What is hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism, also known as hypothyroidism, occurs when the thyroid gland cannot produce enough thyroid hormone to meet the body’s needs. Thyroid hormones control how the body uses energy, so they affect almost every organ in the body. Without enough thyroid hormones, many functions in your body will slow down (including your metabolism). Hypothyroidism is just the opposite of hyperthyroidism; However, in most cases it can be controlled with a simple drug treatment and is not a cause for concern.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
Symptoms of hypothyroidism depend on the severity of the disease. Problems with an underactive thyroid usually develop slowly, often over several years. At first, you may not notice the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue and weight gain, or you may think they are just part of the aging process. But as your metabolism continues to slow, you’ll gradually develop more obvious and serious symptoms.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism may include:
- Fatigue
- Greater sensitivity to cold
- Constipation
- Dry skin
- Weight gain
- Puffy face
- Harsh voice
- Rough hair and skin
- Muscle weakness
- Pain, sensitivity to touch and muscle stiffness
- Menstrual cycles that are heavier than usual or irregular
- Thinning hair
Slow heart rate (bradycardia)
- Depression
- Memory problems
Symptoms of hypothyroidism in infants
Anyone, including infants, can develop hypothyroidism. Most babies born without a thyroid gland or with an underactive thyroid gland have no symptoms right away. But if hypothyroidism is not diagnosed and treated, the following symptoms will gradually appear:
- Nutritional problems
- Improper growth
- Slow and insufficient weight gain
- Yellowing of the skin and whiteness of the eyes (jaundice)
- Constipation
- Poor muscle tone
- Dry skin
- Crying with a hoarse voice
- Enlargement of the tongue
- Swelling or soft bump near the navel (umbilical hernia)
- Even mild cases of untreated hypothyroidism in children can lead to severe physical and mental development problems.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism in children and adolescents
In general, children and adolescents with hypothyroidism have symptoms similar to those of adults. However, they may also have the following symptoms:
- Improper growth leading to short stature.
- Delay in the growth of permanent teeth
- Delayed puberty (late puberty)
- Poor mental development
What is the cause of hypothyroidism?
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder in which your body produces antibodies that attack and destroy the thyroid gland. Thyroiditis may also be caused by a viral infection.
Other causes of hypothyroidism include:
Radiation therapy in the neck area:
The treatment of some cancers such as lymphoma includes radiation therapy in the neck area. These rays can damage thyroid cells and make it difficult for the thyroid to produce enough hormones.
Treatment with radioactive iodine:
This treatment is usually prescribed for people who have an overactive thyroid gland (overactive thyroid). This treatment also damages the thyroid cells, destroys them and usually leads to hypothyroidism.
Use of certain drugs:
Certain medications prescribed to treat heart problems, mental illnesses, and cancer can sometimes affect thyroid hormone production. These drugs include amiodarone, interferon alpha, and interleukin-2
Thyroid surgery:
Surgery to remove the thyroid leads to hypothyroidism. If only part of the thyroid is removed, the remaining gland may still be able to produce enough hormone for the body’s needs.
Too little iodine in the diet:
The thyroid needs iodine to produce thyroid hormone. Your body does not make iodine, so you must get it through your diet. Iodized table salt is rich in iodine. Other dietary sources of iodine include shellfish, saltwater fish, eggs, and dairy products.
Pregnancy:
The reason for this is not exactly clear, but sometimes, thyroid inflammation occurs after pregnancy, which is called postpartum thyroiditis. Women with this condition usually have a sharp increase in thyroid hormone levels followed by a sharp decrease in thyroid hormone production. In most cases, thyroid function returns to normal after a few months.
Thyroid problems at birth:
Some babies may be born with a thyroid gland that doesn’t develop or work properly. This condition is called congenital hypothyroidism.
Pituitary gland damage or disorder:
In rare cases, a problem with the pituitary gland can interfere with thyroid hormone production. The pituitary gland makes a hormone called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) that tells your thyroid how much hormone to make and secrete.
