Hypothyroidism health

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called hypothyroidism.

Causes

The thyroid gland is an important organ of the endocrine system. It is located at the front of the neck, just above where your collar bones meet. The thyroid makes hormones that control how every cell in the body uses energy. This process is called metabolism.

Hypothyroidism is more common in women and people over 50 years.

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is thyroiditis. Swelling and inflammation damage the cells of the thyroid gland.

The causes of this problem include:

The immune system attacks the thyroid gland

Viral infections (colds) or other respiratory infections

Pregnancy (often called postpartum thyroiditis)

Other causes of hypothyroidism include:

Some drugs, such as lithium and amiodarone

Congenital (birth defects)

Radiation therapy to the neck or brain to treat various cancers

Radioactive iodine used to treat an overactive thyroid

Surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid gland

Sheehan's syndrome, a condition that can occur in a woman who is bleeding heavily during pregnancy or childbirth and causes destruction of the pituitary gland

Pituitary tumor or pituitary surgery

Symptoms

Early symptoms:

Hard stools or constipation

Increased sensitivity to cold

Fatigue or feeling slowed down

More abundant and irregular periods

Joint or muscle pain

Pale or dry skin

Sadness and depression

Thin, brittle hair and nails

Weakness

Weight gain

Later symptoms, if untreated:

Taste and smell decreased

Hoarseness

Puffy face, hands and feet

Slow speech

Thickening of the skin

Thinning eyebrows

Exams and Tests

The health care provider will do a physical exam and find that your thyroid gland is enlarged. Sometimes the gland is of normal height or less than normal. The examination may also reveal:

Brittle nails

Coarse facial features

Pale or dry skin, which can be cold to the touch

Reflexes are abnormal

Swelling of the arms and legs

Fine hair and brittle

Blood tests are also ordered to measure your thyroid hormones TSH and T4.

You may also have tests to check:

Cholesterol

Complete blood count (CBC)

Liver enzymes

Prolactin

Sodium

Treatment

The treatment is to replace the thyroid hormone you are lacking.

Levothyroxine is the most commonly used drug:

You will be prescribed the lowest dose that relieves symptoms and brings your hormone levels in the blood to normal.

If you have heart disease or if you are elderly, your doctor may start you on a very small dose.

Most people with hypothyroidism should take this medicine for life.

When you start your medication, your doctor may check your hormone levels every 2 to 3 months. After that, your thyroid hormone levels should be checked at least once every year.

When taking thyroid medication, be aware of the following:

Do not stop taking the medication even if you feel better. Continue to take exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

If you change brands of medicines for thyroid, tell your doctor. May need to check your levels.

What you eat can change how your body absorbs thyroid medication. Talk to your doctor if you eat a lot of soy products or are on a high fiber diet.

thyroid medicine works best on an empty stomach and when taken 1 hour before any other medications. Ask your doctor if you should take your medicine at bedtime. Studies have shown that taking at bedtime may allow your body to absorb the medicine better than taking in the day.

Wait at least 4 hours after taking the thyroid hormone before taking fiber supplements, calcium, iron, multivitamins, aluminum hydroxide antacids, colestipol, or medicines that bind bile acids.

While taking thyroid replacement therapy, tell your doctor if you have symptoms that suggest your dose is too high, such as:

Palpitations

Rapid weight loss

Restlessness or tremor

Sweating

Outlook (prognosis)

In most cases, the levels of thyroid hormones become normal with proper treatment. You will probably have to take medicine thyroid hormone for the rest of your life.

Possible Complications

Myxedema coma, the most severe form of hypothyroidism, is rare. It occurs when the thyroid hormone levels become very low. It can be caused by an infection, illness, exposure to drugs against the common cold, or some in people with untreated hypothyroidism.

Myxedema coma is a medical emergency that must be treated in hospital. Some patients may need oxygen, respiratory support (ventilator), fluid replacement, and intensive nursing care.

The symptoms and signs of myxedema coma include:

Subnormal temperature

Breathing down

Low voltage

Low blood sugar

Insensitivity

Inappropriate or unusual moods

People with untreated hypothyroidism are at increased risk of:

Infection

Infertility, miscarriage, giving birth to a baby with birth defects

disease because of high levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol heart

Heart failure

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Thyroid

Hypothyroidism is a condition of the thyroid gland in the fifth does not make enough thyroid hormone. Often called this condition thyroid viewing.

