Hyperthyroidism is a condition caused by an overactive thyroid gland which produces an excess of thyroid hormones. The symptoms of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis are many and varied – an enlarged thyroid gland (goitre) and weight loss being some of them – and treatment may include medication, radioactive iodine therapy or surgery.
Hyperthyroidism is the opposite of hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid.
The festive season is often marked with excessive alcohol consumption and while this may be part of the revelry, it can also lead to conditions like acute pancreatitis. Most cases of acute pancreatitis leading to emergency room visits occur immediately after Christmas or New Year’s day. The pancreas is small gland situated in the abdomen and plays a role in digestion and regulating blood sugar levels. In acute pancreatitis, the pancreas is inflamed to the point that it causes symptoms that can range from mild discomfort to extreme pain.
Insulin is a hormone secreted into the blood by the pancreas and it assists with controlling your blood sugar levels. When the blood glucose level increases, insulin forces the body cells to take in the extra glucose and use it for energy production. This helps to lower the blood glucose level to a normal range. However in insulin resistance, the insulin is still produced and secreted by the pancreas but the body’s response to insulin is impaired. The cells no longer respond to insulin as they normally would so the body attempts to produce even more insulin.
The thyroid gland plays an important role in maintaining the body’s metabolism by secreting two hormones, T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), Certain diseases however may upset the functioning of the thyroid gland, resulting in high levels of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism) or low levels of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism). The prevalence of hypothyroidism is growing globally and one of the most common causes is an autoimmune condition known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (discussed below).
Obesity is defined as the excessive accumulation and storage of body fat, usually measured by the body mass index (BMI) system. Your BMI is a body weight to height ratio and is calculated by dividing your weight (kg) by the square of your height (m). Refer to the online BMI calculator to work out your body mass index. While the BMI is not the most accurate method of assessing weight management problems, it is nevertheless the universal measure of assessing a healthy body weight.
Diabetes, commonly referred to as ‘sugar’ or ‘sugar diabetes’, is a disorder characterized by fluctuations in the blood glucose (sugar) level often resulting in elevated (high) ‘sugar’ levels. Diabetes mellitus is often considered to be a disorder caused by both lifestyle and genetic factors and is a growing problem in South Africa.
