In the present time, one of the most common disorders that a large number of people face in the country is that of Thyroid disorder. The disorders are related to the abnormalities of the Thyroid gland. This gland is present in your neck just below Adam’s apple. It surrounds the trachea which is also known as the windpipe.

The Thyroid gland is responsible for regulating several metabolic functions of the body.

There are a handful of Thyroid disorders which are caused due to abnormalities of the above-mentioned functions of the Thyroid gland. Prominent among them are Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Goiter, and Thyroid cancer.

Causes of Thyroid disorders
The most common cause of a disorder of the Thyroid gland is due to an imbalance in the TSH levels. There are different causes for these disorders which are given below.

• Hyperthyroidism: The most common cause of this kind of a situation is Grave’s Disease. In this, an antibody is produced by the immune system which stimulates and makes the entire gland hyperactive. It leads the Thyroid hormones levels to rise. Secondary Hyperthyroidism is related to the high production of the TSH by the pituitary gland. A tumor in the pituitary can make the TSH level high. Toxic nodular Goiter can be another reason why Thyroid levels can hike. The abnormal nodules make the gland produce the hormone in excess.
• Thyroiditis: An inflammation of the Thyroid gland can make the gland produce excess hormones. This can be temporary which can lead to Hypothyroidism later.
• Hypothyroidism: The main cause of this Thyroid disorder is insufficient hormone secretion by the gland. Surgical removal might be the main reason for this. Moreover, the body might make some antibodies which destroy the Thyroid gland drastically. Iodine deficiency, problems of the pituitary and congenital Hypothyroidism can be the main causes for this.
• Thyroid cancers: There are mainly four types of Thyroid cancers. They are follicular, papillary, medullary and anaplastic. The main precursor to these cancers can be radiation therapy. As radiation therapy is obsolete these days, cancers have also decreased.

Symptoms of Thyroid disorders
There are several symptoms which you can observe to predict a Thyroid disorder. Some main symptoms of Hypothyroidism are dry hair, constipation, depression, forgetfulness, fatigue, muscle cramps, hair loss, and weight gain. Hyperthyroidism can be detected with the symptoms of higher blood pressure, increased body temperature, increased sweating, insomnia, diarrhea, and weight loss. Thyroid storm can occur if Hyperthyroidism is not treated. The symptoms of this Thyroid disorder are fever, persistence high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, weakness, restlessness, shock, and comma.

Treatment of Thyroid disorders
There are many treatments for treating the various conditions of Thyroid disorders. Some of the extensively used treatments are Thyroid hormone replacement therapy, iodine regeneration therapy, regular iodine doses, and anti-Thyroid medications.

The Thyroid glands may be surgically removed in some cases to treat some disorders of the Thyroid gland. This process of the removal of the Thyroid gland is known as a Thyroidectomy. Cancers in the Thyroid glands can be treated by radioactive iodine therapy, hormone suppression technique, various medications related to anti-cancer and radiation therapy. The radiation therapy is less common these days because of the various side effects it has.