Smoking can trigger thyroid problems–expert

THYROID is a gland in your neck that helps regulate various body functions, including your metabolism. One’s lifestyle habits may impact in the function of the thyroid.

Likewise, thyroid disorders happen when your thyroid produces insufficient or excessive thyroid hormones.

Are smokers more likely to encounter thyroid problem?

ACCORDING to Via Medica Journals in Poland, many studies have shown that cigarette smoking exerts multiple effects on the thyroid gland as smoking seems to induce changes in thyroid function tests, like decrease in thyroid stimulating hormone or TSH and increase in thyroid hormones.

“However, these alterations are usually mild. In addition, tobacco smoking may also play a role in thyroid autoimmunity,” it read, adding that many studies have confirmed a significant influence of smoking on Graves’ hyperthyroidism and particularly on Graves’ orbitopathy.

“Here, smoking may increase the risk of disease development, may reduce the effectiveness of treatment, and eventually induce relapse.”

Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism

WHICH is more life-threatening hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism?

If left untreated, Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan of Healthjustice Philippines said, both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can lead to serious complications.

“How do we protect our thyroid then? Aside from proper diet, clean and healthy environment, and avoiding stress, quitting smoking is also the best thing to do,” Dr. Galvez Tan, who is also a former Health Secretary, said.

The body’s production of thyroid hormones, Dr. Galvez Tan said, may be affected by the toxins present in cigarette smoke.

“This can cause thyroid problems by interfering with iodine,” Dr. Galvez Tan said as he encouraged those experiencing any unusual symptoms, they should see their physician right away.

Thyroid cancer

THE Department of Health (DOH), meanwhile, said that thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine-related malignancy in the Philippines. It ranks seventh overall based on the agency’s latest statistics.

“Its incidence increases every year, especially in females and in the reproductive age group,” the DOH said.

Warning signals

WARNING signals for thyroid problems include ahard mass in the anterior neck; nodules of the thyroid in men; rapid enlargement of a longstanding goiter in older patients; cervical lymph node enlargement; hoarseness, difficulty of swallowing, and difficulty of breathing associated with goiter.

early detection can be done through fine needle aspiration biopsy of solitary nodules, or of unusually prominent, hard or rapidly growing nodules in multinodular goiter.

“I would also advise that for early detection, ultrasound of the thyroid gland should be included in addition to fine needle biopsy,” Dr. Galvez Tan said.

Almost 95 percent of thyroid cancer in the Philippines are well differentiated carcinoma, and are highly curable by appropriate surgery alone.

Radioactive iodine is the main mode of treatment for metastatic lesions.