Thyroid diseases mainly affect women. Data show that 17% of women under the age of 60 suffer from low thyroid function, while for men this percentage is only 8%.
Hypo- and hyperthyroidism, along with Hashimoto's and the formation of nodules, are the other frequent diseases observed in the thyroid gland in our country. The first are mostly treated with medication. However, the knots, if they are up to 1 cm, are removed. This happens with the so-called thermal ablation. The method is applied abroad and for malignant nodes, and in the near future this will also happen in Bulgaria.
„In general, over 90% of thyroid nodules are benign and do not threaten a person's health or life in any way. They should be large enough to be able to thermally ablate up to 1 cm. Even if it is less than 1 cm and malignant it is not a problem. In case of lymphatic metastases, action is taken. Annual control provides peace of mind, says Assoc. Dr. Alexander Shinkov, MD – member of the management board of BSTP.
As for inflammation of the thyroid gland, the symptoms for it are: “unexplained weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, hormonal imbalance and difficulty conceiving – conditions that are often associated with problems of a different nature, but not with the thyroid gland. The missing piece of the puzzle can be found if patients are examined regularly,” says Prof. Dr. Rusanka Kovacheva.
Iodine intake is key to thyroid health. A little more than 10 years ago “the goitre” was among the most common thyroid diseases. It was caused by insufficient intake of iodine. With the mass process of salt iodization, this problem was eliminated in the period 2000-2008.
The surest way to timely correct the hormonal imbalance caused by the thyroid gland is control examinations once a year. “The earlier a thyroid disorder is diagnosed, the better, because once identified, symptoms can be well managed by a specialist doctor. Patients with reduced gland function require continuous and long-term care. If they are missing, this can lead to complications, including obesity, depressive disorders and an increased risk of fertility problems, says Maria Siljanovska, president of VIOM.
Since 2008, May 25 has been included in the list of the World Health Organization, and the whole week after it is dedicated to various events related to this awareness.