Any deviation in the work of the thyroid gland is reflected in the amount of hormones produced. The resulting imbalance can lead to the development of such an ailment as subclinical thyrotoxicosis. Symptoms of the pathological process, causes and main methods of treatment will be discussed in this article.
How is the disease detected?
Subclinical form of thyrotoxicosis is diagnosed by the results of blood tests. A decrease in the levels of pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with a normal content of thyroid hormones (T3, T4) suggests the presence of a disease. All processes in the body are interconnected. With the help of TSH, the pituitary gland affects the thyroid gland and controls its work. If the gland begins to produce more hormones, TSH decreases. The pituitary gland catches an increase in T3 and T4. In response, it reduces the release of its own hormones. Such a clinical picture fully characterizes the pathological process.
Causes of subclinical thyrotoxicosis
Disease most oftendiagnosed in women aged 18 to 45 years. With serious violations, an early onset of the pathological process is not excluded. All causes of thyrotoxicosis are conventionally divided by doctors into internal and external. The first ones include:
- postpartum hormonal adjustment;
- thyroid adenoma;
- Graves' disease (diffuse toxic goiter).
Subclinical thyrotoxicosis in a mild form can occur while taking medications (external causes). Speaking about the effect of medications, experts often cite L-Thyroxine as an example. It is prescribed after resection of the thyroid gland or with a decrease in its functional activity. The development of the disease is also facilitated by drugs used to treat thyroiditis ("Alpha-interferon", iodine agents).
Who is at risk?
After studying the results of numerous studies, experts were able to identify a group of patients with a high risk of pathology. Includes:
- people whose relatives have a history of thyroid disease;
- diabetics;
- patients with autoimmune pathologies.
Compliance with one or more items from this list increases the likelihood of developing subclinical thyrotoxicosis. Patients at risk are advised to undergo periodic examinations to identify the disease at an early stage.
First symptoms of the disease
Literally, the term "subclinical" is translated as"before the onset of symptoms." Therefore, the manifestations of this pathology are insufficiently expressed or completely absent. Nevertheless, subclinical thyrotoxicosis can cause changes in the work of the following systems:
- cardiovascular;
- nervous;
- digestive.
Patients with this diagnosis often have a history of tachycardia. At rest, the heart rate can reach 100 beats per minute. With any physical activity, the heartbeat becomes more frequent, sweating increases, shortness of breath appears. Such reactions of the body are due to the tone of the sympathetic nervous system. For the same reason, patients complain of frequent rises in blood pressure, gradually turning into arterial hypertension.
From the side of the central nervous system, the symptoms of the disease manifest themselves in the form of insomnia, bad mood and a high level of excitability. Patients may wake up several times during the night. However, sleep disturbance does not affect a person's performance. The subclinical form of thyrotoxicosis is characterized by frequent mood swings. The disease does not affect mental abilities, but a decrease in concentration and perseverance is clearly visible.
On the part of the gastrointestinal tract, there is an increase in intestinal motility and disorder of the stool. The patient constantly feels hungry, so he often eats a lot, but does not get better. Weight gain is observed in isolated cases. Specific therapy for abnormalities in the work of the gastrointestinal tract is not carried out.
Diagnostic Methods
Timely detected subclinic althyrotoxicosis is the key to successful treatment. Lack of adequate therapy can lead to the development of osteoporosis, ischemia, senile dementia and other unpleasant pathologies. What are the methods of diagnosing the disease?
When certain symptoms appear that indicate thyrotoxicosis, it is worth contacting an endocrinologist. After examining and studying the anamnesis, the specialist directs the patient for further examination. It includes an ultrasound of the gland, a blood test and an ECG. The pathological process is characterized by a decrease in the level of TSH with normal T4 and T3 levels. The ECG usually shows tachycardia. According to the results of ultrasound, the doctor prescribes treatment and finally confirms the diagnosis of subclinical thyrotoxicosis.
