The treatment for hypothyroidism
The treatment goals for hypothyroidism are to reverse clinical progression and correct metabolic derangements, as evidenced by normal blood levels of TSH and T4. The treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone replacement therapy. This is usually given as an oral form of T4 (levothyroxine). In most cases, symptoms of hypothyroidism begin to improve within two weeks of starting thyroid replacement therapy. However, people with more severe symptoms may require several months of treatment before they fully recover. There are a number of reasons people may not treat hypothyroidism, however. They may stop taking medication. Because thyroid affects so many areas of your body, untreated hypothyroidism can cause widespread harm.
Common symptoms of hypothyroidism
- Tiredness
- Being sensitive to cold
- Weight gain
- Constipation
- Depression
- Brittle hair and nails
- loss of libido (sex drive)
- Irregular periods or heavy periods
- Pain, numbness and a tingling sensation in the hand and fingers
Complications of untreated underactive thyroid
- Birth defects: If you are pregnant and have an untreated thyroid disorder, your child may have a higher risk of having birth defects than babies born to healthy mothers.
- Goiter: When your thyroid over exerts itself in an effort to produce an adequate amount of hormones, the excessive stimulation may cause the thyroid gland to enlarge to the point where you have a bulge in your neck. This is known as a goiter.
- Heart problems: Hypothyroidism (even in its mildest forms) can affect the health of your heart. An underactive thyroid can increase your risk of developing heart disease because it increases levels of “bad” cholesterol. Too much bad cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis, which can increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes.
- Kidney disease: In a study published in February 2018, the researchers found that people with hypothyroidism had a 2.41 higher risk of chronic kidney disease than people with normal thyroid function.
- Infertility: If thyroid hormone levels are too low, it can affect ovulation and decrease a woman’s chances of conceiving.
- Nervous System Problems: Nervous system problems related to hypothyroidism can also lead to depression.
- Myxedema: is the medical term for extreme hypothyroidism—when the disorder has progressed for a long time with no treatment. Myxedema is very rare because it’s highly unlikely that you wouldn’t recognize the symptoms and seek treatment. This form of hypothyroidism is life threatening. Myxedema can eventually slow metabolism to the point where you would fall into a coma.
Later symptoms of an underactive thyroid
- A puffy-looking face
- Thinned or partly missing eyebrows
- A slow heart rate
- Hearing loss
- Anemia
Reference:
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hypothyroidism-underactive-thyroid-beyond-the-basics
https://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0215/p776.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/hypothyroidism/complications
https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Why-You-Shouldnt-Leave-Your-Hypothyroidism-Untreated-8552124
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/underactive-thyroid-hypothyroidism/complications/
https://www.medicaldaily.com/6-risks-leaving-hypothyroidism-untreated-424259
https://www.webmd.com/women/features/low-thyroid-complications#1
https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/hypothyroidism/what-happens-if-hypothyroidism-is-left-untreated/
https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/hypothyroidism/complications-hypothyroidism
https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/the-lowdown-on-thyroid-slowdown
