Thyroid Health
The thyroid tissue is formed by two types of cells: follicular cells and parafollicular cells. Most of the thyroid tissue consists of follicular cells. These cells secrete hormones that contain iodine.
The hormones are called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Parafollicular cells secrete the hormone calcitonin. The thyroid needs iodine to make hormones. The thyroid plays an important role in regulating the body’s calcium balance and metabolism. It also plays a role in fertility, growth, and skin health. The hormones T4 and T3 communicate to all tissues in the body to make proteins. T4 and T3 also increase the amount of oxygen used by cells. The harder the cells work, the harder the organs will work. The hormone calcitonin works together with parathyroid hormone to regulate calcium levels in the body.
The levels of hormones secreted by the thyroid are controlled by a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. This hormone is in turn controlled by the hypothalamus. The most common diseases linked to the Thyroid Gland are Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism, neglecting symptoms can lead to Thyroid cancer.
Thyroid cancer occurs when thyroid cells change and multiply, and the cancer cells form nodules and growths. If left untreated, these cancerous nodules can spread to the lymph nodes, surrounding tissues, and the bloodstream, hence the importance of prevention when there is a genetic tendency or the first symptoms of organic disorders on the functions appear on this notably important gland.
Proper functioning of the organs depends on the proper functioning of their cells. Older cells tend to be less efficient with age. Also, in some organs cells die and are not replaced; therefore, the number of cells decreases. The number of cells in the testes, ovaries, liver, and kidneys decreases markedly with age. When the number of cells becomes too low, the organ does not function normally. Therefore, most organs become less efficient with age. However, not all organs lose the same number of cells. The brain is an example of that. Healthy older people don’t lose a lot of neurons.
Deterioration in the function of one organ due to disease or aging can affect the function of another organ. For example, if atherosclerosis narrows the blood vessels in the kidneys, they will decrease in function because of reduced blood flow.
Often the first signs of aging are noticed in the musculoskeletal system. Then the eyes followed by the ears begin to change in early adulthood. Most of our internal functions also decrease with age. Our bodily functions reach their highest value shortly before age 30, and from then on a gradual but steady decline begins. Despite this decline, most of the functions remain correct because most organs have a functional capacity considerably higher than that required by the body (functional reserve). For example, if half of the liver is destroyed the remaining tissue is more than enough to maintain normal function. Therefore, it is diseases rather than normal aging, that explain the loss of functional capacity in advanced ages.
Some organs are more prone to malfunction than others; These organs include the heart and blood vessels, the urinary organs (such as the kidneys), and the brain.