Roughly 12 percent of the adult population suffers from some form of thyroid disease. The most common thyroid diseases are autoimmune thyroid diseases, which affect women much more frequently than they do men, especially when women are pregnant or after delivery. These comprise Hashimoto’s disease (see Chapter 5) and Graves’ disease (see Chapter 6). Subclinical hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are also becoming more of a concern, particularly with an aging population and in light of the fact that so many early signs of thyroid disease can be masked by or mimic a host of other disorders. More and more people are now being definitively diagnosed with an underlying thyroid disease instead of being misdiagnosed with other diseases.
Thyroid cancer, still considered a rare cancer, constituting only about 2 percent of all cancers, is now considered the fastest-rising cancer among women in the United States, rising in incidence faster than lung or breast cancers. And in both sexes, thyroid cancer diagnoses have increased precipitously. Part of the rise in incidence likely has to do with better screening and information about early signs of thyroid cancer. In the past, many patients with thyroid cancers were not diagnosed early enough, and some of these cancers were missed until they were very aggressive and hard to treat.
Thyroid disease in the developing world is still widespread because of iodine deficiency. This is something we discuss in both Chapters 1 and 3. Poor mental development, caused by hypothyroidism in infants and children, is partly to blame for the depressed economies of many third world nations, with more than 500 million people at risk.
All in all, thyroid disease constitutes one of the most significant categories of health problems, notable for its frequency, its dramatic effects on world society, its spectacular consequences on individuals’ well-being, and its remarkable response to appropriate treatment.
Combining the expertise of two pioneers in the field--world-renowned thyroid specialist Kenneth Ain, M.D., and bestselling thyroid author and bioethicist M. Sara Rosenthal, Ph.D.--The Complete Thyroid Book provides all the essential information on the diagnosis, options, and treatment of thyroid disease.
Covering both state-of-the-art and standard-of-care treatments for every thyroid condition imaginable, this comprehensive resource gives you vital information on:
- The basics--what the thyroid does and how it works.
- Thyroid tests, scans, medication, and treatments.
- Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid hormone.
- Autoimmune thyroid disease and thyroid eye disease.
- Thyroid nodules, goiter, and thyroid cancer.
- Thyroid disease in pregnancy and menopause and among seniors, infants, and children.
- Thyroid disease and obesity, heart disease, fatigue, and mental health.
- Nutrition and complementary therapies.
Contents
Part 1 The Basics 1
1 What Is the Thyroid, and What Does It Do? 3
Part 1 The Basics 1
1 What Is the Thyroid, and What Does It Do? 3
- How It Formed, Where It Is, What It Does 3
- An Introduction to Thyroid Hormone 9
2 Tests and Labs: Diagnosing Thyroid Disease 13
- Tests That Measure Thyroid Hormone Levels 14
- TSH: The Most Sensitive Test to Assess Thyroid Hormone Status 15
- Thyroglobulin: The Specifi c Thyroid Protein 18
- Thyroid Hormone-Binding Proteins 19
- Measuring Thyroid Antibodies 20
- Dynamic Tests of Thyroid Function 22
- Tests of Metabolism 22
- Radioactive Thyroid Tests 24
- X-Rays, Ultrasounds, and Other Diagnostic Pictures 31
- Pathology: Do You Need Surgery? What Did the Surgeon Find? 34
3 Hypothyroidism: The Most Common Problem 39
- Why Am I Hypothyroid? 39
- Slowing Down: Signs of Hypothyroidism 47
- Diagnosing Hypothyroidism 52
- Treating Hypothyroidism 53
- Why Do I Still Feel Hypothyroid? 61
4 Too Much Thyroid Hormone: Thyrotoxicosis 63
- Symptoms of Too Much Thyroid Hormone 63
- The Emotional Effects of Thyrotoxicosis 71
- Causes of Thyrotoxicosis Without Hyperthyroidism 75
- Thyrotoxicosis with Hyperthyroidism 77
- Intrinsic Thyroid Autonomy: Independent Thyroid Hormone Manufacturers 77
- Diagnosing Thyrotoxicosis and/or Hyperthyroidism 78
- Treating Thyrotoxicosis 79
5 Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Other Types of Thyroiditis 81
- What Is an Autoimmune Disorder? 81
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis 84
- Other Common Autoimmune Disorders 89
- Other Forms of Thyroiditis 93
6 Graves’ Disease 97
- What Happens in Graves’ Disease? 97
- Diagnosing Graves’ Disease 101
- Treating Graves’ Disease 101
- Screening Family Members for Graves’ Disease 107
- Are There Natural Therapies for Graves’ Disease? 107
7 Goiter: An Enlarged Thyroid Gland 109
- Evaluating a Goiter 109
- Types of Goiter 113
8 Thyroid Nodules 117
- Finding a Thyroid Nodule 117