Medicated treatment
Therapeutic measures for this disease are aimed at normalizing the activity of the gland. The standard treatment regimen implies the appointment of medications based on thiamazole and propylthiouracil. Drugs directly affect the gland, blocking its functions. Dosage and duration of medication are selected individually. After the patient's condition improves, they switch from the treatment regimen to the supportive option.
In most cases, patients are prescribed glucocorticosteroid hormones, the dosage of which is also adjusted. A certain role in the selection of a therapy regimen is played by the age of the patient, the stage of the disease. Treatment with radioactive iodine is considered one of the most effective methods of combatingoveractive gland. This method also helps to avoid organ resection. Radioiodine therapy (RIT) consists in the fact that the patient takes capsules or liquid with radioactive iodine for a certain time. Once in the body, the substance begins to slowly accumulate in the cells of the thyroid gland. In the future, they die, being replaced by elements of connective tissue. Subclinical thyrotoxicosis after RIT is often complicated by hypothyroidism. The main reason is an incorrectly selected treatment regimen. When this disease is detected, patients are prescribed lifelong hormone replacement therapy.
If the disease does not progress and does not cause serious disturbances in the functioning of the body, doctors prefer to adhere to expectant tactics. Subclinical thyrotoxicosis during pregnancy also does not require medical treatment. Since the disease usually regresses in the second trimester and does not affect the fetus, the use of thyreostatics is not justified. After the baby is born, a woman in labor needs a full diagnostic examination if the thyroid gland does not return to normal.
Recipes of folk healers
With subclinical thyrotoxicosis, folk remedies can be used as an addition to the main therapy. Popular recipes for doctors are aimed primarily at eliminating the symptoms of the disease. For example, the disease is often accompanied by indigestion. To normalize the functioning of the digestive tract, it is recommended to eat about 100 g of raw beets daily.
WhenCNS disorders are helped by valerian. To prepare the product, you need to pour 2 tablespoons of dry grass with 4 cups of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes. After that, the resulting mixture must be insisted for another 30 minutes, then strain. The medicine is recommended to take 100 g three times a day.
Hawthorn infusion will help with heart problems. It will take a tablespoon of raw materials to pour 200 ml of boiling water. It is better to insist hawthorn in a thermos. Traditional healers advise taking medicine 4 tablespoons daily. The duration of the course of therapy is 3 weeks. After that, you need to take a break for 14 days and resume taking.
Features of the disease in children
Screening studies, which are used in most maternity hospitals, make it possible to diagnose subclinical thyrotoxicosis immediately after the birth of a child. Among the main symptoms of the disease can be noted:
- hoarse cry;
- low temperature;
- jaundice;
- severe swelling of the face;
- increased dry skin.
However, most often, parents learn about the presence of a pathological process in a child after a few years. Treatment involves an integrated approach and is based on the use of synthetic thyroid hormones. Drugs are selected on an individual basis, taking into account the patient's age and weight.
Untreated in a timely manner, the disease can lead to unpleasant consequences. Subclinical thyrotoxicosis negatively affects the formation of the bone apparatus of the child,mental development. Sometimes there are problems with vision. Delayed treatment can cause problems with the overall development of the baby. Therefore, doctors recommend periodically undergoing a complete examination in order to detect the disease at an early stage.
Summarize
Imbalance of hormones in the body is often the cause of serious he alth problems. The subclinical form of thyrotoxicosis has no pronounced signs. Manifestations of the disease are associated with the defeat of a particular system of the body (nervous, cardiovascular or digestive). In order to diagnose pathology in a timely manner, doctors recommend periodically undergoing a comprehensive examination. He alth problems are primarily signaled by a blood test for hormones. What doctors offer treatment for the diagnosis of "subclinical thyrotoxicosis"? Reviews of most patients indicate that hormone therapy is the most effective. Specific measures to prevent the disease have not been developed.
