Overview
Thyroid disease is often congenital, passed down due to genetic prevalence, or a consequence of another chronic ailment. The causes also differ depending on the type of thyroid disease you are diagnosed with.
What Causes Thyroid Disease?
There are two types of thyroid disease, as we discussed earlier. We have hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Either or both of these conditions are a direct consequence of triggers that affect the thyroid gland.
Hypothyroidism Causes
Thyroiditis – It results in inflammation of the thyroid gland, which obstructs the normal secretion of thyroid hormones.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – It is an autoimmune disorder, wherein the body’s immune cells attack the thyroid gland, damaging it and inhibiting its normal functions.
Postpartum thyroiditis – It is a temporary complication that affects 3-5% of women who experience thyroid gland dysfunction after giving birth.
Iodine deficiency – Iodine is a crucial component that the thyroid gland utilizes for the normal and steady production of thyroid hormones. Lack of optimal iodine in the blood can lead to hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism Causes
Grave’s disease – It results from an enlarged thyroid gland, wherein it keeps producing excess thyroid hormone without any inhibition.
Nodules – The development of nodules inside the thyroid gland can result in an overactive thyroid, leading to excess production of the thyroid hormone.
Thyroiditis – It is a condition that results from inflammation in the thyroid, which results in sudden excess secretion of thyroid hormones that were previously stored for weeks or months.
Excess iodine – Iodine is crucial for thyroid gland function but excess availability of it triggers the thyroid gland, leading to excess production of the thyroid hormones.
Irrespective of the type or the symptoms, if you are at risk of developing some form of thyroid disease, it is ideal to consult your doctor before things take a turn for the worse.
