Question

A person is having goiter in his neck. How will you identify, through symptoms, whether he is suffering from hypothyroidism or hypothyroidism?

Answer 1

Hypothyroidism and Hypothyroidism are completely opposite medical conditions arising from under hypersecretion of thyroid hormone respectively.

Step by step answer: Thyroid is one of the important glands bringing about chemical coordination in our body. The hormonal secretion of this gland is called the thyroid hormone. It is responsible for the metabolism and growth of the body. Both the over and under secretion of this hormone can lead to some disorders and goiter in one of such diseases. The thyroid gland is present at the neck region and it is a butterfly shaped gland. Goiter signifies a condition where there is an abnormal enlargement seen in the thyroid gland. It often creates discomfort while swallowing and breathing. Even though associated with the same gland, both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are completely different from each other and can be identified by examining the symptoms exhibited by the patients.
In hyperthyroidism, excessive thyroid hormone is released in the bloodstream. The symptoms associated with it include observable weight loss due to an increased rate of metabolism, feeling more energetic and anxious, high body temperature, high blood pressure, feeling restless, irregular heartbeat, etc. All these symptoms are seen as a result of a hyperactivated body due to an abnormal increase in metabolic rate. Opposite to hyperthyroidism, in hypothyroidism, a quantity less than the required quantity of thyroid hormone is released in the bloodstream. The symptoms associated with it include observable weight gain, feeling sluggish or lazy, low body temperature, low blood pressure, fatigue, more sensitive towards cold, etc. All these symptoms are seen as a result of diminished activity of the body due to an abnormal decrease in metabolic rate. So, even if the goiter is generated in both the above cases, the symptoms are shown by patients in these two conditions are distinguished and opposite to each other. So by closely observing the symptoms, the actual cause of goiter can be found out and the disease through which the given patient is suffering can be identified.
Additional information: Iodine plays an important role in maintaining good health of the thyroid gland. But it has to be ingested in the right amount otherwise it may lead to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Thyroid hormone regulates essential organs like brain, heart, kidney, etc. by regulating the uptake of nutrients and oxygen by cell maintaining the proper rate of metabolism

Note: The prefix ‘hypo’ generally means below or less and on contrary, the prefix ‘hyper’ means over or in excess. Thus the words hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are self-explanatory. The symptoms which are caused due to hyperactivity usually indicate hyperthyroidism and the symptoms indicating low or reduced activity usually indicates hypothyroidism.