When the thyroid does not produce and release enough thyroid hormone into your circulation, it is known as hypothyroidism. Your metabolism becomes slower as a result. Hypothyroidism, also known as an underactive thyroid, may make you feel exhausted, put on weight, and have trouble with cold weather. Hormone replacement therapy is the primary method of treatment for hypothyroidism symptoms.
Hypothyroidism: What Is It?
When you have hypothyroidism, your metabolism slows down because your bloodstream doesn’t have enough thyroid hormone.
Hypothyroidism results when your thyroid doesn’t produce and release enough thyroid hormone into your body. Your metabolism will slow down as a result, impacting your whole body. Hypothyroidism, sometimes referred to as underactive thyroid disease, is very typical.
Myxedema is the medical term for abnormally low thyroid levels. Myxedema is a hazardous illness that may result in significant symptoms like:
- Low body temperature
- Anemia
- A heart attack
- Confusion
- Coma
- Life-threatening hypothyroidism exists in this extreme form
Hypothyroidism is often a highly curable disorder. It may be controlled with consistent medication use and follow-up visits to your doctor.
How Does The Thyroid Function?
The thyroid gland is a tiny, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck, immediately below the larynx. Think of a butterfly with its body centered on your neck and its wings encircling your trachea (windpipe). The thyroid’s primary function is to regulate metabolism. The process by which your body converts food into the energy it needs to operate is known as metabolism. T4 and T3 are produced by the thyroid and regulate your metabolism. These hormones instruct the body’s cells on how much energy to utilize throughout the whole body. Your heart rate and body temperature are under their control.
When your thyroid functions correctly, it continuously produces hormones, releases them, and then produces new hormones to replace those utilized. This keeps your body’s systems in balance and your metabolism running smoothly. The pituitary gland, located in the skull’s center under the brain, regulates the quantity of thyroid hormones in the blood. Thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH, is adjusted by the pituitary gland and sent to the thyroid to correct imbalances when it detects too little or too much thyroid hormone.
The whole body is affected if the level of thyroid hormones is either too high (hyperthyroidism) or excessively low (hypothyroidism).
How Can Hypothyroidism Impact People?
People with hypothyroidism may be of any age, gender, or ethnicity. It’s a prevalent disorder, especially in women over 60. After menopause, women are often more prone to acquire hypothyroidism than earlier in life.
What Distinguishes Hypothyroidism From Hyperthyroidism?
The thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone when you have hypothyroidism.
Quantity is what distinguishes hypothyroidism from hyperthyroidism. The thyroid produces relatively little thyroid hormone when you have hypothyroidism. On the other hand, a person who has hyperthyroidism has a thyroid that produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. Your metabolism speeds up when you have hyperthyroidism, which is caused by elevated thyroid hormone levels. You have a slowdown in metabolism if you have hypothyroidism.
Between these two situations, there are many differences. You could struggle to get over the cold if you have hypothyroidism. You may not be able to endure the heat if you have hyperthyroidism. They represent the thyroid function’s opposites. You ought to be in the center, ideally. Each of these illnesses’ treatments aims to get your thyroid function as near to the center as feasible.
SIGNIFICANCE AND CAUSES
Why Does Hypothyroidism Occur?
Both primary and secondary causes may contribute to hypothyroidism. A disorder that directly affects the thyroid and makes it produce insufficient amounts of thyroid hormones is a crucial reason. The pituitary gland’s malfunction, which prevents it from sending thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to the thyroid to regulate thyroid hormones, is a secondary reason.
There are a lot more prevalent primary causes of hypothyroidism. The most typical of these root causes is Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder. Hashimoto’s inherited illness, or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (HLT), runs in families. The body’s immune system in Hashimoto’s disease attacks and harms the thyroid. As a result, the thyroid cannot produce and release adequate thyroid hormone.
The following are some of the other leading causes of hypothyroidism:
- Thyroiditis (thyroid infection)
- Radiation and thyroid surgery for the treatment of hyperthyroidism
- Iodine insufficiency refers to a lack of iodine in the body, which your thyroid needs to produce hormones.
- Medical disorders that run in your family that are inherited.
- Thyroiditis sometimes develops during a pregnancy (postpartum thyroiditis) or a viral disease.
What Results In Pregnancy-Related Hypothyroidism?
Women who have hypothyroidism while pregnant often have Hashimoto’s disease. The thyroid is attacked by this autoimmune illness, which causes thyroid destruction. When that occurs, the thyroid cannot create and release sufficient amounts of thyroid hormones, which affects the whole body. Hypothyroid pregnant women may feel exhausted, struggle to handle chilly temperatures, and cramp.
The development of the fetus depends on thyroid hormones. These hormones aid in the brain and nervous system’s development. It’s critical to control your thyroid levels throughout pregnancy if you have hypothyroidism. The brain may not grow properly, and problems may be later if the fetus doesn’t get enough thyroid hormone throughout development.
Hypothyroidism during pregnancy may cause issues like miscarriage or premature labor if untreated or poorly addressed.
My Thyroid: Does Birth Control Influence It?
The estrogen and progesterone in birth control tablets may impact your thyroid-binding proteins while you’re on them. Your levels rise as a result. If you have hypothyroidism, take more medicine using birth control tablets. The dose must be decreased after you stop using birth control pills.
Can Hypothyroidism Lead To Impotence?
Hypothyroidism that is left untreated sometimes has been linked to erectile dysfunction. Low testosterone levels are possible when a pituitary gland disorder is the root cause of your hypothyroidism. If the hormone imbalance was the actual cause of the erectile dysfunction, treating hypothyroidism may often assist.
Which Signs And Symptoms Indicate Hypothyroidism?
The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism often appear gradually over months or even years. They may consist of:
- Experiencing tiredness
- Having tingling and numbness in my hands
- Experiencing constipation
- Putting on weight
- Having discomfort throughout my body (which may include muscular weakening)
- Having blood cholesterol levels that are greater than usual
- Feeling down and out
- Being unable to stand in the cold
- Skin and hair that are dry and coarse
- Low libido
- Regular, heavy menstrual cycles
- Seeing actual changes in your appearance, such as sagging eyelids and facial and eyelid swelling
- Hoarser and lower in voice
- Experiencing increasing memory loss (“brain fog”)
Does Hypothyroidism Cause Weight Gain?
You may put on weight if your hypothyroidism is not managed. The weight should start to decrease after the issue is being treated. You must still limit your calorie intake and engage in physical activity to lose weight. Discuss weight reduction and how to create a diet right for you with your doctor.
TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS
How Is Thyroid Dysfunction Identified?
Hypothyroidism may be challenging to identify since its symptoms are similar to other diseases. If you have any hypothyroidism symptoms, see your healthcare professional. The thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test is the primary blood test to identify hypothyroidism. Your doctor may also request blood tests to rule out diseases like Hashimoto’s. During a physical examination during your consultation, your doctor may be able to feel the thyroid if it is enlarged.
CONTROL AND TREATMENT
How Is Hypothyroidism Handled Medically?
The most common method of treating hypothyroidism is replenishing the hormone your thyroid is no longer producing. Typically, a drug is used for this. Levothyroxine is one drug that is often used. By increasing the amount of thyroid hormone your body has when taken orally, this drug balances your levels.
The condition of hypothyroidism is treatable. To normalize your body’s hormone levels, however, you must take medicine regularly for the rest of your life. You may live an everyday, healthy life with careful management and follow-up meetings with your healthcare practitioner to ensure effective therapy.