‘80% people suffering from thyroid problems are women’

Use of iodine advised for growth of thyroid hormone

KARACHI: A deficiency of thyroxine leads to slowing of all body processes and weight gain so a normal thyroid function is essential for health, said Dr Tasnim Ahsan. “Around 80% of people suffering from thyroid problems are women. However, thyroxine deficiency is easily treatable.”

The College of Physicians and Surgeons dean of faculty of endocrinology, Professor Dr Ahsan shared her views at a public awareness seminar on thyroid held on Wednesday at University of Karachi.

Dr Ahsan mentioned that auto-immunity, a failure of the body's immune system, is another common cause of goitre and thyroid dysfunction. “Iodised salt should be consumed regularly as Pakistan is an area lacking in iodine, which may lead to the development of goitres.”



Talking about the thyroid gland, she said that its only function was to make thyroxine, a hormone that is required by every cell of the body to function normally. She maintained that a deficiency of thyroxine leads to slowing of all body processes and weight gain. “An excess of thyroxine production or release leads to opposite effects,” she said, adding that thyroxine deficiency is easily treatable and requires lifelong replacement therapy.

Hypersecretion can be treated either with oral medicines, radioactive iodine or surgery, said Dr Ahsan. “A particular variety of auto-immune thyroid disease called Grave's disease may also be associated with the involvement of one or both eyes, which may have to be treated independent of the thyroid,” she added.

Thyroid cancer occurs when abnormal cells begin to grow in the thyroid gland camera, she explained, adding that thyroid cancer is an uncommon type of cancer. “A doctor should be consulted urgently if there is a rapid enlarging of goitre or nodules in the neck as these may indicate thyroid cancer,” Dr Ahsan maintained.



She pointed out that iodine was an element that was needed for the production of thyroid hormone. “Iodine rich food should be an essential part of people’s diet,” she said, adding that iodine is found in various foods such as fish, milk, yogurt and other dairy products.