1.What is the thyroid gland?
The thyroid gland is the largest endocrine gland in the body, located under the thyroid cartilage immediately in front of the third and fourth cartilage rings of the trachea, and consists of two lobes and isthmus, with an average weight of about 20-25g, slightly heavier in women. The thyroid gland is followed by four parathyroid glands and the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The main function of the thyroid gland is to synthesize thyroid hormones and regulate the body’s metabolism. The storage of iodine in the gland is about 1 /5 of the whole body.
2. What are the functions of the thyroid gland?
The main physiological functions of thyroid hormones are
(1) Promote metabolism, increase oxygen consumption in most tissues, and increase heat production.
(2) Promote growth and development, which is essential for the development of long bones, brain and reproductive organs, especially during infancy. Lack of thyroid hormone at this time can lead to cretinism.
(3) Increases the excitability of the central nervous system.
(4) In addition, it strengthens and regulates the effects of other hormones, accelerates heart rate, strengthens cardiac contraction and increases cardiac output. The thyroid gland coordinates the functions of the entire body. Thyroid dysfunction adversely affects several organs and systems and has a wide range of health effects.
3. What is a thyroid nodule?
A thyroid nodule is a lump in the thyroid gland that moves up and down with the thyroid gland with swallowing movements. It is a common clinical condition that can be caused by a variety of etiologies. A variety of clinical thyroid disorders, such as thyroid degeneration, inflammation, autoimmunity, and neoplasia, can manifest as nodules. Thyroid nodules can be solitary or multiple. Multiple nodules have a higher incidence than solitary nodules, but solitary nodules have a higher incidence of thyroid cancer.
4.What about the incidence of thyroid nodules?
Epidemiological surveys show that 5% of women and 1% of men living in non-iodine deficient areas have palpable thyroid nodules. If examined with high-resolution ultrasound, the detection rate of thyroid nodules in the population can be as high as 19% to 67%, of which 5% to 10% are thyroid cancer. In iodine-deficient areas, the incidence of thyroid nodules is higher. At present, the incidence of thyroid nodules is obviously increasing year by year all over the world, with women and older people being the most common.
5.What are the general categories of thyroid nodules?
Thyroid nodules are divided into two categories: benign and malignant, with benign nodules accounting for the majority and malignant nodules for less than 1%. Although malignant lesions are uncommon, they are difficult to identify preoperatively, and the most important thing is how to avoid missing the cancer. Depending on the pathology of the nodule, it can be classified as: nodular goiter, inflammatory nodule, toxic nodular goiter, thyroid cyst, thyroid tumor, etc. Early recognition of the nature of thyroid nodules, especially the differentiation of benign or malignant lesions, is important for the choice of treatment options and prognosis.
The nodules on the thyroid gland may be thyroid cancer, thyroid adenoma, nodular goiter and other causes, which are collectively called thyroid nodules before their nature is clarified.
6. What are the risks of thyroid nodules?
(1) Most benign thyroid nodules are not harmful. Larger thyroid nodules can compress the surrounding trachea, esophagus and laryngeal nerve, causing breathing problems, swallowing difficulties or hoarseness. Severe cases have the following consequences.
(2) Hazards to fertility and sexual function: in female thyroid patients, many suffer from menstrual disorders, even menopause, low libido, not easy to conceive, and male thyroid patients are prone to hypogonadism, impotence, premature ejaculation, resulting in infertility.
(3) Affects the efficiency of labor and work: thyroid patients, shortness of breath, insomnia and dreaminess, low labor and work efficiency, and even loss of labor capacity. It can cause eye lesions such as protrusion of the eyes, inability to close the eyelids or double vision.
(4) Damage to the locomotor system: Most of the muscle symptoms of thyroid are mild muscle weakness to severe muscle weakness and muscle atrophy, which may be accompanied by subtle tremor, active tendon reflexes and shortened reflex times.
(5) Affecting social life: Patients are irritable and irritable, and their voices are high and rough, and they often lose their temper and quarrel with others easily, which greatly endangers the relationship with family members and others.
(6) cause some diseases: such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, renal tubular acidosis, liver disease.
7, how to prevent thyroid nodules to be effective?
(1) emotional, according to the survey, the occurrence of thyroid disease and emotional disorders have a close relationship, maintain a good state of mind, optimistic attitude to life, can significantly reduce the occurrence of thyroid disease.
(2) Diet, iodine in the diet has the greatest impact on the thyroid gland, insufficient or excessive iodine intake can cause thyroid lesions. Iodine deficiency is the main cause of goiter. The daily diet of people in highlands and mountainous areas often contains insufficient iodine and should be cooked with iodized salt, while people in coastal areas should control iodine intake.
(3) Stay away from pollution: The environment we live in is closely related to the occurrence of thyroid disease. External environmental factors such as air, soil, water and harmful chemicals in food can stimulate the thyroid gland, and to prevent the occurrence of thyroid, it is also important to prevent environmental pollution and stay away from harmful chemicals in order to prevent thyroid disease.
(4) Avoid overexertion. We all know that overexertion will increase the burden on the thyroid gland and lower the body’s immunity. In the long run, the thyroid gland is in an unstable state and is susceptible to lesions when affected by external factors, such as chemical stimuli or germs and viruses. Therefore, combining work and rest and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and work style are also effective ways to prevent thyroid disease.