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World Thyroid Day is celebrated today i.e. 25th May. Today thyroid has become such a health problem that a large number of people are affected by it. Almost every 9th or 10th person in the country has some form of thyroid problem. After all, what is thyroid, what are its symptoms and how does it affect the body? To know the answers to these questions, the team of ‘Read’ talked to Dr. Meera Pathak, working at Community Health Center (CHC) Bhangel, Noida.

Dr. Meera Pathak tells that when we talk about thyroid, we are talking about thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormone works to control the body’s metabolism and many important physiological processes. T-3 (T3) and T-4 (T4) hormones produced by the thyroid gland play an important role in maintaining balanced functions of various organs of the body. When the level of these hormones in the body becomes higher than normal then that condition is called hyperthyroidism, whereas when the level of hormones is low then the problem of hypothyroidism occurs. Thyroid disease is mainly seen in these two types.

Thyroid symptoms

When asked about the symptoms of thyroid, Dr. Pathak says that the symptoms of both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are different. A person suffering from hypothyroidism may often have problems like brain fog i.e. difficulty in concentrating, weak memory, hair fall, swelling on the face, feeling very cold, weight gain, slow heart rate and constipation. Whereas in hyperthyroidism, a person may have to face problems like irritability, less sleep, excessive sweating, rapid heartbeat, feeling of throbbing in the chest, trembling hands, weight loss and frequent diarrhea.

When to get thyroid checked?

On the question of when to get thyroid checked, Dr. Meera Pathak says that people often ignore its initial signs. If a person feels constant fatigue, weakness, excessive cold or heat, trembling hands, rapid heartbeat or a complaint of constipation for a long time, then he should definitely get his thyroid checked. Irregular periods in women, difficulty in conceiving or problem in conceiving can also indicate thyroid.

What is the role of thyroid in pregnancy?

Regarding how much effect thyroid can have during pregnancy, Dr. Pathak says that pregnancy is a state in which there can be a lot of fluctuations in thyroid hormones. Many times, women who have never had thyroid problems before can also develop this disease during pregnancy. Women who already have thyroid problems may need a change in the dosage of medicines during pregnancy. If thyroid is properly controlled, the chances of complications during pregnancy are very less. But if thyroid becomes uncontrolled then the risk of problems like anemia, high blood pressure and premature delivery can increase. Not only this, it can also affect the brain development of the child in the womb.

Why are cases increasing in Delhi-NCR?

On the increasing thyroid cases in Delhi-NCR, Dr. Meera Pathak says that modern lifestyle is a major reason behind it. Pollution, unbalanced diet and increasing stress are continuously affecting people’s health. Junk food, foods high in carbohydrates and fats, packaged and sugary drinks, lack of sleep, excessive screen time and lack of regular exercise contribute to thyroid problems. Dr. Meera Pathak said that with the changing lifestyle, these risk factors are continuously increasing, due to which the number of thyroid patients is also increasing.

How can you control thyroid by changing lifestyle?

Can thyroid be controlled by making lifestyle changes? In response to this question, Dr. Pathak says that thyroid can be controlled better by adopting a healthy lifestyle. For this, people should take multigrain and fiber rich diet, consume adequate amount of protein and exercise regularly. Apart from this, controlling weight, taking seven to eight hours of sleep daily and reducing screen time at least two hours before sleeping can also prove beneficial. He says that a better lifestyle helps in keeping thyroid hormones balanced and in many cases can also reduce the need for medicines.