Disorders of the hypothalamus:
A very rare type of hypothyroidism can occur if the hypothalamus in the brain does not produce enough of a hormone called TRH. TRH influences the release of TSH from the pituitary gland.
Which people are more at risk of hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a common disease and can happen to anyone of any age, gender, or race. However, the risk of hypothyroidism is higher in women, especially women over 60 years old. In the following conditions, the risk of hypothyroidism will increase:
- History of thyroid problems such as goiter
- History of surgery or use of radioactive iodine to treat thyroid problem
- History of thyroid, neck or chest radiation therapy
- Family history of thyroid disease
- Pregnancy in the last 6 months
- suffering from Turner syndrome; A chromosomal abnormality that affects females.
Also, the possibility of hypothyroidism increases if you have certain health problems, including:
- Celiac disease
- Sjogren’s syndrome; A disease that causes dry eyes and mouth.
- Pernicious anemia; A disease caused by vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis; An autoimmune disease that causes dry and painful joints.
- Lupus; A chronic inflammatory and autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks various systems such as the skin, heart, kidneys, etc.
How to diagnose hypothyroidism
Symptoms of hypothyroidism can vary from person to person and can sometimes look like symptoms of other health problems. For this reason, the diagnosis of hypothyroidism will not be possible only by examining the symptoms and is usually determined based on the results of blood tests.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism can vary from person to person and can sometimes look like symptoms of other health problems. For this reason, the diagnosis of hypothyroidism will not be possible only by examining the symptoms and is usually determined based on the results of blood tests.
If the thyroid gland is enlarged, the doctor may be able to feel it during a physical examination and suspect hypothyroidism. But a blood test is necessary for a definitive diagnosis of hypothyroidism. The first and most important blood test to diagnose hypothyroidism is to check the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood. In some cases, the levels of T3 and T4 hormones will also be checked.
If your thyroid test or physical exam results are abnormal, your doctor may order a thyroid ultrasound or thyroid scan to check for a nodule or inflammation.
hypothyroidism in response to the test
If the TSH level is high, the TSH level will be rechecked along with the T4 thyroid hormone level. If the results show that TSH is high and T4 is low, the diagnosis of hypothyroidism is confirmed. In some cases, thyroid hormone T3 may also be measured.
If the second test shows high TSH but T4 and T3 are within the normal range, a condition called “subclinical hypothyroidism” is diagnosed, which usually does not cause significant symptoms. Thyroid blood test results can be affected by certain medications or supplements. Therefore, before having a blood test, talk to your doctor about any medications or supplements you are taking.
Treatment of hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is treated by replacing the hormones that the thyroid can no longer make. Your doctor will prescribe you a pill called levothyroxine, which contains synthetic thyroid hormone. You should take this pill every morning on an empty stomach and not eat anything for at least half an hour after taking the pill.
About 6 to 8 weeks after starting to take this medicine, the doctor will prescribe a blood test for you and adjust the dose of levothyroxine by checking the thyroid hormone levels. You should have a new blood test every 6 months so that your medication dose can be readjusted if necessary.
Hypothyroidism will be controlled in almost all cases by taking thyroid hormone drugs; Of course, as long as you take the recommended dose as directed. Never stop taking medication without consulting your doctor. Taking too much thyroid hormone medication can lead to serious problems such as atrial fibrillation or osteoporosis.
Complications of underactive thyroid
Underactive thyroid can be easily controlled and does not cause any danger if it is diagnosed in time and receives proper treatment. However, untreated hypothyroidism may cause complications, the most important of which include the following:
Balance problems:
Excessively low thyroid hormone levels cause balance problems; Especially in old women.
Goiter:
If your thyroid is constantly trying to produce more hormones, the gland may become swollen and cause problems with the appearance of the neck and swallowing.
Heart problems:
Uncontrolled hypothyroidism can increase the level of LDL or bad cholesterol in the blood and increase the risk of heart disease.
