Thyroid diseases often favor women, and women are shouldering the heavy responsibility of giving birth and nursing. Once they have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, they need to experience many obstacles in pregnancy and giving birth to children. Fortunately, however, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are treated regularly and do not affect pregnancy and giving birth to children.
Mothers-to-be could have breathed a sigh of relief, but they could not calm down at the thought that their problems might be passed on to future children. Today, let’s talk about whether hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism will be passed on to children in the future.
Before discussing this issue, we need to introduce a concept, that is [autoimmune thyroid disease].
The human body has many ways to identify foreign pathogens, And launch fierce immune attacks against invading pathogens. However, these immune responses sometimes deviate from the right path. Not only attack foreign pathogens (such as bacteria), but also may damage their normal tissue cells, which will lead to [autoimmune diseases]. Autoimmune thyroid disease is an autoimmune disease occurring in thyroid gland, mainly including Graves disease (the most common cause of hyperthyroidism), Hashimoto thyroiditis (the most common cause of hypothyroidism), etc.
The hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism we mentioned today mainly refer to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism caused by these two diseases.
Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism will be inherited.
We have to admit that, Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism is indeed likely to be inherited. Therefore, more than one hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism person can often be seen in a family. Half of the children and siblings of patients with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism can detect thyroid-related antibodies, and the presence of these antibodies may lead to thyroid diseases in the future.
Speaking of which, everyone may be in a hurry, so hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism is inherited! Can we still have children? If the disease is passed on to the child, isn’t it harmful to the child? … …
Mothers-to-be and fathers-to-be always have endless worries. Don’t worry! When we say that these diseases may be inherited, we do not mean that children will definitely get sick in the future.
Like many other diseases, These thyroid diseases are polygenic hereditary diseases. Although they are related to genetic factors, But it is also affected by environmental factors. That is, internal factors (genes) can only work under the action of external factors (environmental factors). So even if parents have thyroid diseases, Some pathogenic genes can be passed on to children (of course, there is also a certain possibility that they will not be passed on to children), and it is often necessary to promote diseases under the influence of specific external environmental factors.
What environmental factors may cause thyroid diseases
- Nuclear radiation, radioactive iodine therapy. Excessive iodine intake. If excessive iodine supplement, Use drugs with high iodine content in large quantities or many times at one time (such as amiodarone for arrhythmia, iodine-containing contrast agent for enhanced CT, etc.). Trace element selenium deficiency. Some drugs, Such as interferon, interleukin, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and some antiviral drugs. Some viruses and bacteria infection or lack of infection. Pregnancy or childbirth. Mental stimulation, excessive stress. Smoking.
… …
The above mentioned so many environmental factors that may induce hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, some of which we can avoid as much as possible. Although some cannot be completely avoided, we can regularly check thyroid gland after being affected by these environmental factors so as to detect problems as early as possible.
Parents have hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, can they do what for their children?
Put down the burden and treat it as usual.
We can’t change the genetics, But this gene does not necessarily pass on to children, Even if it is passed on to children, it is not necessarily possible to suffer from the disease. For the sake of things that may not happen in the future, worry all day long and even give up giving birth, it is a way to stop eating because of choking. It is better to put down the burden and treat it with common heart. As long as we correctly understand the disease and avoid some environmental factors that may cause the disease, we can minimize the possibility of suffering from the disease.
Avoid bad factors and pay attention to regular review.
Try to let children avoid some factors that may induce diseases, such as smoking and mental stimulation, and maintain a peaceful state of mind and a healthy lifestyle, which can not only reduce the risk of thyroid diseases, but also help to enhance the body’s resistance and prevent the occurrence of other diseases.
When you have to use some drugs or treatments that may affect the thyroid gland, pay attention to remind the doctor of your condition and the child’s condition, and regularly review the thyroid gland condition so as to find out the problem at an early stage.
Since women are more likely to suffer from diseases, and pregnancy and childbirth may also induce diseases, the frequency of examinations should be appropriately increased during these special periods.
Identify common manifestations and seek medical examination as soon as possible.
In the early stage of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, there are often some clues. Parents are familiar with these common manifestations, which can help children find diseases in the early stage. Once there are suspicious symptoms, seek medical treatment as soon as possible for further thyroid examination. If you are really not at ease, you can also have regular physical examination.
All in all, For the genetic problems of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, We don’t need to worry about the sky. We can’t change the genes. We can grasp some controllable environmental factors by ourselves, raise our vigilance against the early symptoms of thyroid diseases, see a doctor and check in time when necessary, and review regularly when necessary. Do early prevention, early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment, so that children can grow up healthily and carefree.