Handling Thyroid Conditions in Your Patients

Handling Thyroid Conditions in Your Patients Thyroid disorders are conditions that have an effect on the thyroid gland, which controls many functions of the body. The thyroid gland is in the front of the net and has a shape similar to that of a butterfly. The role of the thyroid is to regulate metabolic processes throughout the body there are number of thyroid disorders that affect this function. Thyroid conditions can have devastating effects, and as a nurse, you must be equipped to handle situations such as these.

What is the thyroid?

The thyroid gland is located just below the Adam’s apple and connected to the trachea. A layer of tissue joins the two thyroid lobes on each side, this is called the isthmus. The thyroid relies on iodine to produce hormones, the primary hormone T4, thyroxine is the hormone produced by the gland. After T4 runs through the bloodstream into the bodies’ tissue a small amount is released from the gland and converted back to T3, triiodothyronine, which is the most active of hormones.

Related: Traveling Nurses Expectations, Benefits and Their Assignments This thyroid operates by feedback from the brain. When thyroid levels are low the hypothalamus in the brain produces and releases a hormone TRH that causes the pituitary gland to release stimulating hormone TSH. This stimulates the thyroid gland to release more T4. Because the thyroid gland is controlled by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, any disorder of these tissues will affect thyroid function and cause thyroid problems.

Thyroid problems Thyroid disorders can range from small, harmless disorders to lifethreatening cancer. Starting with a small, harmless goiter, which is an enlarged gland may require no treatment at all usually returning to a normal size on its own. Thyroid cancer is a very serious condition and requires immediate attention. The most common thyroid problems involve abnormal production of thyroid hormones. This can range from the production of too many hormones or not enough, either way it’s an imbalance and needs to be treated. The good news is most thyroid conditions can be successfully treated and or managed.

Treatments for Thyroid Disorders There are numerous treatments for common types of hyperthyroidism.

Some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as trimmers, are caused by

excess thyroid hormones acting on the cardiac and nervous system. These symptoms can be improved in less than a day using medications known as beta blockers. These drugs can block the effect of the thyroid hormone, but don’t actually affect the thyroid itself. This is actually a very effective form of treatment and most often prescribed in cases of hyperthyroidism. With patients that suffer from more serious conditions such as graves disease antithyroid medications are often prescribed. These drugs work to prevent the thyroid from producing hormones altogether. Radioactive iodine is a very common and permanent treatment of hyperthyroidism. In this treatment iodine is used, as the thyroid is the only part of the body that has the ability to absorb iodine. By using this radioactive form of iodine the thyroid cells absorb it and will be damaged or killed. Since iodine is not absorbed by any other cells in the body there is little radiation exposure for the remainder of the body, and what’s left is gone within a few days. The only routine side effect of radioactive iodine treatment is the underactivity of the thyroid gland. This can occur when the amount of radioactive iodine kills too many of the thyroid gland cells.

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Surgery is another option, where the thyroid gland is simply removed. In some cases only a partial amount of the thyroid is removed. Surgery is not as common as the other forms of treatment for individuals that cannot tolerate medication; surgery may be the best option. A patient that undergoes thyroid surgery rarely have complications and are generally released within 24 hours for recovery at home. There is a very small risk with surgery in which the structures near the thyroid gland in the neck that connect to the voice box, could be damaged. The chances of this occurring is about 1%, very small.

Keep this in mind when you see your patients: Many people suffering from thyroid problems also have to deal with weight issues and depression.

Another very common complication is extremely dry skin. For anyone that suspects they may have a thyroid condition, a simple blood test with your healthcare provider can provide the answer. Thyroid conditions in general are very treatable, utilizing multiple treatment options. However, your patient’s comfort is most important, and you should be sure at all times to relieve their symptoms as much as you can.

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