Reasons

Thyroid specialty is a endocrine system devices. On the site the site is the front of the neck, just above where you meet your collarbone. Thyroid hormones makes that control the way every cell in the body uses energy. This process is called metabolism finished Asalahih.algdh thyroid is more common in women and people over the age of 50.

Review: The most common causes of hypothyroidism is thyroid. Swelling and inflammation of the cells and damage the thyroid gland.

This problem causes the following:

The immune system to attack the thyroid gland viral infections (colds) or respiratory infections --other

Pregnancy (called often ended with the thyroid gland after birth ... other causes of hypothyroidism include:

Some drugs, such as lithium and amiodarone ... congenital (birth) defects ... radiation therapy to the neck or brain to treat various cancers ... radioactive iodine used to treat an overactive thyroid gland year .... surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid gland. ..mtlazma Sheehan, provided that may occur in a woman bleed Who heavily during pregnancy or childbirth, and causes the pituitary gland to destroy ... the pituitary gland or pituitary gland tumor surgery

Symptoms .... Early symptoms:

Hard stools or constipation .... increased sensitivity to cold temperatures .... fatigue or feeling slowed down ... a period of menstrual periods heavier and irregular ..... muscle or joint bread ..... pale or dry skin. ... sadness or depression ... thin, brittle hair or nails .... twice .... overweight ....... late to the symptoms, and if not treated: .... taste dropped Raúhh..bhh in sound ... puffy face, hands, and feet ... speech is slow thickening of the skin .... .... .... thinning eyebrows exams and tests

Health care physical exam provider Are you found that the thyroid gland is enlarged. Sometimes, the gland is normal or smaller than usual size. Aussi exam may reveal:

Brittle nails ... coarse facial features ... light skin or dry, and a fifth may be cool to the touch .... that reactions ..... abnormal swelling in the arms thin and fragile and Alsaqan..har

Blood tests are ordered aussi to measure thyroid hormone your thyroid TSH and T4.

You can also have the tests to verify:

Cholesterol levels in the blood

Complete blood count (CBC)

Liver enzymes

Prolactin

Sodium

Treatment

Therapy is a hobby in thyroid hormone replacement you are suffering from a shortage.

Levothyroxine is the most common medication:

It will be the lowest possible dose prescribed and this relieves the symptoms and hormone levels in the blood returns to normal.

If you have heart disease or you are older, you start May doctor was a very small dose.

Most people with thyroid will need to register to take this medicine for life.

When I started the medication, check with your doctor your hormone levels every 2 to 3 months may. After that, the levels of thyroid hormone your thyroid should be monitored once at least every year.

When you take thyroid medication, and be aware of the following:

Do not stop taking the medication even when you feel better. Continue to fully take as prescribed by your doctor.

If you change brands of thyroid medicine, let your doctor know. You may need to register your levels will be checked.

What you eat can change the way your body absorbs the thyroid medicine. Talk with your doctor if you are a lot of soy products or a high fiber diet intake.

Thyroid gland medicine works better on empty stomach one hour and when taken before any other drugs. Ask your doctor if you take shoulds medication at bedtime. Studies-grab it at bedtime has been found and this may allow your body to absorb the drug better than taking it in the daytime.

Wait at least 4 hours after taking thyroid hormone before you take fiber, calcium, iron and vitamin supplements, antacids aluminum hydroxide, colestipol, or drugs that bind bile acids.

While you are taking thyroid replacement therapy, tell your doctor if you have any of the symptoms indicate a very high dose, such as:

Throbbing ... rapid weight loss or insomnia ...... ...... vibration sweating ..... expectations (diagnosis) ... In most cases, the levels of thyroid hormone naturally with proper treatment becomes. Thyroid hormone will likely take medication for the rest of your life.

Potential complications

Myxedema coma, and most forms of hypothyroidism, is not uncommon. When thyroid hormone and it happens to get very low levels. It can be caused by infection, disease and exposure to cold, or certain medications in people with hypothyroidism untreated.

Myxedema coma is an emergency medical condition that must be treated in the hospital. Some patients may need oxygen, respiratory support (ventilator), and fluid replacement, and intensive care nursing.

Symptoms and signs of myxedema coma include:

Under normal temperature .... breathing down ... low blood pressure .... low glycemic response ....

Mood inappropriate or unusual

People who suffer from hypothyroidism untreated are at increased risk of:

Infection

Infertility, miscarriage, birth defects child birth

Heart disease due to high levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol

Heart failure

When contact one of the medical professionals

Call your health care provider if your symptoms of hypothyroidism be first.

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