The thyroid is an organ, which is located in the throat next to the thyroid cartilage of the larynx. It is a gland, which produces vital hormones, L-thyroxine and triiodine-thyronine and releases them into the bloodstream.

Which medical conditions can indicate a thyroid disorder?

At the beginning of a enlarged thyroid, the discomfort is usually subtle and can express itself in a periodically occurring feeling of choking or pressure. A further enlargement of the thyroid leads to an increase of the neck circumference („the collar size gets larger“). Difficulties swallowing can occur, which can be linked to an „organ feeling“ (globe). An increasing pressure on the wind-pipe can lead to a narrowing and shortness of breath. Usually, the goitre can be seen from outside. The thyroid hormones are usually still normal. However, if too little or too many thyroid hormones are produced, discomfort arises. In the case of a hyperfunction (hyperthyreosis), symptoms often only develop gradually and often unnoticed by the patient. In the beginning, merely individual symptoms such as a raised pulse rate, heart trouble, lose of weight, nervousness, restlessness, sleep disorders as well as a loss of hair or a decrease in performance can be observed. A thyroid hyperfunction can also express itself through increased perspiration or hot flashes, which are often falsely interpreted as a „symptom of menopause“ by women. It often takes years until the complete clinical picture of a hyperfunction develops, which also leads to a protrusion of the eyes in the case of the so-called Basedow’s disease. In the case of excessively nervous and restless children, a thyroid hyperfunction can be the cause. Therefore, a disorder of the thyroid gland, which can be easily treated, must be counted out in such cases. If an insufficient amount of thyroid hormones is circulating in the body, it is referred to as a hypofunction (hypothyroidism). All metabolic processes in the body take place at a slower and reduced speed. You feel tired, down-and-out, unmotivated, easily gain weight, you get depressed, your hair becomes brittle and falls out. Your skin dries out and becomes flaky. A hypofunction can also occur in children. The children are then usually overweight and do not do well in school because they cannot concentrate and are always tired. By then at the latest, a blood test should be conducted for the detection of a hypofunction. A hypofunction often affects many family members. Therefore, siblings and parents should also have their blood tested.

How can a goitre and a functional disorder of the thyroid be determined?

Should you suffer from one of the aforementioned symptoms or in the event of a possible goitre formation, an examination of the thyroid is required, which includes the following examination steps: the ultrasound exam shows how large the thyroid is and whether it is altered in a knotty state. In the event of knotty alterations, a scintigraphy for the evaluation of the function is indicated. A transient, diagnostic, radioactive substance is administered for the implementation. It enriches itself in the thyroid depending on the thyroid function. A hypo- or hyperfunction can be determined without any complications by means of a blood test.

How can the thyroid be treated?

The goitre as well as a functional disorder of the thyroid must be treated because a severe hyper- as well as hypofunction represent a life-threatening condition. For this reason, the therapy should be conducted by an experienced thyroid specialist. Prof. Dr. Köppen has been dealing with the clarification and treatment of thyroid disorders since his vocational training and is capable of taking care of your thyroid in an ideal manner.

Modern therapy offers several alternatives for each kind of disorder. However, synthetically produced thyroid hormones, which are identical to the ones produced by the thyroid, are frequently used.

Should you already be on thyroid medication, it is important that you take the tablet on an empty stomach before breakfast and that you have your hormone levels checked regularly.