Hypothyroidism means an underactive thyroid gland, which results in the production of inadequate thyroid hormones (common disorder of the endocrine system). Your metabolic process works to create energy through the food you eat. Since, the thyroid gland controls the metabolism and many other important functions of the body, an underactive thyroid is very likely to produce a varied set of symptoms and a sluggish body in general.
As per statistics, nearly 12% or more Americans are likely to suffer from a thyroid disorder in their lifetime. Approximately 4.6% of Americans aged 12 years and above suffer from hypothyroidism. However, when it comes to hypothyroidism or any thyroid disorder women are at a disadvantage, with the incidence of thyroid disorders in women being a whopping 5-8 times higher than that in men.
Here’s everything you need to know about hypothyroidism.
What Causes Hypothyroidism?
Here’s a list of its most common causative factors:
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: This is an autoimmune disorder, wherein the body produces antibodies against healthy thyroid tissue resulting in inflammation of the thyroid affecting its functions. It is also the commonest cause of hypothyroidism.
- Low Iodine diet: The thyroid gland uses iodine to make thyroid hormones. Iodine enters the body through food items including shellfish, seaweed, saltwater fish, dairy products, and other iodine fortified food items. In fact, the only legitimate way your body can process iodine is through your diet. Hence, a low iodine diet can lead to lower levels of iodine in your blood stream, consequently resulting in the thyroids inability to produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormones. The end result of which is this condition.
- Radiation to and around the neck to treat cancers such as lymphomas may also cause hypothyroidism, mainly because radiation causes tissue damage in the thyroid (Read also: Ovarian Cancer). Thus, a damaged thyroid leads to hampered thyroid activity and lower thyroid hormones in the blood stream.
- Medications like interferon alpha, interleukin-2, amiodarone and lithium may also lead to this condition.
- Treatment with radioactive iodine for hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid often causes hypothyroidism in the long run, as it is aimed at reducing thyroid activity.
- Thyroidectomy, a surgery that involves removal of a part of or the entire thyroid may also cause this condition.
- Pregnancy is also a common cause of hypothyroidism. In fact, many women are first diagnosed with hypothyroidism during pregnancy ( Read about: good nutrition during pregnancy)
- Disorders of the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus also are potential hypothyroidism triggers as they control the thyroid.
- Underdeveloped thyroid gland at birth can lead to hypothyroidism in babies that continues through adulthood.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
The hypothyroidism symptoms are usually varied and indefinite, which is why they are often mistaken for something else. Here’s what you are likely to experience if you have hypothyroidism:
- Menstrual cycle irregularities
- Fatigue
- Weight gain and failure to lose weight
- Depression and mood swings
- Hair fall and dryness
- Dryness of the skin
- Lower pulse and heart rate
- Constipation
- Extremely sensitive to cold
- Goitre or swelling of the thyroid gland
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Diagnosis of Hypothyroidism
This condition diagnosed and monitored by analysing a woman’s thyroid hormone levels. The two main hormones tested are Thyroxine or T4 and Thyroid stimulating hormone or TSH. Low T4 levels and raised TSH levels are an indication of this condition. Since, a failing or underactive thyroid gland is the culprit behind this condition, there is a marked reduction in the thyroid hormones in the blood stream as it cannot secrete enough hormones. However, this thyroid underactivity makes the pituitary and hypothalamus increase the production of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to push the thyroid gland to increase the T4 secretion to meet the needs of the body. Hence, we see a rise in TSH and a consequent fall in the T4 levels.
Hypothyroidism Treatment in Brooklyn
It is treated with synthetically made T4, one of the thyroid hormones. This synthetic T4 tries to compensate for the underactive thyroid by fulfilling its T4 requirements. A daily dose of synthetic T4 is prescribed depending on the blood thyroid hormone levels. The hypothyroid pill is to be taken daily or as advised by your physician half an hour before breakfast on an empty stomach. This helps your body absorb the synthetic T4 better.