Pregnancy is a very stressful situation for every woman, and for her body. Lots of changes start to occur to prepare the mother’s body and to supply of nutrients and elements the new fetus and help with his development and growth. Biochemistry, physiology, and endocrine changes and disorders could happen since the beginning of the pregnancy up to the end; some of them will be auto-regulated for the own body, but other will lead to diseases or conditions such as hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism
After giving birth, the mother’s body needs to start some changes to come back to the initial stage where she was supporting only her own body. Lots of physiologic processes will occur with some partial or permanent alterations of the body. Sometimes, the changes happened during the pregnancy to adapt the body to the growth and development of the fetus will lead to conditions or diseases that can stay lifelong.
If by this moment you are suffering from hypothyroidism or had your thyroid removed, you have already learneda lesson: the thyroid may be small in size, but it is significant in importance. Probably, your doctor has prescribed daily doses of the hormone T4. And you, you are willing to do what your doctor says, but pills, medicines, specifying “daw” (dispense as written) on the prescription, meaning that the pharmacy cannot substitute a generic or cheaper brand for the brand determined, and so on… It seems you have had enough of that.
Hypothyroidism is the state when the thyroid gland is hypoactive and produces low levels of thyroid hormones. The thyroid is a gland located in the neck, and its role is to produce and secrete the thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), and the hormone calcitonin.
The thyroid gland is a pad-shaped structure located in the front of the neck, behind the skin and muscles and in front of the larynx and trachea. It weighs about 20 grams. It is composed of two lobes joined by an isthmus. The primary function of the thyroid gland is to produce, store and release sufficient quantities of the two thyroid hormones: Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). The thyroid uses iodine to make its hormones.
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, in front of the larynx and just below the Adam's apple. It consists of two lobes, right and left, joined by a central portion called the isthmus, and each node (each wing of the butterfly) is located on the side of the trachea. The "recurrent laryngeal" nerve, responsible for the mobility of the vocal cords, passes through it and is surrounded by several ganglion chains. Two arteries are responsible for vascularizing it.
What is your idea of balance? Probably you will think of a scale correctly standing its weighing platforms at equal sides of the zero indicator. And it is pretty standard for us to have the 50:50 image in our minds for what we consider equilibrium. But, that idea of balance is not suitable for all the cases. Let us take a look at our thyroid. This small, butterfly-shaped gland placed in the front of the neck (just below Adam’s apple), is responsible for activating or deactivating essential processes related to energy in our body by means of producing hormones.
The thyroid gland is located in the middle line of the neck, surrounding the cricoid and tracheal cartilages, below to what it is called Adam’s apple. The thyroid gland is the only gland in the body that secretes the thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), and also produces the hormone calcitonin. The process of T3 and T4 production occurs when iodine is attached to the tyrosine (an amino acid) contained in a protein named Thyroglobulin, and because a group of biochemical reaction and enzymes, the thyroid hormones are released into the blood.
The thyroid is an endocrine gland located in the anterior, middle line of the neck, surrounding the cricoid and tracheal cartilages. The thyroid gland secretes the thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), and the hormone calcitonin. The thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, regulates the production of T3 and T4. T3 and T4 are important for the metabolism, growth and development, and catecholamine effect. The hormone calcitonin plays a role in calcium homeostasis.
Hypothyroidism is one of the most common disorders that affect the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is responsible for much of the metabolic workload as well as for the secretion of all thyroid hormones that are important for the functioning of the body. Hypothyroidism occurs when not enough thyroid hormone is secreted, which produces a decrease in the rate of the metabolic functions, and therefore, presents considerable difficulties in maintaining an adequate and stable weight.
Pages
