Hot knot

Hot knots are widespread in our civilization. They are often caused by the widespread iodine deficiency in the population. This deficiency leads to a reduced production of thyroid hormones, because the cells of the thyroid gland are absolutely dependent on them.Since the body still needs the hormones, it releases growth factors so that the thyroid gland grows and hopefully produces more hormones again.

If this happens unevenly distributed over the thyroid gland and one area grows more than another, a hot lump develops. However, not all thyroid nodules can be prevented even by a sufficient iodine supply. This suggests that genetic changes can also lead to the formation of nodes.

Warm and hot nodules are only very rarely malignant, they mainly cause problems for those affected by excessive hormone production. The areas in the node that have grown above average are less sensitive to the signals of the body and always produce an excess of hormones regardless of the signals. This leads to the so-called hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism) with an autonomy (= self-determination) of the node.

In part, this excess can still be compensated for by other areas reducing their hormone production, but even this has its limits and sooner or later the excess can no longer be compensated for. This abundance turns the body upside down, it works at full speed: the heartbeat accelerates and can become irregular, one is restless, nervous and sweaty, loses weight and gets digestive problems. One can try to keep this overproduction in check by slowing down medication, so-called thyrostatics.

If this does not succeed, an operation or radioiodine therapy is the remedy of choice, because in the long run this condition is harmful to the body, as it cannot constantly work at full capacity, so that long-term damage to various organs, especially the nervous and cardiovascular system, can follow. Patients with hot nodules can be put in a life-threatening situation by examinations with X-ray contrast media. There is an enormous amount of iodine in X-ray contrast media.

If it reaches the thyroid gland through distribution in the bloodstream during the examination, the iodine is immediately absorbed by the very productive areas in the node and converted into hormones. These now flood the blood and this leads to a life-threatening thyrotoxic crisis, which can be fatal due to palpitations and cardiac arrhythmia. In necessary examinations, where the contrast medium is absolutely necessary, the affected persons can be protected by a protective drug, perchlorate. This prevents the life-threatening production of hormones and the examination can be performed safely.