Question

A patient goes to a hospital for surgery to remove his thyroid gland. Which of the following conditions will the patient experience as a result of having his thyroid removed?
(A) He will lose weight rapidly.
(B) He will gain weight rapidly.
(C) His blood sugar will be unregulated
(D) He will not produce hormones needed to regulate blood pressure properly.
(E) He will be unable to regulate calcium absorption in the bloodstream.

Answer 1

Hint: The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland i.e. these glands release their hormones directly into the blood. The gland is located in the neck and it releases three hormones- triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and calcitonin. The first two are thyroid hormones and they are regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone and which in turn are regulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

Complete answer:
The two most common disorders of the thyroid gland are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Excessive secretion of thyroid hormones occurs in the case of hyperthyroidism. The metabolism rate of the body is quite high. The person loses a lot of weight or fails to gain weight. The heart rate is high; they have trouble sleeping, etc.
Hypothyroidism is the opposite of hyperthyroidism. The thyroid hormone requirement of the body is not met. The deficiency of iodine is the most common cause. People suffering from hypothyroidism often feel tired, have poor memory and low concentration capacity, face hair loss, weight gain, etc.
The thyroid gland is only removed in the case of hyperthyroidism. However, surgery is the least preferred option. People suffering from Graves’ disease, those who cannot take thyroid medicines undergo thyroid surgery. After surgery, these individuals may show signs of hypothyroidism as there is a sudden decrease in the thyroid hormones. This also results in sudden weight gain. They need to take synthetic thyroid hormones to maintain their body’s metabolism.

The correct option is (B), The person will gain weight rapidly.

Note: Thyroid related issues affect women more than men. Usually, it is hypothyroidism that affects most women. Thyroid issues are generally caused after menopause or after pregnancy.
Individuals suffering from thyroid issues need to maintain their general health. They should not have a very stressful lifestyle. Their diet should also be taken care of.