Other causes of hypothyroidism
include pituitary problems,
hypothalamus problems, and iodine
deficiency (rare in North America,
but affects nearly 2 billion people
worldwide). Some babies are born
with hypothyroidism - this is called
congenital hypothyroidism.
There are different causes of
hyperthyroidism. Graves’ disease
is the most common cause of
hyperthyroidism. This condition
occurs when the immune system
produces an antibody that stimulates
the entire thyroid gland; this leads
to overactivity and higher levels of
thyroid hormones.
Another form of hyperthyroidism
is called toxic nodular goiter or
toxic thyroid adenoma. Adenomas,
abnormal nodules of tissue in the
thyroid, constantly produce thyroid
hormones even when they are not
needed.
Secondary hyperthyroidism is
caused when the pituitary gland
makes too much TSH, leading to
constant stimulation of the thyroid
gland. A pituitary tumour may cause
TSH levels to rise. More rarely, the
pituitary gland becomes insensitive
to thyroid hormones, no longer
responding to high levels.
Another possible cause of hyper-
thyroidism is a condition called
thyroiditis. This condition occurs
when the thyroid gland becomes
inflamed. Depending on the type
of thyroiditis, this may lead to
temporary hyperthyroidism that
might be followed by hypothyroidism.
There are four types of thyroid
cancers: papillary, follicular,
anaplastic, and medullary cancer.
These are associated with radiation
treatment to the head, neck, or chest.
Radiation treatment for benign
(non-cancerous) conditions is no
longer carried out in these areas,
but was more common in the past.
In other cases, a genetic mutation
might be associated with thyroid
cancer, either alone or in conjunction
with other types of cancers (e.g.,
multiple endocrine neoplasia, BRAF
gene mutations). Less commonly,
other cancers might metastasize to
the thyroid (e.g. lymphoma, breast
cancer).Ayurvedic view of
thyroid disorders
There is no direct mention of the
thyroid gland in Ayurveda. But a
disease by the name galaganda is
mentioned in various samhitas. The
earliest description of neck swelling
is found in the atharvaveda by the
name apachi (a non-suppurative
swelling in the neck, axilla, or groin).
Charaka first described the disease
as one of the 20 varieties of sleshma
(kaphaja) vikaras (disease). Sushruta
explicitly wrote that out of seven
layers of the skin, the sixth layer,
Rohini, is galaganda rogadhistana-
(Su.Sa.IV/4). In the nidana sthana
he describes galaganda as two
encapsulated small or big swellings
in the anterior angle of the neck,
which hang like a scrotum (Su.
Ni.XI), whereas Charaka describes
galaganda as solitary swelling (Ch.
Ch.XI).
The etiological factors in galaganda
include climatic conditions, water
supply, dietary conditions and other
surroundings. Sushruta stated that
rivers flowing towards east might give
rise to the occurrence of galaganda.
Bhela states that galaganda is
more common in prachya desa
(eastern part) of the country. Harita
samhitakara described the role of
dustambu (contaminated water)
in the precipitation of galaganda.
Kashyapa samhita says that any part
of the country which is cold, damp,
with densely grown long trees,Frequent
constipation
could be a
sign of an
underactive
thyroid.
“Thyroid
hormones also
play a role in
keeping your
digestive track
running,” says
Dr. Gupta. “If
you produce too
little, things
get backed up.”
An overactive
thyroid can
create the
opposite
effect.
“
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asaNa Magazine | April 2017 27