What are Thyroid Diseases?
Thyroid diseases are conditions or afflictions that ultimately affect the thyroid function. Thyroid diseases occur when the gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones to facilitate normal body function. These diseases also result from the excessive secretion of thyroid hormones. Thyroid diseases could take various forms and could manifest varying symptoms like weight gain, constipation, puffy skin, dry skin, fatigue, cold intolerance, menstrual irregularity and other symptoms. Thyroid diseases can be dangerous, especially for children as thyroid dysfunction or disease can cause stunted growth and sexual development. It is even more dangerous for infants or newborns as it could result to mental retardation. It is not surprising that thyroid testing has been included in the standard newborn blood screening programs. This is to detect thyroid disorders and prevent long-term damage. Kinds of Thyroid Diseases There are various forms of thyroid diseases. The common form of which is hyper