Gland Disorders
 Metabolic and Immune DysfunctionThyroid BasicsPituitary and Hypothalumus BasicsConclusion
Metabolic and Endocrine Websites |
Metabolic and the Immune Dysfunction
People with a dysfunctional immune system can run a higher risk of developing
diseases associated with gland/metabolic malfunctions. Medical research
recently revised the blood tests and the blood reference range values for
thyroid function. A growing number of researchers feel that
subtle metabolic dysfunction may play a larger role than expected in heart
and immune disorders. Evidence is indicating that even subtle and
long term metabolic and glandular malfunctioning can not only cause disorders
but complicate existing disorders or disease if not treated.
One common blood test most of us have had is called the TSH test which is used to determine thyroid function. Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is actually produced by the Pituitary gland. The Pituitary gland releases certain amounts of the TSH hormone to instruct the thyroid gland how to function. The reference ranges of TSH levels in the blood have only recently been revised to 0.3 through 3.0 being considered normal as compared to the old range of 0.5 through 5.5 being considered normal. Individuals can check their thyroid gland function themselves using an old dependable test called the Basal Temperature Test. This test requires a mercury thermometer which is difficult to
purchase in the U.S. The Basal Temperature Test and other gland
tests are described in detail in a book called BD by Nature by Tal Kinnersly sold on her webpage. The Author did an exceptional job at describing
that metabolic issues are common symptoms associated with a dysfunctional
immune system. Even though the book discusses Behcet's, the topic
focuses on metabolic issues and how to test and treat them naturally.
Since gland function is vital to the basic function of the body, it should
be taken seriously especially in those that cope with a dysfunctional immune
system. Glands tell the body how to process food, affect many major
organs, store and utilize energy, and how to react to our complex and changing
environments at a cellular level.
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Thyroid Basics
The thyroid is located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam's apple.
It is shaped like a butterfly - each "wing" or lobe of
your thyroid lies on each side of the windpipe. See figure 1 below. The purpose of the thyroid gland is to make, store and release
thyroid hormone into the blood. Thyroid hormone affects essentially
every cell in the body and helps control the body's functions. The
thyroid glands job is to produce the thyroid hormone, levothyroxine (T4)
which is then converted to triiodothyronine (T3) in other body tissues.
These two thyroid hormones travel in the blood to every part of the
body, where they influence metabolism. Among a long list of other
things, metabolism refers to the way we burn calories, fat and sugar, build
muscles, etc. The thyroid hormones also affect many body organs in
specific ways, for example, our heart rate. There are several disorders
or diseases that can develop when the thyroid gland malfunctions including
diseases that affect the Thyroid itself. Examples of thyroid diseases
or disorders further explained below are Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Thyroid
Node or Nodules, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism.
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Results from a malfunction in the immune system. When working
as it should, the immune system protects the body against invaders, such
as bacteria, viruses and other perceived invaders. In Hashimoto's
Thyroiditis, the immune system mistakenly recognizes normal thyroid cells
as foreign tissue and it produces antibodies that may destroy these cells.
Thyroid Node or Nodules. Is a lump in or on the thyroid gland. Nodules can be caused by a simple overgrowth of "normal" thyroid tissue, fluid, filled cysts, inflammation or a tumor (either benign or cancerous).
Hypothyroidism. A condition in which your body lacks adequate thyroid hormone. There
are over 5 million Americans diagnosed with this disorder. It may
affect as many as 10 percent of the women world wide. The most common
cause are thyroid gland inflammation or previous treatment for an overactive
thyroid gland.
Hyperthyroidism. A condition caused by the effects of too much thyroid hormone on
tissues of the body. There are several different causes of hyperthyridism
and it is important to determine which form a patient has, since the best
treatments for different conditions are not always the same. Because the
body's metabolism is increased, patients may feel hotter than other people
and often lose weight even through they may be eating more. Not all
patients follow this rule and actually gain weight. Other symptoms
such as fatigue, irritable, trouble sleeping, trembling of hands and hard
or irregular heart beat may develop.