- Steps in Evaluating a Thyroid Nodule 118
- Hot Nodules 122
- Radiation Exposure to the Neck During Childhood 125
9 Thyroid Cancer 129
- Who Gets Thyroid Cancer? 130
- What Causes Thyroid Cancer? 130
- Types of Thyroid Cancers and Their Behavior 132
- Treatment for Papillary and Follicular Thyroid Cancers 137
- Diagnostic Evaluation: Long-Term Follow-Up 143
10 Thyroid Hormone: The Inside Scoop 145
- How It All Started 145
- T4: The Details 146
- T3: Specifi c and Limited Uses 152
- Mixtures of T3 and T4 154
- Thyroid Extracts, or Natural Thyroid Hormone 155
11 Other Drugs Used in Thyroid Disease 157
- Drugs Used to Treat Hyperthyroidism 157
- Stable Iodide 162
- Potassium Perchlorate 163
- Lithium Carbonate 164
- Treatment of Hypoparathyroidism: Low Calcium 164
12 Radioactive Iodine Therapy 169
- What Is Radioactivity? 170
- Types of Treatment with Radioactive Iodine 172
Part 2 People in Special Circumstances 181
13 Thyroid Disease in Pregnancy and After Delivery 183
- The Normal Thyroid in Pregnancy 184
- Being Pregnant with Preexisting Thyroid Disease 187
- Gestational Thyroid Disease (Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy) 189
- Discovering Thyroid Nodules in Pregnancy 194
- After the Baby Is Born 194
14 Thyroid Disease During Menopause 197
- Natural Menopause 197
- HRT, Menopause, and Thyroid Disease 200
- Osteoporosis 203
- Staying Alert About Heart Disease 207
15 Thyroid Disease in Infants and Children 209
- Thyroid Disease in Newborns and Infants 210
- Thyroid Disease in Children and Adolescents 213
16 Thyroid Disease and Obesity 221
- Defining Obesity 222
- Inappropriate Drug Treatments for Obesity 228
- Lowering Fat and Healthy Eating 229
17 Thyroid Disease in Older Individuals 233
- Hypothyroidism in Older Persons 233
- Thyrotoxicosis in Older Persons 235
- Other Thyroid Problems 237
- Thyroid Disease in a Person with Alzheimer’s Disease 237
18 Thyroid Hormone Resistance and Rare Genetic Disorders of the Thyroid 241
- Resistance to Thyroid Hormone (RTH) or
- Thyroid Hormone Resistance 242
- Pituitary and Hypothalamic Diseases and Other
- Genetic Disorders 244
Part 3 Living Well After Treatment 249
19 Thyroid Misconceptions and Misinformation 251
- False Statements About Hypothyroidism 254
- Misconceptions About Radioactive Iodine (RAI) 263
- Other Myths About Thyroid Cancer 267
20 Special Diets for Thyroid Disease and Healthy Eating 271
- The High-Fiber Diet for Hypothyroidism 271
- The Low-Iodine Diet (LID) 275
- What to Eat if You’re Hyperthyroid 277
- What to Eat After Treatment for Thyroid Disease 277
- The Mediterranean Diet 279
21 Making an Informed Decision 281
- The Standards of Care 281
- What You Should Know About Ethical Guidelines
- in Health Care 285
- Steps Toward Informed Decision Making 289
Part 4 Complications of Thyroid Disease 291
22 Coping with Thyroid Eye Disease 293
- What Is Thyroid Eye Disease? 293
- Battling the Bulge: Treating TED 298
- Dry Eyes 300
23 Coping with Depression, Anxiety, and Other Mental Health Disorders 303
- Unipolar Depression and Hypothyroidism 304
- Anxiety, Panic Disorder, and Thyroid Disease 309
- When Your Body Feels Your Emotional Pain: Somatization Disorder 311
24 Coping with Heart Disease 315
- Heart Complications from Hypothyroidism 316
- Heart Complications from Thyrotoxicosis 321
25 Coping with Fatigue 325
- Normal Fatigue 325
- Abnormal Fatigue: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 330
26 Thyroid and Public Health 335
- Environmental Issues in Thyroid and Endocrine Disease 335
- Screening Fertile Women for Hypothyroidism 337
- Iodine Deficiency in Pregnancy 338
- The Radioactive Iodine Shortage 339
- Potassium Iodide in the Age of Nuclear Reactors and Terrorism 339
Appendix A: Thyroid Links on the Web 343
Appendix B: Links to Other Conditions Related to Thyroid Disease 346
Glossary 348
Supportive Literature 355
Index 359
Appendix B: Links to Other Conditions Related to Thyroid Disease 346
Glossary 348
Supportive Literature 355
Index 359
About the Author
- Kenneth Ain, M.D., is a professor of medicine and director of the Thyroid Oncology Program, University of Kentucky. He is also director of the Thyroid Cancer Research Laboratory at the VA Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. He founded and moderates the thyroid cancer patient education Yahoo group thyroidcancerhelp.
- M. Sara Rosenthal, Ph.D., is an associate professor of bioethics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, and director of the University of Kentucky Program for Bioethics. Dr. Rosenthal has written more than thirty health books, including several on thyroid disease.
Product Details
- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 2 edition (2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0071743480
- ISBN-13: 978-0071743488
- Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1 inches
List Price: $19.95