Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-08-27
Stop Killing
Yourself
By Dr.. Peter J. Steincrohn

about underactlve and over
active thyroid. What is the
normal gland?
Answer: It lies in the neck,
shaped like a large butterfly,
and you can't feel it or see
it when it is behaving. It Sc
cretS a hormone Chats why
we call it a gland Of internal
Secretion), thyroxin - which
is like a whip which keeps
our metabohsm moving
along.
Question: When do you call
it underactive?
Answer: When 1t gets lazy.
When it doesn't put out
enough thyroxin, many things
happen.
If this occurs In infants the
condition produces cretinism
(the child is below par ply
sically and mentally. Only
Thyroid extract can improve
the cretin.
When marked underactivity
(hypothyroidism) occurs in
older people we call it myxoe-
dema. They become dull and
slow up mentally and physi-
cally. Some are so bad that
they actually are confused
with people who have severe
mental illness.
However, the more COM
mon problem is with the mar
ginal patients. These are the
ones in whom the diagnosis
may be missed unless the
doctor is on his diagnostic
toes.
Some complain only Of be-
ing chilly all the time. Others
say their hair is dry or fall
ing out. Their skin is rough
and dry. Their pulse is slow
and they complain Of a gen.
eralized IS lowing down"
They are conStipated and
tired. Metabolism tests or
protein-bound iodine exami-
nations clinch the diagnosis.
We give them thyroid extract
to take in pill form, and they
improve within a few months.
Hypothyroidism is a dag
nosis that the doctor should
always bear in mind. Other
wise it goes undiagnosed and
people limp through life at
much less than their normal
efficiency.
Question: What happens
when the thyroid gland is
overactive?
Answer: When the gland Sc
cretes too much thyroxin, the
body is like a horse that is
being constantly whipped, al
though he is willing and do
ing his job well. At last
comes the time when he can't
stand the needless punish
ment. He becomes nervous
and unmanageable.
So it is with the hyperthy-
roid human. When the hor-
none continually whips him
into action, he reacts unkind-
ly to this needless stimulation,
He becomes n ervouS, his
pulse is rapid, he overeatS vel
continually loses weight and
strength, he has spells Of
diarrhea and complains Of
weakness in his muscles.
Examination of the neck re-
veals an enlarged thyroid
gland or at least a nodule
or two in it. The patients
eyes are "stary" and his
skin is moist. He can't seem
to sit still. If the overactivity
is severe enough, there may
already be changes in the
heart: weakness and irregu.
larity.
Something has to be done
We have many choices. Some
times medicine by mouth Is
all that is needed to control
hyperthyroidism. When inef
fectual, we resort to thyroid
ectomy (removal Of the thy
roid). In some cases radio
active iodine will do the job
Whatever the method, it be
comes important to save thu
willing body from needless
whipping and punishment.
Question: Would you advise
everyone to have a basal me
tabolism test or a protein
bound iodine test to check OF
their thyroid.
Answer: No. Not Anymore
than l would suggest every
one having an X-ray. Blu
this is important. If there i
any doubt about your lines
Especially if you have an.
of the symptoms l have men
toned, your examination i
not complete without study Q
the thyroid.
( (Bell-McClure Syndicate)