The thyroid secretes hormones essential for the activity of all cells. Its disordered, even tiny, disrupts most of the key functions of the body: digestive and cardiovascular systems, immunity, fertility, temperature, sleep, weight, psychic balance ... Yet widely known practitioners, it is not always identified and causes disturbances that alter the quality of life.
The thyroid, a capricious gland
Despite its small size (4 cm x 2 cm), the thyroid is extremely sensitive to our living conditions . Stress, anxiety, fasting or long-term physical exertion can disrupt its effectiveness. Like exposure to radioactivity or endocrine disruptors, chemicals that accumulate in our tissues.
According to a survey of the 60 million consumer magazine, published in May 2017, 23 to 54 different disruptors are found in the hair of children aged 10 to 15 years. In the long term, these cocktail compounds impede the effectiveness of the thyroid: either it gets carried away (hyperthyroidism) or it idles (hypothyroidism).
Women at higher risk
"In adulthood, 7.5% of women are affected, compared to just under 3% of men," says endocrinologist Pierre Nys, author of The Thyroid IG Diet (Leduc's ed.). And after 60 years, the figures climb to 12% for the first, against only 4% for the second.
The thyroid is sensitive to the fluctuations of female hormones . Many periods in the lives of women are particularly fragile: puberty, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause. All that is needed is favorable family terrain - such as Hashimoto's disease gene - or increased exposure to certain pollutants so that disorders can suddenly arise.
Thyroid problems, signs that do not deceive
When the thyroid goes into over-speeding, the body's metabolism accelerates. The heart beats too fast, the muscles are hypertonic and fatigue sets in . Nervousness, accelerated transit (diarrhea), weight loss and difficulty falling asleep also occur.
"Hyperthyroidism can result from an autoimmune disease (Graves' disease) or the presence of nodules in the gland that produce an excess of hormones," says Dr. Le Nys. They are often well diagnosed through clinical examination, blood work and ultrasound.
Hypothyroidism, when the gland runs out of steam
Conversely, when the thyroid no longer produces enough hormones, weight gain, chills, constipation, depression, skin dryness, muscle cramps and immense fatigue gradually manifest themselves.
It is the most common thyroid embarrassment: more than 10% of women suffer after 45 years! These diffuse symptoms are often blamed on age or low morale. And although they can be tamed by a daily hormone intake, many hypothyroidisms are undiagnosed, so not treated.
* Chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland of autoimmune origin caused by antibodies that progressively destroy the gland
