Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed

Today is Saturday May 25, World Thyroid Day 2024. The day has been celebrated globally since 2009 to make people aware of this hormonal problem. World Thyroid Day is being celebrated in Bangladesh like other countries of the world. About 5 crore people in the country have various thyroid problems. More than half of people with hypothyroidism don't know they have it. Besides, women are affected four to five times more than men. In this situation, it is necessary to make the thyroid examination mandatory after the birth of the newborn to take control of the thyroid. At present, about 30% of the total population of Bangladesh is affected by thyroid disease. More than half of them do not know that they are suffering from thyroid problems.

About 2 percent of adult women and about 0.2 percent of men suffer from hyperthyroidism. Between 20 and 30 years of age, the probability of getting this disease is high. Among adult men, 3.9 percent to 9.4 percent of women may have hypothyroidism. Another 7% of women and men suffer from subclinical hypothyroidism. Newborn babies can also have problems with thyroid hormone deficiency, and the rate can be 2-8 per 10,000 live births. Growing children can also suffer from thyroid hormone deficiency. At this time, if the thyroid hormone is deficient, the physical and mental growth of children is disruptedAlthough physical growth can be equated later, intelligence cannot be improved; That is, if hypothyroidism in children and adolescents is not resolved quickly, intellectual development will be permanently disrupted. Historically, Bangladesh is a country of Golagand people.

Although the number of patients with visible goitre is slightly lower than before, it is by no means less than 8.5% of adults. The number of thyroid cancer patients is also on the rise. Although exact statistics are not available in Bangladesh, it is estimated that around 4.5% of goiter patients may be affected by thyroid cancerThyroid hormone levels above normal can also cause the thyroid gland to swell. Iodine deficiency usually causes sore throat, which is commonly called Ghag disease. Recent studies have shown that most of our school-going children and pregnant mothers remain iodine deficient. Iodine plays an important role in the production of thyroid hormone, which is very necessary in the body. Sadly, 2,000 million people worldwide still suffer from iodine deficiency.

> What is the thyroid?

The thyroid is a gland located at the front of the windpipe in our throat. The gland looks like a butterfly and lines the trachea or windpipe. Although it is a small gland, its functionality is extensive. The hormones released from the thyroid gland are very beneficial for us. This hormone regulates metabolism and helps repair damaged cells. The need for thyroid hormones is essential from the fetal stage until life. Hormones secreted by the thyroid gland play one of the most important roles in human digestion.

Variations in these hormones can cause physical and mental growth, weight loss, menstrual problems, skin problems, heart problems, and horribly enlarged eyes. Variations in thyroid hormones are attributed as one of the causes of infertility. It is very important to have this hormone in the body at a certain level to keep the physical performance correct. But excess secretion or under secretion of hormones creates many problems in our body which are not completely cured. But it can be controlled with a little understanding.

> What are the common problems in the thyroid?

1) Hyperthyroidism- Here the amount of thyroid hormones in the blood increases. Some symptoms appear when it increases. Such as chest palpitations, weight loss, goitre, increased eye size, heat intolerance, menstrual problems, and even mental problems may occur.
2) Hypothyroidism- Here the amount of thyroid hormones in the blood decreases. As a result, several symptoms appear. Such as weakness, weight gain, excessive cold, goitre, muscle and joint pain, hair loss, discomfort, constipation, irregular and excessive menstruation etc. Having this disease during pregnancy can cause various problems in the baby. If a child is affected by this disease after birth, there may be various problems in the normal development of his intellect, education, puberty.

> What is the cause of decreased thyroid hormone secretion?
1-Iodine deficiency in food
2-Some Auto Immune Disorders
3-If thyroid surgery for any reason
4-If taking radiotherapy
5- In addition to the side effects of some drugs.
6-If the thyroid gland is not formed at birth
7-Some food ingredients are eaten in excess such as cabbage, broccoli, peas, sweet potatoes, strawberries etc.

> Reasons for increased secretion of thyroid hormone:-

1-Auto immune disorder
2-If thyroid hormone is high
3-If there is an infection in the thyroid gland
4-If there is a tumor in the thyroid gland
A woman is more likely to suffer from thyroid problems than a man. Around one in eight women around us suffer from some form of thyroid problem. Nowadays, it is said that thyroid hormone testing should be included in the routine examination of women. Just as thyroid problems can complicate the situation during pregnancy and delivery, problems can also arise after childbirth. Therefore, thyroid should be given importance while planning to have a child and consult a specialist doctor in this regard.

> Tests that are done to diagnose thyroid disease
1-T3, T4 TSH blood test
2-USG of thyroid gland is done
3-Immunoglobulin is tested
4-Thyroid stimulating test is done.

