Question

An adult patient suffers from low heart rate, low metabolic rate and low body temperature. He also lacks alertness, intelligence and initiative. What can be the disease? What can be the cause and cure?

Answer 1

Hormones are the chemical substances that are secreted by the endocrine glands in our body. They are only produced in small amounts and are responsible for the normal metabolism in our body. Know that even a slight change in the amount of secretion may lead to severe diseases.

Complete Answer:
- Thyroid gland is the gland that secretes the hormone thyroxine. It is a butterfly shaped gland that is located in the anterior region of our neck. Know that it is a bilobed gland in which two lobes are connected by a narrow band of tissue called isthmus. It contains a lumen inside and the hormone is secreted by cells called follicles. Know that iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormones.
- We must understand that there are actually three hormones synthesised by the thyroid gland. They are tri-iodo thyronine, tetra-iodo thyroxine and calcitonin.
- Thyroid hormones have important functions to perform that include maintenance of normal metabolism of our body. It controls the basal metabolic rate of our body (BMR). It is also essential for both physical and mental growth of our body.
- Decrease in the amount of synthesis of thyroid hormones leads to a condition called hypothyroidism. Here, patients show low metabolic activity and decreased heart rate. Body temperature will be lower in these individuals and the patients may look less alerted and less energetic. It is because of the decreased energy production in the body. In children, it also leads to mental retardation.
- We can treat hypothyroidism by identifying the major cause of the disease. It may be due to decreased production or due to abnormal functioning of thyroid hormone receptors. Administration of thyroid hormones will cure the symptoms of the patients.

Note: We use different names to indicate hypothyroidism in children and adults. Hypothyroidism in children is known as cretinism and in adults, it is known as myxoedema.
Increase in the amount of these hormones also leads to problems. Here, the condition is called hyperthyroidism.