In: Anatomy and Physiology
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?
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.