About five per cent of patients in the Middle East suffer from thyroid disease, according to rough estimates revealed at the 10th Annual Middle East Otolaryngology Conference & Exhibition last year.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that secretes hormones into the blood stream and is mainly responsible for the body’s ability to convert food into energy (metabolism rate) and monitors body temperature, said a statement.

Prof Dr Iyad Hassan, consultant – Endocrine and Cancer Surgery at Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi, said: “Swelling in the thyroid gland causes a goiter. The abnormally large size of the gland is rarely due to cancer and is usually an indication of hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland) or hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland).

“Problems with the thyroid gland affect the metabolic rate, ability to control body temperature and energy levels.”

“The main symptoms of an overactive thyroid are palpitations, excessive sweating, weight loss, heat intolerance, anxiety, tremors in the hand, excessive hair loss from the scalp, muscle weakness, loose and frequent bowel movements and protrusion of the eyes and in the case of elderly patients, heart failure,” he said.

“If a patient suffers from an underactive thyroid, he or she is likely to experience excessive tiredness, unexplained weight gain, feeling cold, constipation, and increased sleep, puffiness under the eyes and aches and pains.”

Thyroid diseases are caused by various factors including an autoimmune condition where the body attacks the thyroid gland for unknown reasons.

Iodine deficiency is the major cause of goiter, but this is fast being eradicated worldwide because iodine is readily available in the diet, said the statement.

Some races are more susceptible to the condition than others according to Dr Omran Bedir Gatee, consultant - Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolic Disorders at Burjeel Hospital.

“I have come across overactive thyroid conditions in Asian ladies who live in the UAE. This is because they are quite stressed. On the other hand, Emirati women are more likely to suffer from an underactive thyroid because of their genetic makeup.”

Prof Dr Hassan added that in most cases, the thyroid condition can be controlled through medication: for an overactive thyroid, medications to suppress the overproduction of the hormone are prescribed.

For those suffering from hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone replacement is administered. However in extreme cases, a thyroidectomy -- a surgery to remove the thyroid gland will be performed, he said.

“Dysfunctional thyroid gland is removed through surgery once the operation is complete, the patient will be monitored for complications. During the surgery, to reduce the risk of vocal cord nerve Injury, we use a neuromonitor device to detect the position of the vocal cord nerve.”

Most patients are concerned about the thyroid surgery affecting vocal cords and ultimately speech, but Prof Dr Hassan explained that, “Some patients may notice subtle voice changes or the voice may tire by the end of the day; these voice alterations generally normalise within two to three months. If voice changes persist, patient should advise the surgeon or endocrinologist to evaluate further. And some patients may require lifetime thyroid hormone replacement when one or both lobes of the thyroid are removed.”

Clancy Po, chief executive officer of Burjeel, said: “Changing lifestyles of modern people have given rise to various diseases.  Burjeel Hospital has always been committed to provide complete and specialised healthcare for the residents of the UAE and the Mena region.

“This commitment extends to providing state-of-the-art technology and expert medical care in the treatment of various medical conditions.” - TradeArabia News Service