UNIT 14 P4 - PLAN A CARE PATWAY FOR EACH PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDER INCLUDING THE ROLES OF RELIVANT PRACTITIONERS
Thyroid gland: A gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate at which food is converted into energy. Thyroid hormones are essential for the function of every cell in the body. They help regulate growth and the rate of chemical reactions (metabolism) in the body. Thyroid hormones also help children grow and develop.
The thyroid gland is located in the lower part of the neck, below the Adam's apple, wrapped around the trachea (windpipe). It has the shape of a butterfly: two wings (lobes) attached to one another by a middle part called the isthmus.
The thyroid uses iodine, a mineral found in some foods and in iodized salt, to make its hormones. The two most important thyroid hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which is produced by the pituitary gland, acts to stimulate hormone production by the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland also makes the hormone calcitonin, which is involved in calcium metabolism and stimulating bone cells to add calcium to bone. http://www.medicinenet.com/ Professions involved Many differing groups of clinicians are involved in the care of patients with thyroid diseases. Each hospital will have its own configuration of team members within the thyroid team and this may include any combination of Medical Endocrinologists, Ear Nose & Throat Surgeons, Endocrine Surgeons, Clinical or Medical Oncologists, Radiologists, Pathologists and Cytologists. Primary care colleagues should refer thyroid patients to the thyroid service at the preferred local hospital. Secondary care should organise the service such that patients are appropriately streamed to medical or surgical colleagues as indicated by the symptoms on the referral preforms. Service Configuration Patients with benign thyroid disease are managed by the appropriate members of the thyroid service in each hospital. Patients with malignant thyroid disease should be under the care of core members of the Thyroid Cancer MDT, either from the point of referral (HSC205 referral) or once the diagnosis of thyroid cancer is suspected or established (radiologically, cytologically or histologically). Such patients will have their resections performed by a core member of the MDT. All patients with an established diagnosis of thyroid malignancy should be discussed pre and postoperatively at the regional thyroid cancer MDT. Patients with confirmed thyroid malignancy requiring further surgery (completion thyroidectomy or lateral neck dissection) will have this performed by a core member of the MDT. Patients can be referred across trusts to maintain services within the core group of designated surgeons in times of absence.
An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) is where your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormones.
Common signs of an underactive thyroid are tiredness, weight gain and feeling depressed.
An underactive thyroid can often be successfully treated by taking daily hormone tablets to replace the hormones your thyroid isn't making.
There's no way of preventing an underactive thyroid. Most cases are caused either by the immune system attacking the thyroid gland and damaging it, or by damage to the thyroid that occurs during some treatments for an overactive thyroid or thyroid cancer.
Read more about the causes of an underactive thyroid.
When to see your GP
Symptoms of an underactive thyroid are often similar to those of other conditions, and they usually develop slowly, so you may not notice them for years.
You should see your GP and ask to be tested for an underactive thyroid if you have symptoms including: * tiredness * weight gain * depression * being sensitive to the cold * dry skin and hair * muscle aches
The only accurate way of finding out whether you have a thyroid problem is to have a thyroid function test, where a sample of blood is tested to measure your hormone levels.