Question

Topic 5: Endocrine case study

Following routine blood work, your doctor informs you that you have Primary hyperthyroidism. based on this diagnosis answer the following question

• What is the difference between primary and secondary hyperthyroidism

• What do you expect the blood work to show elevated or decreased levels of thyroid hormones( thyroxine T3/T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH? Why?

• if left untreated what do you expect a goiter to develop? why?

Answer 1

Hyperthyroidism is a disorder in the thyroid in which the gland irregularly produces hormones thyroxine. This problem accelerates the protein metabolism which may lead to cause unintentional loss of weight and irregular heartbeat. There are different types of treatments that are available for hyperthyroidism in which one can take radioactive iodine medication as well as surgery. The thyroid is the butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck which produces the hormones that control the cells for energy. They are responsible to regulate the metabolism after releasing this hormone.
The difference between primary and secondary hyperthyroidism is that in primary hyperthyroidism the gland fails to make a sufficient amount of thyroid hormone. In secondary hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland is stimulated by excessive secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone in the blood circulation. There are different clinical effects of thyroid hormone which may affect metabolic-related problems.
The blood work represents the elevated or the decrease level of thyroid hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone because of the functioning of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland becomes insufficient and the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone becomes elevated then this condition leads to cause hypothyroidism. This means that thyroxine in the thyroid gland is under the underactive mode because of the pituitary gland that produces this hormone to stimulate the gland. Stress is equally responsible to affect the function because one can suppress the pituitary function by thyroxine hormone.
If the goiter is not treated then this may lead to cause many problems. This also may lead to cause heart problem nerve injury and infertility. The primary activity of the thyroid gland is to concentrate the thyroxine from the blood to form the thyroid hormone. If this leads untreated then many complications in the human body are observed along with diseases like heart related disease and nerve damages.