Increase In Cases Of Thyroid Problems Are Baffling

The increasing cases of thyroid problem are posing a great threat to human lives as the disease has so far affected millions of people worldwide

HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2017 ) :The increasing cases of thyroid problem are posing a great threat to human lives as the disease has so far affected millions of people worldwide.

Thyroid disorders particularly thyroid cancer, thyroid under-activity and thyroid over-activity have become common among the people in general and women in particular, said Director NIMRA Dr. Naeem Leghari, while talking to APP here on Friday about the affects of thyroid.

He said that thyroid is an important gland in front of neck which controls and affects all the basic body functions including physical and mental growth, metabolism, reproduction and digestion.

Thyroid diseases in Pakistan are a much overlooked entity due to lack of public awareness, vague symptomatology and iodine deficiency, he said. He said that clinical research plays a pivotal role in medical field, ensuring proper treatment to patients.

Around the world and in India, thyroid diseases are considered to be one of the most common endocrine disorders, he added. Estimates indicate that 42 million in the world suffer from some form of thyroid disease, he said and added that some thyroid diseases could be easy to diagnose because even a minor swelling may be visible.

However, thyroid cancer may not be suspected by many at an initial stage. Dr. Naeem Leghari said thyroid cancers account for more than 90 per cent of all endocrine malignancies, they represent only about one per cent of all human cancers, with the worldwide incidence being approximately 1, 40,000 per annum.

Among several types of thyroid cancers, he informed that the most common is papillary thyroid cancer, accounting for 80 percent of cases and usually affecting women of childbearing age. The least dangerous type of thyroid cancer with the highest survival rate, it spreads slowly, he added.

He said that thyroid cancer cases across the world have been rising evidence indicates this could be more due to improved detection rates rather than an actual increase in disease occurrence. He said that some common symptoms of thyroid cancer included the difficulty or pain while swallowing food and breathing difficulty, pain in the throat, presence of a nodule or lump near the thyroid gland, hoarseness or change in voice.

He informed that as the exact causes of thyroid cancers are still unclear and these could occur at any age, researchers believe genetic causes play a major role in triggering thyroid cancers in individuals.

The patients who received radiation therapy, particularly as children, are at higher risk of developing such cancers, he said. Dr. Naeem Leghari said that after treatment, patients need to take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of their lives to replace hormones once produced by the thyroid glands.

Cancers of any kind can be extremely traumatic therefore it is important to get in touch with a local support group where patients share their highs and lows as well as other experiences regarding the disease, he added.