Basically, monitoring our glands/metabolic system should be considered
essential to keeping individuals with a dysfunction immune system in better
overall health especially when dealing with rare disorders or disorders
labeled as orphan diseases.
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Pituitary Gland and Hypothalumus Basics
The amount of thyroid hormone made by the thyroid gland is adjusted by
another gland called the Pituitary, as well as a part of your brain called
the Hypothalamus. See Figure 1. The Pituitary gland makes hormones that control many other glands
in the body. For example, the Pituitary constantly senses the body
temperature. If there is not enough thyroid hormone, your pituitary
releases more Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which instructs the thyroid
to turn up the heat. That is, the Pituitary signals your thyroid
to produce more thyroid hormone and release the hormone directly into the
bloodstream to restore your blood levels to normal. If the thyroid
hormone is restored, your pituitary slows its production of TSH back
to normal. The Hypothalamus helps the pituitary control the
glands as well as helping to control other body functions, such as thirst,
hunger, sleep and body temperature. These glands all work together
to control the amount of thyroid hormone in the body. With the Pituitary
gland controlling most of the action, these structures work in a way that
is similar to how a thermostat controls the room temperature.
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Conclusion
No attempt will be made to list all the glands and their functions. We
suggest a few websites below in the hope that individuals will seek information
and adequate medical testing and care in this area. It needs to be
given more credence by patients and physicians alike especially if you
have an existing health condition.
Over the years, I have lost count of the number of individuals I have talked
too that are dealing with Behcet's. I have heard BD'ers complain
about not being able to gain weight, always feeling cold, low blood pressure,
etc. I use to make the same statements myself but one day I realized
that my symptoms drastically changed. I felt like an internal switch
was pressed and my symptoms changed to the opposite extreme almost over
night. I went from low blood pressure to high, excess sweating, vascular
changes, heart problems, overactive thyroid symptoms, etc I
started asking around and found a group of BDers that were dealing with
simular symptoms. Like me, their symptoms changed from one extreme
to another over the years. Like anyone dealing with an immune disorder,
I wanted to blame the Behcet's. Several years later, one doctor finally
told me that I had Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Again, I wanted to
know if the Behcet's caused this complication. All I ever heard was,
"It is complicated and Hashimoto's is a common health problem, even if you have an existing disorder." That did not answer my question. It was a frustrating
time. Now that I look back, the reason it was so frustrating was because
I had to face the reality that it was going to take time for a doctor to
figure out my gland and metabolic function.
In my case, the Hashimoto's disorder was likely caused from years of untreated
low thyroid function. Since I have had more blood tests than the
average person, how could we all miss something like low thyroid function?
I started looking at the tools we use to determine health.
I ran right into a general tool called Blood Reference Ranges which were initially designed to find disease and health problems in the
blood. It is an excellent tool but it was not long before I realized
that these ranges do not determine individual or optimal health. It
is general tool used for the good of the large population. As with
any tool, it takes time to realize where the flaws are and what needs updated.
Time means generations in terms of human health especially with the
growing cost of health care. Our testing tools have their faults
especially if you are chronically ill with something like Behcet's. Our
health care system is not directed at the chronically ill. Everyone
was right, it is complicated. Personally, I don't know if my Behcet's
made my gland malfunction or not. I still do not have the answers.
I only know that I was tested for years for low thyroid and no one
noticed it was not working properly even after the blood reference range
changed for thyroid tests. Personally, it feels logical to conclude
that immune, metabolic, vascular, and glandular disorders all need to work
together inorder to live a long and healthy life.
Figure 1: Thyroid Gland, Pituitary and Hypothalamus
Thyroid Basics
or
Pituitary & Hypothalamus basics
Metabolic and Endocrine Websites
The Merck Manual - Endocrine and Metabolic disorders
http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section2/sec2.jsp
Organizations for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/endo/pubs/endorg/endorg.htm
Metabolic Disorder Dietary Association
http://www.mdda-australia.org/whatis/whatis.shtm