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Can You Inherit Thyroid Disease?

According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), approximately 13 million people in the United States have thyroid disease. Genetics may play a determining role in whether or not you develop thyroid disease.

  1. Cause

    • According to csa.com, a resistance to thyroid hormones is genetically inherited. The specific genetically mutated thyroid hormone receptor is known as TRb.

    Types

    • Csa.com reports that the types of thyroid disease inherited as a cause of mutated TRbs include goiter and hypothyroidism.

    Identification

    • Thyroid disease may cause a goiter, which is a small bulge at the base of your neck. You can detect a goiter when you swallow by looking in a mirror or feeling it.

    Symptoms

    • Inherited thyroid disorders make your metabolism off balance, causing appetite increases, weight gain, excessive fatigue, cold sensitivity and depression.

    Prevention/Solution

    • If you suspect you have thyroid disease, see an endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in endocrine gland treatment. Treatment varies depending on the type and severity of thyroid disorder.

    Warning

    • An inherited thyroid goiter can develop nodules, which are fluid-filled cysts. In rare cases, according to the AACE, these nodules can develop into cancer.

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