One of the problems that quite a few people, especially women, deal with is irregular thyroid activity. The gland, which sits in the neck and is responsible for the production of hormones of the T3 and T4 types, which help in the proper functioning of various systems in the body and allow it to maintain and utilize energy and body heat in a normal way.
Over the years, various problems can arise in the thyroid gland, including a problem of enlargement of the gland, the formation of lumps, malignant tumors, and various disorders in the functioning of the gland.
We are familiar with two main conditions when it comes to the thyroid aspect. One condition is overactivity of the gland, which leads to a greater formation of hormones, beyond what the body needs, the formation of large amounts of calcium in the blood, which can also lead to the formation of kidney stones, with all that this entails from a functional and other point of view.
Another condition, the opposite, is hypothyroidism, so the gland produces fewer hormones than the body needs, which can produce various problems in the internal systems and of course this requires proper treatment in order to be able to overcome the problem. It is important to clarify, in both cases, the treatment is usually quite simple. It can be complex, if it turns out that there are other problems in the area, beyond overactivity or underactivity.
How is the problem diagnosed and treated?
In order to diagnose irregular activity of The parathyroid gland , regular blood tests should be performed. These tests examine the level of TSH, the hormone that activates the gland. By checking the hormone's activity in the blood, it is possible to know if there is increased activity or underactivity. If there is hypoactivity, then we will see a condition or a high level of TSH in the blood, since the hormone seeks to compensate for the fact that the gland secretes few hormones. If you are overactive, we will see a reduced amount of TSH in the blood.
Treatment of cases of the parathyroid gland is usually done through an appropriate menu or through medication. However, in some cases, the attending physician will refer the patient for surgery aimed at removing the area that produces too many hormones.
How is the surgery performed?
Parathyroidectomy is considered a simple surgery even though it is under general anesthesia. This is a surgery in which an optical fiber is inserted into the throat, with the goal of course not touching the vocal cords and not causing any damage to them, the fiber photographs the place and the problem area can be removed in a very simple and convenient way.
After the operation, the patient will remain under observation for a few days and will be discharged home. After a few weeks, they will come for a check-up. In many cases, this is where the treatment ends. But it is very possible that they will need to take medication in order to get the indicators back to normal. To do this, they will need to have blood tests to make sure that everything is normal.