Paul Ruggieri - A Simple Guide to Thyroid Disorders: From Diagnosis to Treatment

Table of Contents

Copyright 2004 by Paul Ruggieri, M.D. and Scott Isaacs, M.D. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For information, write Addicus Books, Inc., P.O. Box 45327, Omaha, Nebraska 68145.

ISBN# 978-1-886039-63-6

Cover design by George Foster and Darcy Lijoodi

Illustrations by Jack Kusler

Typography by Linda Dageforde

This book is not intended to serve as a substitute for a physician, nor is it the authors intent to give medical advice contrary to that of an attending physician.

Ruggieri, Paul, 1959

A simple guide to thyroid disorders / Paul Ruggieri, Scott Isaacs.

p. cm.

An Addicus Nonfiction Book.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 1-886039-63-1 (alk. paper)

1. Thyroid gland--Diseases--Popular works. I. Isaacs, Scott, 1967

II. Title.

RC655.R84 2003

616.4'4--dc22

2003016226

Addicus Books, Inc.

P.O. Box 45327

Omaha, Nebraska 68145

www.AddicusBooks.com

Printed in the United States of America

I would llike to thank all my patientspast and present for the privilege of being involved in their care. I would also like to acknowledge my patients family members. Their love, understanding, and support is vital for ensuring a healthy recovery for patients.

I wish to thank all the nurses at Charlton Hospital on Atwood 3 and at St. Annes Hospital on 1N for taking care of my thyroid patients. I am also grateful for the editorial efforts of Dr. Charles Eils and Dr. Tamer Yacoub toward the completion of this manuscript.

This book would not have been possible without the efforts of all those involved at Addicus Books. I especially thank Rod Colvin for his uncompromising focus and drive for perfection. I acknowledge Kate Maloy, Mary Campbell, Jane Kenyon, and Susan Adams for their editorial support; and I thank Jack Kusler for his work on the illustrations.

Finally, I would like to thank my office staff at the Truesdale Clinic for their work and daily efforts in taking care of my patients.

Paul Ruggieri, M.D.

I would like to dedicate this book to my grandmother, Minna Rothberg, who has been on thyroid replacement for over fifty years, and who has been an incredible example of how to live in harmony with thyroid disease. I would also like to thank all of my patients with thyroid disease, who have taught me about its many faces and how illness can be overcome. I would also like to thank my family, Sheryle and Howard Isaacs, and Lori and Chase Johns for their love and support. Finally, I would like to thank my staff at Intelligent Health Center and my office manager, Holyn Ivy for their daily efforts and hard work in taking care of my patients with thyroid disease.

Scott Isaacs, M.D.

If you have been told you have a thyroid disorder, know that you are not alone. Every year, some 20 million Americans receive treament for thyroid problems. If youre like may of those diagnosed, you probably have a lot of questions. You may wonder what caused the problem . How can your disorder be brought under control? What are the treatment options? What can you do to help yourself?

In this book, you will find the information you need to better understand your thyroid gland. The thyroid exerts more power over the human body than any other glandular structure; simply stated, it influences every cell in your body. Every organ and every bodily systemcardiac, respiratory, reproductive, circulatory, nervous, skeletalis affected by this small powerhouse.

If you have a thyroid disorder, the good news is that most thyroid problems can be treated with conventional medicine so you can live normally. It is our hope that within these pages you will find understandable explanations of thyroid diseases and treatments to help you feel better.

If youre like most people, you may not have given much thought to your thyroid gland. Over the years, youve probably heard about other people having thyroid problems; but the truth is that most of know very little about this gland. In fact, we usually dont feel we need to know much about ituntil it causes us a problem. Then, many of us want to gain a better understanding of how this small but powerful gland can have such a dramatic impact on our health.

One in ten Americans is affected by thyroid problems. And unfortunately, as many as half of those people have not been diagnosed. The reasons for the large number of undiagnosed cases include lack of public awareness about thyroid disorders as well as lack of knowledge about the thyroid gland itself. To lay a foundation for a better understanding of thyroid disorders, lets first examine the thyroid gland and its function.

The thyroid gland is located at the front of your throat, just below your voice box ( larynx ). It is a light purplish-red, about the size of a hens egg, weighs less than three-quarters of an ounce, and is encased in a thin layer of tissue.

Shaped like a butterfly, the thyroid has wings, or rubbery lobes , that are about two to three inches long. The middle section of the so-called butterfly shape is the isthmus.

A complex organ, the thyroid gland produces hormones that are responsible for keeping virtually every cell and organ in your body functioning normally. You might think of these hormones as a fuel additive that makes the human machine run smoothly. They help cells convert oxygen and calories into energy.

The thyroid gland works in concert with the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland in the brain to produce thyroid hormones that influence the function of your heart, brain, eyes, skin, muscle, bone, liver, kidneys, and intestines. These hormones also affect growth and development; influence the protein that builds muscle; and are largely responsible for regulating your body temperature, heart rate, mood, alertness, and even the texture and growth of your hair and nails. The functioning of the thyroid gland can also affect weight gain or loss because the gland regulates metabolism, the process by which your body uses up nutrients. The rate at which metabolism occurs is called the basal metabolic rate ,or BMR ; thyroid hormones help regulate your BMR.

If the thyroid hormones and other chemicals with which they interact get out of balance, a variety of troublesome symptoms can occur. So, take a bit of time and read on to learn about these important chemicals, their functions, and their interdependence with other key organs.

Chemistry may or may not be one of your favorite subjects, but to gain an understanding of how thyroid hormones can affect your health, it will be helpful if you follow along for a short lesson in chemistry on how your body produces thyroid hormone. Understanding this hormone is the foundation for understanding thyroid disorders. And, t he two hormones that make up thyroid hormone will be referred to by medical professionals repeatedly as you are being tested or treated for a thyroid disorder. So for this reason, having a basic understanding of the chemistry will be helpful to you.

Thyroid Gland