Understanding Thyroid Disorders

Description

One person in twenty will experiance a thyroid problem at some stage. For the sufferer the result can be a bewildering variety of physical and psychological symtoms, from breathlessness to flaky skin and from weariness to irritability. Fortunately, once thyroid disease has been diagnosed, the chances of successful treatment are high. Modern approaches to management, involving drugs or occasionally surgery, allow most people with thyroid problems to overcome them completely. In clear non-technical language, Dr Toft explains the working of the thyroid, what can go wrong and how the problems are treated

Contents

• Introduction
• Overactive thyroid
• Underactive thyroid
• Thyroid disease and pregnancy
• Enlarged thyroid
• Thyroid cancer
• Thyroid blood tests
• 'Hypothyoidism' with normal blood tests
• Questions and answers
• Useful addresses
• Glossary
• Index

About the Author's

Dr Anthony Toft CBE, MD, FRCP - is a consultant Physician and Endocrinologist at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he specialises in the diagnosis and managment of patients with thyroid disease. Dr Toft has been President of the British Thyroid Association and President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Dr Tony Smith - family Doctor Publications' Medical Editor-in-Chief was for many years Deputy Editor of the British Medical Journal and continues to work as an Assiciate Editor. He is the Medical Editor of both the Complete Family Health Encylopaedia and the Family Doctor Home Advisor