Thyroid dysfunction occurs when thyroid hormones, which control our body's energy metabolism and promote growth and development, are over- or under-produced. Hyperthyroidism is caused by overproduction, and hypothyroidism is caused by underproduction. It is a disease with a high incidence in women. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, 70.8% (186,056) of hyperactive patients (262,779) and 83.4% (499,524) of patients with hypothyroidism (598,987) were women last year.
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When thyroid hormones become excessive, metabolism in the body becomes excessively active. This is why patients with hyperthyroidism sweat or cannot stand the heat and increase their appetite, increasing their food intake. However, energy consumption also increases, reducing weight, becoming psychologically sensitive, and increasing anxiety. In many cases, due to poor concentration, work performance ability decreases and people cannot sleep at night.
On the contrary, hypothyroidism, which has a sharp drop in energy speed, reduces heat generation, resulting in a lot of fatigue and coldness. Because you don't sweat well, your skin is dry, your hair breaks easily, and you lose a lot. In many cases, the hands and feet are swollen and indigestion is difficult. In severe cases, cognitive abilities such as memory decline may decrease.
Thyroid dysfunction is mostly caused by "self-immune disease." 90% of hyperthyroidism is caused by Graves' disease, and 80% of hypothyroidism is caused by Hashimoto thyroiditis. In other words, antibodies that promote hormone production (Graves' disease) or antibodies that block hormone production (Hashimoto thyroiditis) exist.
Kim Hyo-jung, a professor of endocrinology at Nowon Eulji University Hospital, said, "It is difficult to say that the occurrence of thyroid disease in women is due to the direct action of female hormones, such as menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause."
Autoimmune thyroid disease has about 70-80% genetic predisposition and 20-30% environmental factors. Professor Kim explained, "The genetic predisposition that causes thyroid disease is inevitable, but extreme physical and mental stress, smoking, environmental hormones, and lack or excessive iodine intake are controllable factors."
Thyroid dysfunction is on the rise overall. In particular, in the case of hypothyroidism, the number increased 68.4% from 355,759 in 2011 to 598,987 last year. The recent increase in thyroid cancer and the increase in the number of people undergoing resection surgery also seems to have affected it.
Some patients take thyroid abnormalities lightly, saying that it is not a disease directly related to life right away. However, if left unattended for a long time, it can lead to cardiovascular disease. It is recommended to receive treatment steadily as there is a risk of arrhythmia, heart failure, and arteriosclerosis due to elevated cholesterol in the case of hyperacutemia.
Treatment for hypothyroidism is simple. Since drugs make up for thyroid hormones that are lacking in drugs, if you take them consistently, you may live without recurrence for the rest of your life. Some say that taking thyroid hormone supplements causes osteoporosis, while others are wrong. Professor Kim said, "There are no reports of osteoporosis in patients who maintain normal thyroid function while supplementing thyroid hormone drugs. However, if thyroid levels remain high or low for a long time while taking thyroid hormone drugs, the risk of osteoporosis may increase. That's why blood test measurements are needed regularly," he said.
In the case of hyperthyroidism, drug treatment takes precedence, but radioactive iodine treatment and surgical treatment are considered only for patients with poor quality of life due to frequent recurrences. During drug treatment, most of them can maintain normal thyroid levels within three to six months.
The most common misconception regarding thyroid dysfunction is that patients with hypothyroidism should eat foods containing a lot of iodine such as salt, seaweed, and seaweed. Professor Kim said, "The cause of hypothyroidism in Korea accounts for a much larger proportion of thyroiditis caused by autoimmune antibodies than lack of iodine." According to a 2020 domestic report based on the 2013-2015 National Health and Nutrition Survey, 12% of people lack iodine, 23% if intake is appropriate and 65% if excessive, so there is no need to intentionally take more iodine just because it is hypothyroidism, he explained.
WriteR: Yeyoung Jeon
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