Team 10 1

Schoolteacher with Hypothyroidism

I. Introduction At the annual check-up of a 43 year old woman, named Shirley Rai, she informs her doctor of a 16 pound weight gain, a lack of energy, an intolerance to cold, constipation and a heavier menstrual flow than normal each month. Her doctor ran laboratory tests and her test results showed that her Thyroid antimicrosomal antibodies had increased. The Doctor concluded that she had Autoimmune Thyroiditis, also known as Hypothyroidism and prescribed oral medication of synthetic L-thyroxine, also known as T4.

II. Concepts What is the thyroid and how does it affect the body as a whole Understand the different types of thyroid problems and why it was Hypothyroidism rather than a different thyroid condition Investigate the causes of thyroid disorders and if they are inherited

Team 10 2 The reason Shirley prescribed L-thyroxin rather than another drug

III. Learning Objectives To understand the interaction between the thyroid and the rest of body, along with the thyroid functions How Hypothyroidism is treated and the effectiveness of the treatment Recognize her symptoms as related to Hypothyroidism Understand the hormones and how they affect the treatment

IV. Questions What is the main role of the thyroid in the body? Where is it located? What are the main Thyroid diseases? Causes? Were all her symptoms related to Hypothyroidism? Are thyroid problems inherited? Are they life threatening? How is Hypothyroidism treated? Is it effective or risky? How common is it? Is it more common in some individuals than others? When was it discovered and by who? Original testing? What are thyroid hormones and what could cause a decreased secretion? What causes a goiter? What is L-thyroxin?

V. Summary The thyroid gland is a small gland in the front of the neck that produces thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which signal cells throughout the body to increase

Team 10 3 oxygen use. The main thyroid diseases are Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is treated by surgical removal, radioactive iodine therapy and most commonly synthetic hormones. Hypothyroidism, Hashimotos Thyroiditis occurs in every 1 out of 10 Americans each year. In the case of Shirley Rai, all her symptoms were common symptoms of this type of Thyroid disease. When the doctors tested her blood, the scale of her thyroxin was fairly low and her TSH was very high. Also her thyroid antibodies were increased. The progression of science is demonstrated here because scientists can now identify where hormones are produced, how they interact with the body and try to recreate them in order to help people balance their bodies.