Thyroid – Hypothyroidism – A Lifestyle Disorder

When the thyroid gland is unable to produce enough of the hormones the body needs, a condition called hypothyroidism develops. The small butterfly-shaped gland called the thyroid sits near the nape of the neck.

The heart rate is just one of several biological functions that thyroid hormones affect because of their role in regulating energy metabolism. Inadequate thyroid hormone levels cause a decline in several physiological processes.
Hypothyroidism tends to be more common in some groups. Women are much more likely than males to be affected by hypothyroidism. Also, people aged 60 and up have a higher prevalence of the condition.

Hypothyroidism is more likely to occur in individuals who

have had a goiter or other thyroid problem in the past

Had difficulties with their thyroids treated with surgery or radioactive iodine.

Have Undergone radiation treatment for thyroid, neck, or chest.

Have the Turner syndrome genetic disorder and be a female (NIH external link)

Thyroid underactivity is more likely in those with other health problems, such as

Insensitivity to gluten

A condition known as Sjögren’s syndrome is associated with dry mouth and eyes .

The National Institutes of Health provides information about pernicious anemia, which is caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12.

A couple of diabetes types

The autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis, which affects the joints.

Lupus, an inflammatory disorder characterized by chronic autoimmune reactions

Problems during pregnancy possible for women with hypothyroidism

Ignoring hypothyroidism during pregnancy endangers both the mother and the fetus. Medications for the thyroid can be taken safely throughout pregnancy and may help avoid complications.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Many women need a higher dosage of thyroid hormone medication during pregnancy, so it’s crucial that you tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking this medication.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

The many signs of hypothyroidism might manifest differently in different people. If your thyroid isn’t working properly, you can notice these symptoms:

• mental dullness
•  Distension
•  Dealing with cold symptoms
• Discomfort in the joints and muscles
• Signs of thinning hair or dry skin
•  Problems conceiving, menstrual cramps, or both
• Your heart rate has decreased.
• mental disease.

Because hypothyroidism develops slowly, symptoms may not appear for months or even years.

Although common, symptoms such as increased appetite and lethargy may not necessarily point to a thyroid problem.

Causes of Hypothyroidism

• Hashimoto’s disease

• thyroiditis, or inflammation of the thyroid

• congenital hypothyroidism, or hypothyroidism that is present at birth

• surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid

• radiation treatment of the thyroid

• some medicines Less often, hypothyroidism is caused by too much or too little iodine in the diet.

•  Iodine deficiency.
• Hashimoto’s disease Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder, is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. With this disease, your immune system attacks the thyroid. The thyroid becomes inflamed and can’t make enough thyroid hormones.
•  Thyroiditis, an inflammation of your thyroid, causes stored thyroid hormone to leak out of your thyroid gland. At first, the leakage increases your blood’s hormone levels, leading to thyrotoxicosis, a condition in which thyroid hormone levels are too high. The thyrotoxicosis may last for many months. After that, your thyroid may become underactive and, over time, the condition may become permanent, requiring thyroid hormone replacement. Three types of thyroiditis can cause thyrotoxicosis followed by hypothyroidism.
•  Subacute thyroiditis involves a painfully inflamed and enlarged thyroid.
•  Postpartum thyroiditis develops after a woman gives birth.
•  Silent thyroiditis is painless, even though your thyroid may be enlarged. Experts think it is probably an autoimmune condition.

 Tests for diagnose thyroid diseases such as

• Hyperthyroidism:

• When thyroid hormone levels are too high.  Graves’ disease, the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.

• Hypothyroidism

• When thyroid hormones levels are too low . Hashimoto’s disease, of the most common cause of hypothyroidism.

•  Thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer

Blood test to diagnose thyroid function

 Tests may include thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T₄, T₃, and thyroid antibody tests.

For these tests, a health care professional will draw blood from your arm and send it to a lab for testing.

TSH test

Health care professionals usually check the amount of TSH in your blood first. TSH is a hormone made in the pituitary gland that tells the thyroid how much T₄ and T₃ to make.

A high TSH level most often means you have hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid. This means that your thyroid isn’t making enough hormone. As a result, the pituitary keeps making and releasing TSH into your blood.

A low TSH level usually means you have hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid. This means that your thyroid is making too much hormone, so the pituitary stops making and releasing TSH into your blood.

If the TSH test results are not normal, you will need at least one other test to help find the cause of the problem.

T₄ tests

A high blood level of T₄ may mean you have hyperthyroidism. A low level of T₄ may mean you have hypothyroidism.

In some cases, high or low T₄ levels may not mean you have thyroid problems. If you are pregnant or are taking oral contraceptives  your thyroid hormone levels will be higher. Severe illness or using corticosteroids—medicines to treat asthma, arthritis, skin conditions, and other health problems—can lower T₄ levels.                            These conditions and medicines change the amount of proteins in your blood that “bind,” or attach, to T₄. Bound T₄ is kept in reserve in the blood until it’s needed. “Free” T₄ is not bound to these proteins and is available to enter body tissues. Because changes in binding protein levels don’t affect free T₄ levels, many healthcare professionals prefer to measure free T₄.

T₃ test

If your health care professional thinks you may have hyperthyroidism even though your T₄ level is normal, you may have a T₃ test to confirm the diagnosis. Sometimes T₄ is normal yet T₃ is high, so measuring both T₄ and T₃ levels can be useful in diagnosing hyperthyroidism.

Thyroid antibody tests

Measuring levels of thyroid antibodies may help diagnose an autoimmune thyroid disorder such as Graves’ disease—the most common cause of hyperthyroidism—and Hashimoto’s disease—the most common cause of hypothyroidism.                                                                                                                                                                       Thyroid antibodies are made when your immune system attacks the thyroid gland by mistake. Your health care professional may order thyroid antibody tests if the results of other blood tests suggest thyroid disease.

Hyperthyroidism- An overactive thyroid

An overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, results from too many hormones produced by the thyroid gland for the body to use.

Symptoms For Hyperthyroidism

Mood swings.
Restlessness, nervousness, anxiety, and impatience, warm skin.
Too much sweating, red palms, loose nails, a raised, itchy rash.
Issues of the heart
Palpitations, sometimes referred to as hammering or racing heartbeats, and tachycardia or arrhythmia—an irregular or rapid heart rate.
Muscle weakness, trouble sleeping, more appetite and inexplicable weight loss.
Lack of hair
Menstrual fluctuations in women
Eye issues include redness, dryness, or vision trouble
Thinning of the skin