Last week we discussed how the thyroid works, how it fits into the endocrine system and the symptoms created by thyroid problems. In this week's newsletter, we will look at the two most common types of thyroid problems. In Part 3 next week, we will look at the tests used and the recommended treatments for thyroid problems.
THYROID-RELATED CONDITIONS
Endocrinologists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat diseases that affect your glands-including the hypothalamus, pituitary and thyroid glands. In preparing this series of articles, we have consulted several publications by endocrinologists and obtained some very useful information from the website of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists ("AACE"). Much of the following information is taken from that website.
Last week we discussed the relationship between the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the thyroid. All three of these glands need to work together if the thyroid is to function properly. However, many of the problems with our thyroid glands are now thought to be attributable to malfunctions in the body's own immune system.
Immune System
The purpose of the body's immune system is to protect the body against any type of organism (like bacteria or viruses for example) that it believes are attacking the body. The attacking organisms are called antigens. When the immune system senses the presence of antigens, it creates antibodies--proteins made from lymphocytes (types of white blood cells). These antibodies are not "one-size-fits-all" but are specially designed to attack specific antigens. Unless a person dies from the disease, the antibodies will eventually conquer the invader and your body will recover. In most of us, the body stores some of these antibodies, along with the knowledge of how to create more antibodies if needed.
It is the body's storage of these antibodies that were successful in attacking a specific antigen that explains why the body often has an immunity to contracting a disease more than once. For example, if you had measles as a child and were later exposed to the same strain of measles, the antibodies that were developed to attack the measles antigen are still in the body and will prevent the antigen from giving you measles a second time. However, since this is an antibody only for measles, you can contract another childhood disease like the chicken pox or the mumps.
This is why vaccines work. The vaccine contains a small amount of the antigen in a form that will not create the disease but will cause the immune system to develop an antibody to the disease. Then if you are exposed to the disease, the immune system already has some antibodies and knows how to make more. Therefore, you should not become sick from this disease.
To read on, click here.
|
