Disruptions to Homeostasis

Question 1

What is hyperthyroidism?

Answer 1

Too much thyroxine produced by thyroid gland

Question 2

What is the most common type of hyperthyroidism?

Answer 2

Graves’ disease

Question 3

What is Graves’ disease?

Answer 3

Enlargement of thyroid
Caused by immune system reaction
Symptoms: rapid heart beat, weight loss, increased appetite, fatigue, sweating, anxiety, protruding eyeballs

Question 4

What are the treatments for Graves’ disease?

Answer 4

1. Surgery to remove all/some of the thyroid gland
2. Drugs that block the thyroid glands’ use of iodine
3. Drink of radioactive iodine which is taken up by the thyroid cells and are killed (cells everywhere else don’t absorb)

Question 5

What is hypothyroidism?

Answer 5

Too little thyroxine produced
More common than hyperthyroidism
6-10% of women, less men

Question 6

What are the causes of hypothyroidism?

Answer 6

Problems with thyroid gland, pituitary gland or hypothalamus, attack on thyroid by patient’s immune system (Hashimoto’s), surgery for cancer of thyroid
Symptoms: slow heart rate, unexplained weight gain, fatigue, feeling lack of energy, intolerance to cold, swelling of face and goitre

Question 7

How can an iron deficient diet lead to hypothyroidism?

Answer 7

Thyroxine = 4 atoms of iodine (T4)
Triiodothyronine = 3 atoms of iodine (T3)
Iron deficiency can prevent thyroid making enough hormones
Thyroid may then enlarge in an effort to increase hormone production (goitre)

Question 8

What are the treatments of hypothyroidism?

Answer 8

If lack of iodine: more iodine in diet
Other causes: tablets containing thyroid hormone - too little won’t relieve symptoms, too much results in hyperthyroidism
No cure

Question 9

What is diabetes?

Answer 9

Abnormally high blood glucose level (hyperglycaemia)
Remains high, lots of glucose excreted through urine
Normally insulin and glucagon keep balance
Diabetic doesn’t produce enough insulin, or their cells have an abnormal resistance to it

Question 10

What is type 1 diabetes?

Answer 10

aka insulin dependent diabetes
10-15% of patients
Childhood
Patient’s immune system fault causes destruction of beta cells (which produce insulin) in islets of Langerhans of pancreas

Question 11

How is type 1 diabetes managed?

Answer 11

Patients given insulin (injections/programmable pump)

Question 12

What are the long term effects of diabetes type 1?

Answer 12

Kidney failure
Heart attack
Stroke
Amputations
Blindness
Nerve damage

Question 13

What is type 2 diabetes?

Answer 13

aka non-insulin dependent diabetes
aka adult onset diabetes
Generally 45+ year olds
Patients produce insulin but cells don’t respond
Lifestyle disease (little exercise, obesity, high salt/fat/sugar/low fibre diet, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, smoking)
No symptoms/not noticed

Question 14

How is type 2 diabetes managed?

Answer 14

Diet, exercising, healthy weight

Preventable

Question 15

What happens if type 2 diabetes goes undiagnosed?

Answer 15

Increased risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye problems, nerve damage, skin problems