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The human body is so complex and intricately related that problems can spring up anywhere if you are not cautious. Some problems might be short-term, but many may have long-term adverse effects. Read on to find the answer to ‘Are thyroid problems genetic’ below!
Are Thyroid Problems Genetic?
The thyroid is a gland that is located in front of your neck bestriding your windpipe i.e. trachea. It is a pivotal hormone gland which is one of the examples of endocrine glands as well, these glands are hormone makers directly drawn into our hemoglobin.
Furthermore, through the blood, the endocrine gland finds its way into the entire body with the help of blood circulation. Except for the thyroid, there are other endocrine glands as well such as the pituitary gland (hypophysis), parathyroid, adrenal and pineal glands1.
This gland is a major gland in the human body, and many people face problems concerning it. This is why today we will discuss a commonly asked query, “Are thyroid problems genetic?”
But before we discuss thyroid diseases and its root, let’s learn a bit about the gland itself.
Functions of the Thyroid Gland
The thyroid hormone is a hormone by which metabolism in the body can be put into management. Simply put into words, the thyroid is the hormone that is essentially responsible for controlling the intensity of your body’s metabolism (the process of converting food into energy).
Primarily, two hormones are released by the thyroid. These are T4 and triiodothyronine (T3) — which collectively make up the thyroid.
What is Thyroid Disease?
Thyroid disease is when the thyroid gland stops doing its function i.e. unable to produce enough metabolism. There are different levels through which thyroid level is assessed.
According to the UCLA health organization, normal thyroid levels in adultery range from 5.0 to 12.0μg/dL. To know the level of your thyroid, you can test it out by the T4 test, TSH test, and T3 test2. But before the test, ask for the prescription of a concerned medical practitioner.
Thyroid levels above the normal range can be assessed as having caused certain diseases. These types of conditions are not communicable, however, are they genetically passed on? Explore below!
Are Thyroid Problems Genetic?
According to Dr. Nasr, roughly, 75 percent of the cases that they come across trace their genes from thyroid-affected families or at least on one side of their family.
There is this term called genetic susceptibility, according to which, a grave disease i.e. autoimmune thyroid tends to be caused.
Dr. Nasr says cases of thyroid often seem perplexing, but it is probable that they too have a family link in some way or the other.
Other Causes of Thyroid Problems
It is not right to claim that thyroid can be caused directly by a hereditary link related to the same problem.
Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder. An autoimmune or autoimmune thyroid disorder/disorder is/are an illness caused by the immune system attacking healthy tissues.
So the improper or malfunctioning of the immune system due to the disorder above could lead to the weakening of cells and cell death.
The presence of the thyroid enhances the likelihood of other extreme disorders and diseases.
Weakening of the thyroid gland could develop the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. AITD (Autoimmune thyroid diseases) including Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, are caused by the interactions between environmental and genetic factors.
Further, if this is not properly addressed, the chances of autoimmune hyperthyroidism take place.
Autoimmune hyperthyroidism, simply means, the immune system attacks the butterfly-shaped gland in the neck i.e. thyroid.
There are various symptoms of hyperthyroidism, these are exhaustion, dry skin, and constipation.
Result of Thyroid Diseases
Broadly, two disorders are imminent after thyroid disease, these are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism3.
What is Hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland releases ample thyroid hormone. As this is an extreme level, this state is also referred to as an overactive thyroid.
Impact on Body Operation
Hyperthyroidism escalates the metabolic activities that are disproportionate to the body’s balance like shivering, weight loss, and frequent and rapid heartbeat.
Distinction Between Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism
Like hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism is one of the thyroid disorders. However, unlike hyperthyroidism, it is the outcome of minimal or no production of thyroid hormones.
How to Cure Hyperthyroidism?
A common trigger for thyroid disease is an imbalanced gut. In our bodies, trillions of microorganisms can be found, some of which are beneficial for our health and different parts. One such is the gut.
One of them is the gut, which simply denotes the intestines, and it comprises the digestive system, foremost, the stomach. Furthermore, it is imperative to take care of gut health.
For the sake of improving hyperthyroidism, the foremost thing is to improve gut health. Additionally, poor gut health can make it harder to absorb your thyroid medication
Maintenance of the Thyroid Gland
The type and quality of food determine thyroid health. The more healthy you eat, the lesser the chances will be there of the thyroid.
