Dr. Sheelu Shafiq Siddiqi, Director, RGCDE said that this special Thyroid OPD will provide free thyroid hormone tests for the patients considering the importance of this commonly prevalent health problem. He said that efforts will also be made to raise awareness amongst the common people towards the ill effects of Thyroid.
Dr. Siddiqi said that Thyroid is an important gland that influences almost all the metabolic processes in our body. Thyroid disorders can range from a small colloid goiter that may not need treatment to life threatening malignancies. Excessive production of thyroid hormone results in hyperthyroidism while insufficient hormone production leads to hypothyroidism. These disorders can affect any age group and are more prevalent in females.
In adults, hypothyroidism leads to dullness, depression, loss of appetite, etc. Congenital hypothyroidism, encountered in around 1 in every 3000 births leads to severe mental and growth retardation. In children, growth, height, concentration levels and IQ are compromised, thereby requiring prompt treatment with a higher dose regimen. Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, leads to increased appetite, loss of weight and irritability.
Dr. Siddiqi said that there are several other less recognized health effects of thyroid disorders. Both hypo and hyperthyroidism promote the development of peripheral insulin resistance and thus predispose to diabetes mellitus. Thyroid disorders in women have profound effects on the functioning and metabolism of androgen and estrogen, menstrual function and fertility. Thyroxin treatment in such patients increases the rates of conception and enhances fertility. Subclinical or clinical hypothyroidism leads to abnormal lipid levels thereby adversely affecting the cardiovascular system and increasing the risk of coronary artery disease.
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