May 25th – World Thyroid Day

May 25th is widely recognized as World Thyroid Day. It is an international day to raise awareness about thyroid disorders and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, in addition to sharing all of the new discoveries surrounding this important gland. The day was first established in 2008 by the European Thyroid Association and the American Thyroid Association, and it has since been recognized by many organizations and health authorities around the world.

On World Thyroid Day, healthcare providers, patient organizations, and individuals around the world come together to raise awareness about thyroid disorders and the impact they can have on people’s health and well-being. This day is an opportunity to promote education and understanding about thyroid conditions, as well as to encourage people to seek medical advice and treatment if they suspect they may have a thyroid problem. It also opens the door for discussions around alternative treatments and ways of dealing with the symptoms that might not be as invasive and aggressive as the ones most commonly used in medical settings around the Globe.

Many organizations use World Thyroid Day to organize events and activities, such as health screenings, educational seminars, and public awareness campaigns. The goal of these activities is to empower people with knowledge about their thyroid health and encourage them to take an active role in managing their health and well-being.

That being said, we thought it could be the perfect opportunity to talk about some of the novelties in the world of thyroid conditions, and offer a new perspective on preventing and treating your symptoms. 

Novelties in the Diagnosis of Thyroid Conditions

For a very long time, diagnosing the most common thyroid conditions was done in the same way. With the incredible pace the tech world has been advancing, there have been several changes in the diagnosis of thyroid conditions, including:

• Thyroid Function Tests: Thyroid function tests are blood tests that measure the levels of thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood. Recent advancements in these tests have made them more sensitive and accurate, allowing healthcare providers to more easily detect and diagnose thyroid conditions.
• Molecular Testing: Molecular testing involves analyzing the DNA of thyroid cells to identify genetic mutations or alterations that may indicate thyroid cancer. These tests can help doctors and other healthcare providers make more accurate diagnoses and develop more targeted treatment plans for thyroid cancer patients.
• Ultrasound Imaging: Ultrasound imaging uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the thyroid gland and surrounding tissues. Recent tech discoveries in ultrasound technology have made it easier to detect and diagnose thyroid nodules, which can be a sign of thyroid cancer.
• Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB): FNAB is a common procedure for detecting thyroid cancer that involves using a thin needle to remove a small sample of thyroid tissue for examination under a microscope. It is marketed as a minimally invasive procedure, but many people have found it to be pretty harsh and even cause plenty of swelling and pain. The latest improvements in FNAB techniques, such as the use of ultrasound guidance, have made this procedure less painful and more accurate and effective in diagnosing thyroid cancer.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI technology has the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis of thyroid conditions by analyzing large amounts of data and identifying patterns that may be difficult for human experts to detect. This technology may help improve the accuracy and efficiency of thyroid diagnosis and treatment planning in the future.

Novelties in the Treatment of Thyroid Conditions

Just like with diagnosing thyroid conditions, the usual treatment always involved the same combo: some sort of medication, radiation, and/or surgery. With medical advancements, there have been plenty of novelties in this field. Some of them include:

• Targeted Therapies: Targeted therapies are a type of cancer treatment that use drugs to target specific proteins or genes that play a role in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Novelties in the field of targeted therapies have led to the development of new drugs and more effective drug combinations in order to treat some of the most advanced cases of thyroid cancer.
• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): RFA is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat generated by radio waves to destroy thyroid nodules. Improvements in RFA techniques have made this procedure more effective and safe, with fewer complications and side effects than traditional surgical removal of thyroid nodules.
• Precision Medicine: Precision medicine is a special approach to the treatment of thyroid conditions that takes into account an individual’s unique genetic makeup, as well as other factors such as lifestyle and environment, to develop more targeted and personalized treatment plans. New developments and advancements in precision medicine have led to the creation of new drugs and therapies that are tailored to the specific needs of individual patients with thyroid conditions.
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to boost the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. It’s considered to be one of the most promising ways of treating cancers, regardless of the affected area in the body. Novelties in immunotherapy have led to the development of new drugs that are more effective in treating advanced cases of thyroid cancer.
• New Surgical Techniques: There have been many advancements in the field of surgical techniques, such as minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgeries and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), which have made thyroid surgery safer and less invasive, with faster recovery times and fewer complications. These techniques may also lead to better outcomes for patients with thyroid cancer or other thyroid conditions.

Other Findings

In the last five years, there have been new findings in all aspects surrounding thyroid conditions, from why they even develop to how to prevent them in the first place. Researchers have identified several genetic mutations that may increase the risk of developing thyroid conditions, including familial non-medullary thyroid cancer, papillary thyroid cancer, and autoimmune thyroid disease.

Recent research has also suggested that the gut microbiome may play a role in the development of autoimmune thyroid diseases, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease. Additionally, studies have shown that environmental factors, such as exposure to radiation or endocrine-disrupting chemicals, may increase the risk of developing thyroid conditions.

There have also been new insights into the role of thyroid hormone receptors and iodine in regulating thyroid function, which may lead to the development of new therapies for thyroid conditions. While iodine is necessary for thyroid function, recent research has suggested that both too much and too little iodine intake can have negative effects on thyroid health. This has led to a re-evaluation of iodine supplementation and fortification policies in some countries.

And lastly, there’s plenty to be discovered in the world of artificial intelligence. As mentioned earlier, artificial intelligence technology is being developed to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid conditions, which may help improve the accuracy and efficiency of thyroid care in the future. This technology is in its infancy, but it’s becoming more and more popular with each passing day, with great potential and hopes to find a way to make thyroid conditions manageable, curable, and minimally devastating for your overall health. 

Banner May 25th – World Thyroid Day – Thyroid Health Karen Berrios

Final Thoughts

The thyroid is one of the most important glands in the human body, and on May 25th, we all come together to mark its significance. Use it as an opportunity to learn more about prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment options in order to take better care of your thyroid health.