What is Hyper and Hypothyroidism?

 What Is it?

I am going to compare the differences and explain what hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism both are in this blog



To begin, I want to explain what the thyroid does in the body.  The thyroid is an organ and gland that releases substances called hormones into the endocrine system and controls other organs (which basically means it releases them into the bloodstream to signal other tissues to do things).  It is important to know what the thyroid actually does because if we know that, then we will know what it can cause in the body to form the typical signs and symptoms.  The thyroid releases two hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) (Burchum et al., 2022).  Either of these conditions can develop hereditarily, from damage to the thyroid, or cancer.

Okay, So What Do These Hormones Do?

Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) act to speed up the metabolic process in the body.  This can include increasing the body temperature, pulse, growth, and improved and faster reflexes involved in the nervous system- during all of these the body will use up energy due to the metabolic state (How does the thyroid gland work? 2018).

Hyperthyroidism is the overproduction of thyroid hormone (Burchum et al., 2022). This means that the thyroid, which produces releases many hormones in the body is not releasing enough of the hormones it should be.

Treatment for hyperthyroidism involves the lowering of serum thyroid hormone to create a normal metabolic state instead of a hypermetabolic state.  There are a few options for treatment (How does the thyroid gland work? 2018)

Treatment Options:

1) Antithyroid drugs (ATD): 
  • Methimazole and Propylthiouracil (oral or rectal suppositories)
    • These drugs suppress the biosynthesis of T3 and T4 in the thyroid
    • If a dose is missed, take it as soon as remembered, but if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose (Antithyroid agent (oral route, rectal route) proper use 2022).
  • Lithium carbonate or stable iodine
    • Blocks the release of thyroid hormone from the thyroid for patients who are unable to take ATDs (Peter A. Singer, 1995)
2) Radioactive Iodine
  • This is the most common form of treatment used in the United States for adults (Peter A. Singer, 1995).
  •  This is when radioactive iodine is used to destroy the thyroid tissue and make it unable to synthesize excess thyroid hormone, the patient will have to take thyroid hormone for life after this (Peter A. Singer, 1995).
    • Take medication by mouth once a day for 10 days or as directed by a healthcare professional (Iodine and potassium iodide (strong iodine) (oral route) proper use 2022).
    • Do not take more medication than prescribed and do not take it more often (this can result in side effects) (Iodine and potassium iodide (strong iodine) (oral route) proper use 2022).
    •  If a dose is missed take it as soon as remembered, but if it is almost time for the next dose, just skip the missed dose (Iodine and potassium iodide (strong iodine) (oral route) proper use 2022).
    • After treatment, the patient will be required to take thyroid hormone replacement therapy for life (see hypothyroidism section below for thyroid hormone replacement medications and how to take them)
3) Thyroid Surgery
  •    Complete or partial thyroidectomy is common for many people.  This is when the entire or part of the thyroid is removed to decrease the amount of thyroid being synthesized.  This is common with nodules and cancer tumors of the thyroid (Peter A. Singer, 1995).
Hypothyroidism is the underproduction of thyroid hormone.  It is the opposite of hyperthyroidism, in that the metabolic processes in the body are slowed down due to the underproduction of metabolizing hormones T3 and T4 from the thyroid.  

Treatment for hypothyroidism only includes taking synthetic thyroid hormones such as sodium levothyroxine (Synthroid) which is T4, by mouth for life. They can also take levothyroxine with liothyronine which is T3 (Peter A. Singer, 1995).  This medication must be taken on an empty stomach (usually in the morning) and as a single dose (without any vitamins or other medications).  Food can be ingested 1 hour after medication is taken (Burchum et al., 2022).  If a dose is missed take it as soon as remembered, but if it is almost time for the next dose, just skip the missed dose (Levothyroxine (oral route) proper use 2022).
- If a patient with hyperthyroidism chooses to have a complete thyroidectomy or radioactive iodine therapy, they will have to take these medications for life (Peter A. Singer, 1995).







Citations

Burchum, J. R., Rosenthal, L. D., & Lehne, R. A. (2022). In Lehne's pharmacology for nursing care (10th ed., pp. 165–165). essay, Elsevier.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, February 1). Antithyroid agent (oral route, rectal route) proper use. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/antithyroid-agent-oral-route-rectal-route/proper-use/drg-20069661

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, February 1). Iodine and potassium iodide (strong iodine) (oral route) proper use. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/iodine-and-potassium-iodide-strong-iodine-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20062037?p=1

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, February 1). Levothyroxine (oral route) proper use. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/levothyroxine-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20072133

Peter A. Singer, M. D. (1995, March 8). Treatment guidelines for patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. JAMA. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/387402?casa_token=sfnpoEtcoAUAAAAA%3AlQWXoWN61eH3No_8Eq4tHdDD8FzegM4UQeIBAkaJrQsi7kMFXCLIq9PlSghOX20wtQ2rkvkh7hA

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2018, April 19). How does the thyroid gland work? InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279388/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Make Sure to Take Your Vitamins...

Image
  Don't Forget to Take Your Vitamins! I am sure a lot of us remember our parents telling us to take our gummy vitamins.  Telling us that it would help us to grow big and strong.  While this is true, there can be specific benefits of taking certain vitamins...   I am going to talk about specific vitamins and supplements that will have specific health benefits or disease prevention. The usefulness of vitamins, depends on the nutritional value of one's foods and their dietary needs or deficiencies (Ward, 2014).     
Read more

How it's Made: First-Aid Edition

Image
  Everyone has seen the premade first-aid kits that you usually keep in your car, classroom, or in your home, or workplace.  I don't know about you, but the first thing I think about in a first-aid kit is bandaids.  While there should definitely be bandaids, there are many other supplies that should be stocked in this box of vital goodies...   What These Kits Usually Contain...  What Else Should I Add to My Kit? Most pre-packaged first-aid kits contain bandaids, bandage wraps, gauze, and hand sanitizer.  They can sometimes have an antibiotic ointment, icepacks, or gloves but they do not always contain aspirin, Benadryl (Diphenhydramine), Dramamine (Dimenhydrinate), saline solution, hydrogen peroxide, scissors, tweezers, alcohol wipes, essential hygiene items, soap and masks (now more important due to COVID-19 pandemic).  These kit additives could be useful in many emergencies. It is also recommended to keep a can opener and non-perishable foo...
Read more