> Home remedies to get rid of thyroid problem -

Each element of the body should have a certain level. It is also important to have a certain level of thyroid hormone for the human body. If the hormone is produced less or more than required, various adverse effects appear on the body.

Thyroid problems can be alleviated by making certain dietary and lifestyle changes.

1. First of all, outside processed food and junk food (a type of artificial food that is high in harmful ingredients including fat, salt, carbonates) should be avoided. They are very harmful to health and consuming them regularly can have many bad effects on the body.

2. Avoid untidy lifestyle and fix the lifestyle. This is the biggest cause of so many physical and mental problems today. Regular exercise is very important to maintain good health. There is no alternative to regular exercise to reduce excess calories in the body and keep the body healthy.

3. Mindful chewing while eating creates a connection between the thyroid and the mind. So never rush while eating, take time to chew well. The thyroid gland plays a special role in regulating the metabolism of the body, so chewing food with time helps to increase the metabolism.

4. Researchers say that there are some vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower etc. which are not suitable to be eaten raw. Eating them raw disrupts the functioning of the thyroid gland and disrupts the balance of the thyroid gland. Therefore, these vegetables should be cooked and not eaten raw or as a salad.

5. Coconut oil, when consumed unheated, helps in weight loss and boosts metabolism. The fatty acids present in coconut oil help in increasing the functioning of the thyroid gland. Besides, this oil is very effective in maintaining the body temperature.

6. Apple cider vinegar is very beneficial in balancing hormone production. It improves metabolism. Apart from this, it can control body fat and helps in absorption of nutrients by removing various toxins from the body.

7. The extract contains various minerals like potassium, magnesium. So it is very effective for thyroid problems. Drinking ginger tea regularly is very beneficial in controlling thyroid problems.

8. Vitamin B plays a very helpful role in controlling thyroid problems. Vitamin B12 is especially beneficial for people suffering from hypothyroidism. Therefore, foods that are high in this vitamin, such as eggs, fish, meat, milk, nuts, should be included in the daily diet so that they can supply the body with sufficient amounts of vitamin B.

9. Lack of vitamin D also often leads to thyroid problems. And only sunlight can make the body vitamin D. So at least 15 minutes a day should be in sunlight. It will prepare vitamin D in the body and absorption of calcium will be good and immunity will also increase. Some foods that are rich in vitamin D are salmon, mackerel, dairy products, orange juice, egg yolks, etc. Even after this, if the level of vitamin D in the body is very low, vitamin-D supplements can be taken with the doctor's advice.

10. Foods rich in iodine and minerals are very beneficial for the thyroid. So the foods that contain more of these ingredients such as milk, cheese, yogurt are dairy foods.

If you have a thyroid problem, you should first avoid junk and processed food. Although it is good to eat, this food is equal to poison. Packaged foods, chips, cakes, canned drinks have no nutritional value. But it contains a lot of sugar and salt. Digestion is not good in thyroid problems. So extra calories create digestive problems. Alcohol, coffee, wheat, barley foods should be avoided. It contains gluten which is very harmful for the body in thyroid problems. Gluten free food ragi can be eaten. It is better to avoid cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, mustard, radish, colored potatoes, Chinese nuts. Paneer, cheese, sugar, ripe bananas, dry fruits, honey, flour bread, white rice, potato sweets should be eaten less. Iodine foods, sea fish, shrimps, fruit grains, iodized salt, eggs, meat should be eaten. Very beneficial for thyroid. Iodine supplements can also play an important role in this.

> Homeopathy Treatment Management : Treats the patient not the disease. For this reason, if the doctor diagnoses the disease at the right time and gives the proper treatment of the disease, it is possible to cure the thyroid problem with homeopathy treatment, and the goitre that is caused due to lack of iodine in the body can be prevented a lot due to the use of iodized salt in food. In developed countries, there is a practice of blood tests for thyroid immediately after the birth of a child. It is called Universal Neonatal Screening.

> Homeo Medicine: Apart from Thyroidinum in Homeopathy treatment of Thyroid, iodine, Natrum Muur, Lycopidium, Silesia, Fidorinum, Thuja, Medorinum and many other medicines can come on the symptoms, but never take medicine without doctor's advice. Because the doctor selects the medicine in the light of his experience which is very important in the medical field. Because the possibility of harm due to adverse drug reactions is high.

Finally, most thyroid problems are caused by abnormalities in the production of thyroid hormones. Although some thyroid conditions can have unpleasant or uncomfortable side effects, with proper diagnosis and treatment, most can be effectively controlled. So let's all know about thyroid disease and come forward with its cure and prevention.

The writer is a, physician, columnist and researcher Founder Chairman, Jatiya Rogi Kallyan Society.