Women more likely to have thyroid disorder: Experts
New Delhi, May 25: Owing to greater sensitivity to hormonal changes, women are eight times more likely to develop thyroid disorder than men, says a report from SRL Diagnostics.
Thyroid is a two-inch-butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of our neck and is a part of the endocrine gland system. Thyroid hormone, produced and stored in the gland is majorly responsible for regulating the metabolic rate in the body.
"A woman's body is more prone to different hormonal leaps, more sensitive to hormonal changes and is overall, more reactive than the male body and affects thyroid system," Avinash Phadke, President Technology & Mentor (Clinical Pathology) from SRL Diagnostics, said in a statement.
Stress and iodine deficiency can also lead to further complications in the female thyroid system, Phadke added.
Disorder in the gland or the hormones can causes hypothyroidism, where the gland is incapable of producing enough thyroid hormone; hyperthyroidism, where the gland produces abnormally high level of the hormones; iodine deficiency disease like Goitre; Hashimoto's Thyroiditis -- inflammation of the gland; and thyroid cancer.
"One in 10 adults in India suffer from hypothyroidism, which is three times more common in women. One in every three diabetic patients could have underlying thyroid disorder," said Nidhi Malhotra, Senior Consultant and Coordinator - Endocrinology, Jaypee Hospital, Noida
"Nearly 45 per cent of pregnant women are also found to have hypothyroid in the first trimester," Malhotra added.
Part of the endocrine system, the thyroid is critical to maintain everyday health. It produces two major hormones known as the Thyroxin or T4 (Tetraiodothyronine) and T3 (Triiodothyronine). The pituitary produces a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone which controls and monitors the amount of T4 & T3 produced and released by the Thyroid gland.
The hormone flows in the blood and travels to all the parts of the body and can impact various organs. It also influences critical body functions such as protein synthesis, body temperature control and heart-rate as well as regulating the impact of different hormones on the body.
Almost one third of people with thyroid disorder are not even aware that the symptoms for different illnesses vary based on the severity, Malhotra said.
Healthy iodine based diet, drinking plenty of water, exercises and regular checkup is essential for prevention of these disorders, the doctors suggested.
"People who have a history of thyroid problems in their family would be predisposed to thyroid abnormalities. Further, iodine deficiency has been the most common cause of thyroid disorders and subsequent brain damage," Phadke explained.
"Women undergoing an annual screening of thyroid gland can enable us to detect problems earlier, and it will thus be easier to start the treatment," Phadke noted.
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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
