Hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid disease, is a common disorder. With hypothyroidism, your thyroidgland does not make enough thyroid hormone.
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a condition caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland. It is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body inappropriately attacks the thyroid gland – as if it was foreign tissue. The underlying cause of the autoimmune process remains unknown. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis tends to occur in families. It can be associated with other autoimmune conditions such as type 1 diabetes or celiac disease. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is 5 to 10 times more common in women than in men and most often starts in adulthood.
Other causes of hypothyroidism include:
- Radiation therapy to the neck area. Treating certain cancers, such as lymphoma, requires radiation to the neck. Radiation damages the cells in the thyroid. This makes it more difficult for the gland to produce hormone.
- Radioactive iodine treatment. This treatment is commonly prescribed to people who have an overactive thyroid gland, a condition known as hyperthyroidism. However, radiation destroys the cells in the thyroid gland. This usually leads to hypothyroidism.
- Use of certain medications. Certain medicines to treat heart problems, psychiatric conditions, and cancer can sometimes affect the production of thyroid hormone. These include amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), lithium, interferon alpha, and interleukin-2.
- Thyroid surgery. Surgery to remove the thyroid will lead 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 doesn’t make iodine, so you need to get it through your diet.
- Pregnancy, problems with the thyroid at birth, pituitary gland damage or disorder and disorder of the hypothalamus are some other causes of hypothyroidism.
References:
https://www.webmd.com/women/hypothyroidism-underactive-thyroid-symptoms-causes-treatments
https://www.medicinenet.com/hashimotos_thyroiditis/article.htm
