Women more likely to have thyroid disorder: Experts

Owing to greater sensitivity to hormonal changes, women are eight times more likely to develop thyroid disorder than men, says a report from SRl Diagnostics.

Thyroid is a two-inch-butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of our neck and is a part of the endocrine gland system. Thyroid hormone, produced and stored in the gland is majorly responsible for regulating the metabolic rate in the body.

"A woman's body is more prone to different hormonal leaps, more sensitive to hormonal changes and is overall, more reactive than the male body and affects thyroid system," Avinash Phadke, President Technology & Mentor (Clinical Pathology) from SRl Diagnostics, said in a statement. 

Stress and iodine deficiency can also lead to further complications in the female thyroid system, Phadke added.

Disorder in the gland or the hormones can causes hypothyroidism, where the gland is incapable of producing enough thyroid hormone; hyperthyroidism, where the gland produces abnormally high level of the hormones; iodine deficiency disease like Goitre; Hashimoto's Thyroiditis -- inflammation of the gland; and thyroid cancer.

"One in 10 adults in India suffer from hypothyroidism, which is three times more common in women. One in every three diabetic patients could have underlying thyroid disorder," said Nidhi Malhotra, Senior Consultant and Coordinator - Endocrinology, Jaypee Hospital, Noida

"Nearly 45 per cent of pregnant women are also found to have hypothyroid in the first trimester," Malhotra added.

Part of the endocrine system, the thyroid is critical to maintain everyday health. It produces two major hormones known as the Thyroxin or T4 (Tetraiodothyronine) and T3 (Triiodothyronine). The pituitary produces a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone which controls and monitors the amount of T4 & T3 produced and released by the Thyroid gland. 

The hormone flows in the blood and travels to all the parts of the body and can impact various organs. It also influences critical body functions such as protein synthesis, body temperature control and heart-rate as well as regulating the impact of different hormones on the body.

Almost one third of people with thyroid disorder are not even aware that the symptoms for different illnesses vary based on the severity, Malhotra said.

Healthy iodine based diet, drinking plenty of water, exercises and regular checkup is essential for prevention of these disorders, the doctors suggested.

"People who have a history of thyroid problems in their family would be predisposed to thyroid abnormalities. Further, iodine deficiency has been the most common cause of thyroid disorders and subsequent brain damage," Phadke explained.

"Women undergoing an annual screening of thyroid gland can enable us to detect problems earlier, and it will thus be easier to start the treatment," Phadke noted.