Thyroid Disease (cont.)
What is the treatment for thyroid disease?
Depending on the specifics of the disease being treated,
medications, surgery or radioactive therapy may be used as treatment modalities.
Medications
Medications may be used to treat hyperthyroidism to reduce the production of
thyroid hormone, its release from the gland and/or to treat the signs and
symptoms that occur in hyperthyroidism such as a rapid heart beat. In
hypothyroidism, synthetic thyroid hormone is used to replace the inadequacy of
thyroid hormone. Occasionally, in the case of a large goiter, Thyroid hormone
replacement may be given in small doses in an attempt to shrink the gland size.
It should be mentioned that there are "natural" thyroid compounds available on
the market. These vary in their effects and in their dosing and are beyond the
scope of this discussion. Steroids and other anti-inflammatory medications, such
as NSAIDs, may also be used to reduce inflammation of inflamed thyroid glands.
Surgery
Surgery is the treatment of choice when the thyroid gland
is causing compressing the airway resulting in difficulty in breathing or
swallowing. In addition, surgery can performed to remove a nodule that is
overactive, remove a goiter that is disfiguring, or when cancer is a
possibility. Depending on the reason for the surgery, part of a lobe, a whole lobe or the whole thyroid
(perhaps with surrounding tissue) may be removed. When the entire thyroid gland
is removed, medical replacement with synthetic thyroid replacement is required
Radioactive ablation
When hyperthyroidism is inadequately responding to medications, radioactive
ablation may be tried. In contrast to the scans described above, the iodine in
this situation is labeled with a tracer that destroys the thyroid tissue.
Ablation is used in cases of hyperthyroidism that do not respond to medications,
particularly Graves' disease. This form of therapy is also used along with
surgery to treat certain forms of thyroid cancer.
Next: What is the outlook for someone with a thyroid disease? »
- Beta Blockers - Learn more about Beta Blockers, a drug that treats angina and other heart rhythm disorders, migraines, high blood pressure, panic attacks, and tremors. Generic and brand names are included in the article.
- Thyroid Blood Tests - Read about thyroid blood tests, which are used to diagnose disease of the thyroid such as hyperthyroidism and hyperthyroidism, as well as point to other diseases of the thyroid gland.
- Hypothyroidism - Learn about Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) including causes, symptoms (such as weight gain, fatigue, and depression), diagnosis, and treatment.
Latest Medical News
Thyroid RSS