day, as opposed to short term effects of T3 which need to be taken multiple times daily. Also T4 is easily and constantly broken down into T3 in a natural process in the blood, bringing about proper healing of the condition. Care should be taken as too much production of thyroid hormone due to treatment might lead to heart ailments and erratic blood pressure and chances of osteoporosis.
- Apart from regular medical treatment, a patient could try to follow a diet known to be healthy for the condition. Hyperthyroid patients will benefit from foods, including cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, cauliflower, spinach, soy, beans, turnips and mustard greens, as these vegetables are known to depress the activity of the thyroid gland. For the same reason hypothyroid patients should avoid these foods in their diet. In general, avoid refined food products, direct sugar, dairy products, caffeinated substances and alcoholic beverages. Also, try to include regular doses of minerals like magnesium and calcium in your diet for helping metabolic functions.
previous post
next post