The thyroid gland, although small, plays a crucial role in the body. Issues with the thyroid often require treatment from either an internal medicine specialist or a surgeon.
Thyroid diseases that require internal medicine treatment mainly include thyroid function abnormalities (hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism) and inflammatory thyroid diseases (such as subacute thyroiditis).
Thyroid diseases that require surgical treatment include thyroid tumors and large goiters. The causes of thyroid diseases are not entirely clear but may be related to the following factors:
1. Endocrine factors (medication use, rhythm disorders);
2. Iodine factors (excessive or insufficient iodine intake);
3. Environmental factors (long-term exposure to radiation);
4. Immune factors (autoantibodies against the thyroid causing tissue damage);
5. Mental state (stress, anxiety, prolonged depression);
6. Genetic factors (family history of thyroid disease).