Rheumatoid arthritis is also detrimental to the thyroid gland for it imbalances the hormonal loop eg. through this thyroid produces too much or too little hormone.
Thyroid cancer (TC) is one of the most common cancerous tumours of the endocrine system.
So, having an autoimmune disease may increase your risk for thyroid disease. But this same action — the white blood cells attacking body cells — could result in other autoimmune disorders like diabetes, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis, too.
Relationship Between Hypothyroidism and Autoimmune Disorders
The autoimmune disorder is referred to as an illness caused by the improper functioning of the immune system that eventually affects healthy tissues.
In Hashimoto’s disease, the inversion of the functioning of the immune system results in hormone-producing and dying of hormone-producing cells. The disease usually results in a decline in hormone production (hypothyroidism).
What is Endocrinol Metab or Endocrinol Metabolism?
The proper running of endocrine metabolism is crucial and in the absence of the same, the metabolic loop disturbs the body due to which the body doesn’t function smoothly.
This is one of the endocrine disorders. Similarly, thyroid dysfunction is also an endocrine disease or disorder.
Thyroid could occur due to a large number of reasons either hereditary or the other aforementioned reasons. Thyroid in turn affects our body in several negative designs, it has amply of detrimental causes on our physical health such as pernicious anemia
Diabetes Mellitus
There is a relatedness between thyroid and diabetes. Reports have evinced the fact that the presence of the thyroid could lead to the crumbling of blood sugar levels. Additionally, the imbalance of the thyroid is usual among diabetic patients.
It is also important to know that Diabetic patients have more vulnerability in the development of hypothyroidism. Diabetes mellitus affects the thyroid gland by impeding the thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Role of the Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Receptor
Thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) plays one of the central roles i.e. as the name speaks, ‘a stimulator’. TSHR controls the thyroid cells to prevent the enlargement of the thyroid leve4l. Hence, proven to be beneficial to the thyroid gland.
Secondly, plays a metabolic function, i.e. in regulating thyroid metabolism.
The tumbling of TSHR starts to act invertedly in case there is the presence of a mutation in TSHR. This gives rise to Hyperthyroidism. Thenceforth, there is an increased risk to the thyroid gland.
Cure For Thyroid Problems
Several therapies are recommended to overcome thyroid and the condition aftermath to rebound thyroid antigens in the balanced tract.
The synthetic T4 hormone is a therapy to cure the thyroid, this therapy is also named levothyroxine LT4. The condition in which Levothyroxine Therapy5 can be utilized are:
Endocrinologists suggest that as this therapy is not ‘hide and seek’, thus, must be applied only in the extreme imbalance of thyroid hormone. They have prescribed this method to treat hypothyroidism (when the thyroid gland stops producing hormones).
Furthermore, for the treatment of Hyperthyroidism, doctors have suggested anti-thyroid medicines and radioiodine to reduce the number of hormones that the thyroid gland produces.
Bottomline
Thyroid problems, fortunately, are curable to the most extent. But, reducing hormone production by medication is as detrimental as it is in case of too much hormone. The answer to your question, are thyroid problems genetic, is unfortunately yes.
So, a proper balance has to be maintained for the healthy regulation of the body. Majorly, we can say that thyroid problems are genetic for the majority of the population.
Stay safe and healthy!
- Kitay, Julian I., and Mark D. Altschule. “The pineal gland. A review of the physiologic literature.” The pineal gland. A review of the physiologic literature. (1954). ↩︎
- Sheehan, Michael T. “Biochemical testing of the thyroid: TSH is the best and, oftentimes, only test needed–a review for primary care.” Clinical medicine & research 14.2 (2016): 83-92. ↩︎
- Taylor, Peter N., et al. “Global epidemiology of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.” Nature Reviews Endocrinology 14.5 (2018): 301-316. ↩︎
- Khawaja, Nahla M., et al. “Pituitary enlargement in patients with primary hypothyroidism.” Endocrine Practice 12.1 (2006): 29-34. ↩︎
- Mandel, Susan J., Gregory A. Brent, and P. Reed Larsen. “Levothyroxine therapy in patients with thyroid disease.” Annals of internal medicine 119.6 (1993): 492-502. ↩︎
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
Author
This article provides a fascinating exploration into the intricate connection between genetics and thyroid health. As someone who has grappled with thyroid issues in my family, I appreciate the in-depth look at whether these problems have a hereditary component.