thyroid

For over 25 years, the specialists of the practice clinic for Diagnostics and Preventive Medicine in Bornheim near Cologne and Bonn intensively with the therapy and Diagnosis of diseases of the thyroid such as thyroid nodules, enlarged thyroid or hyperthyroidism.

The practice clinic is particularly specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

The examinations of the thyroid are carried out without radiation exposure using ultrasound. In the therapy we combine the findings of the internal Medicine with naturopathic methods such as Acupuncture, naturopathy, Traditional Chinese medicine and Homöopathie.

Thyroid diseases are among the most common diseases of all. Thirty percent of the population in Germany have a thyroid disease. One in two people over 45 are affected. Women and men suffer from thyroid diseases almost equally often. Around 130 thyroid operations are carried out in Germany each year. In addition, there are around 000 radioiodine therapies.

These figures illustrate how important it is to have a thyroid check performed during preventive examinations.

With thyroid sonography we can determine the exact size of the thyroid and detect structural defects such as thyroid nodules or thyroid cysts. Thyroid sonography is also useful for diagnosing autoimmune diseases such as Graves' disease or inflammations such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

In contrast to scintigraphy, which is only necessary for special cases, ultrasound examination of the thyroid is possible without any radiation exposure. Blood tests are necessary to check the functional status of the thyroid. We determine the Thyroid hormones T3 (triodthyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). It is also important to check the hormone TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) from the pituitary gland (hypophysis) as well as the determination of thyroid antibodies, which are often elevated in cases of hyperthyroidism or Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

A low TSH indicates an overactive thyroid, while a high TSH indicates an underactive thyroid.

The following symptoms are often found in cases of hyperthyroidism: increased sweating, nervousness and restlessness, rapid heartbeat and cardiac arrhythmias, weight loss, sleep disorders and diarrhea. Typical symptoms of hypothyroidism are: increased shivering, tiredness and listlessness, depression and difficulty concentrating, unusual weight gain, dry skin and constipation.

The most common cause of thyroid disease is iodine deficiency, which often begins in childhood.

Iodine deficiency is widespread. To avoid iodine deficiency in our diet, we should eat seafood at least once, preferably twice a week.