Hypothyroidism and infertility:
Very low levels of thyroid hormone interfere with ovulation in women and can make the process of getting pregnant difficult and long.
Joint pain:
Low thyroid hormone levels can cause pain and stiffness in the joints and muscles, as well as tendonitis.
Mental problems:
Low levels of thyroid hormones may cause poor memory or concentration, as well as reduced interest in activities you used to enjoy. See your doctor if you notice these changes, as these symptoms can also occur due to non-thyroid-related depression.
Hypothyroidism and obesity:
Although hypothyroidism can reduce your appetite, you may still gain weight because your metabolism slows down and you don’t burn enough calories.
Peripheral neuropathy:
Over time, a decrease in thyroid hormone can damage your peripheral nerves. You may notice pain, tingling, or numbness in your hands and feet.
Pregnancy complications of hypothyroidism:
Hypothyroidism in pregnancy can affect the developing fetus. In the first three months of pregnancy, the fetus receives all the thyroid hormone it needs from the mother. If the mother has hypothyroidism, the fetus will not receive enough thyroid hormone, which can cause problems in its mental development. Hypothyroidism in pregnancy may also lead to miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight.
Myxedema:
Very low levels of thyroid hormone can cause a dangerous health condition called myxedema. Myxedema is the most severe form of hypothyroidism. A person with myxedema may lose consciousness or go into a coma. This complication can also cause a decrease in body temperature, which may even lead to death.
Prevention of hypothyroidism
Since there are various causes of hypothyroidism, some of which cannot be controlled (such as genetics), this disease cannot be completely prevented. However, it is possible that following a healthy lifestyle (diet rich in iodine and selenium, controlling stress, avoiding exposure to radiation) can reduce the risk of developing hypothyroidism.
The best way to prevent severe hypothyroidism and its health complications is regular health checkups and paying attention to the symptoms of hypothyroidism. If you experience any of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, the best thing to do is to see your doctor and get the necessary tests done. Hypothyroidism is very controllable if diagnosed on time and receiving proper treatment.
FAQ
Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland cannot produce enough thyroid hormone needed by the body. This situation can be caused by various reasons. For example, it can be genetic, caused by an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, caused by the use of certain drugs, caused by radiation therapy, etc.
Because the symptoms of hypothyroidism may not be obvious at first or may seem like other health problems, you cannot rely on symptoms alone to diagnose hypothyroidism. The surest way to find out if you have hypothyroidism is to have thyroid function tests (i.e. TSH, T3, and T4 tests). In some cases, ultrasound and clinical examination of the neck are also performed along with the blood test.
In some mild cases, you may not have symptoms of hypothyroidism, or these symptoms may resolve over time. In other cases, symptoms of hypothyroidism will go away shortly after starting treatment. However, for people who have received a definitive diagnosis of hypothyroidism, the condition does not improve on its own and requires medical treatment.
Hypothyroidism is a manageable disease. This means that by taking the right dose of medicine, you can avoid the unpleasant symptoms and complications of this disease. However, underactive thyroid is often a lifelong disease that requires drug treatment until the end of life.
Eating foods rich in iodine can help treat hypothyroidism. The most common dietary sources of iodine are eggs, iodized salt, dairy products, edible seaweed, meat, poultry, and seafood.
Hypothyroidism slows down the metabolism; This means you burn fewer calories. Therefore, if hypothyroidism is not treated, you will become overweight in the long run. After treating this disease and controlling the level of thyroid hormone, you will usually experience weight loss. However, to maintain this weight loss, you still need to watch your calorie intake and physical activity level.
About 2 out of every 100 people have hypothyroidism. However, milder cases of hypothyroidism are more common.
A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland that can occur for a variety of reasons. In fact, goiter may be hyperactive, hypoactive, caused by nodules or due to thyroid cancer. Hypothyroidism is just one cause of goiter because the thyroid gland becomes larger than normal in an effort to produce enough thyroid hormone.
To diagnose and treat hypothyroidism, you should see an internal medicine specialist or an endocrinologist.
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