Thyroid Disorders, including Tumours
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The thyroid is an essential endocrine gland which is located at the front of the neck, below the larynx, and in front of the trachea. It is important for the function and regulation of the metabolism and various organ systems. For this purpose, it steadily releases a certain amount of thyroid hormones into the blood.
An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can manifest itself in different ways, such as tachycardia, nervousness, frequent bowel movements, or unwanted weight loss. With an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), there are opposite symptoms such as listlessness, tiredness, reduced mental and physical performance, constipation or weight gain.
The parathyroid glands, which are located at the upper and lower pole of the thyroid, also take over an important hormonal control function in the body: they regulate part of the mineral balance.
There are no general and established recommendations to prevent thyroid or parathyroid disease.
In the past, iodine deficiency often caused enlargements and nodules of the thyroid gland. However, this is less common today because iodine is added to table salt.
The hormone levels of the thyroid and parathyroid glands in the blood are not routinely examined in blood tests in the family doctor's office. This occurs only when the patient has symptoms of a disease or suffers from other diseases that may affect the thyroid gland or parathyroid glands.
The thyroid gland may release too many or too few hormones into the bloodstream because of a disease. It can also happen that the hormone production is sufficient, but nevertheless, there is a disease requiring treatment.
In order for the doctor treating you to decide on the right therapy, the cause of the thyroid dysfunction must first be clarified. Possible causes such as inflammation, benign and malignant tumours, autoimmune diseases, or other diseases and disorders come into question.
In addition to a physical examination, your doctor will check your hormone levels in the blood with a blood test.
Imaging procedures – e.g. an ultrasound or a scintigraphy (a nuclear medicine examination) – may be necessary to detect possible tissue changes.
With medicative therapy, which can be performed on an outpatient basis, tablets often have to be divided or even quartered. It is therefore very important to follow the medical prescription carefully and to manage the taking of medication with precision.
The doctor treating you will regularly perform blood tests to check your hormone levels.
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Has a surgical intervention on the thyroid or parathyroid glands been planned for you?
CONCORDIA has commissioned the institute B,B,S. Economic Consultants in Basel to evaluate the surgical interventions on the thyroid or parathyroid glands in all Swiss acute care hospitals – independently, neutrally, and according to statistical quality criteria.
The quality of inpatient treatment was assessed, along with the length of stay and the hospital costs.
During a personal conversation, we will show you, on the basis of the results, which hospitals throughout Switzerland have excelled over the years in the treatments and operations of thyroid gland in terms of quality and efficiency.
Use our consulting offer to find out which hospital is most suitable for your treatment.
Naturally, you still have the choice of when and where you would like to be treated, in line with your basic and supplementary insurances.
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If most of the thyroid gland has been removed, you will need to take the missing hormones in the form of tablets.
Enter your medication and condition (e.g. weight, capacity, appetite) on your medication plan. This is a helpful support for your next visit to the doctor.
You save on costs if you choose generics and purchase your medication via a mail order pharmacy. Ask the doctor treating you for generic medication, especially when the doctor writes a new prescription.
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