What is hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a condition where you do not have enough thyroid hormone in your bloodstream and your metabolism slows down. Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid doesn’t make and release enough thyroid hormone into your body. This slows down your metabolism, which affects your entire body. Also known as underactive thyroid disease, hypothyroidism is quite common.
Hypothyroidism may not cause noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Over time, hypothyroidism that is not treated can lead to other health problems, such as high cholesterol and heart problems.
How does thyroid work?
The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped organ located in the front of your neck, just below the larynx, or voice box. Picture the middle of the butterfly’s body centered on its neck, with the wings moving around its trachea. The main function of thyroid is to control your metabolism. Metabolism is the process your body uses to convert food into energy that your body uses to function. The thyroid makes the hormones T4 and T3 to regulate your metabolism. These hormones work throughout the body to tell the body’s cells how much energy to use. They control your body temperature and heart rate.
When your thyroid functions correctly, it is constantly making hormones, releasing them and then making new hormones to replace the ones that have been used. It keeps your metabolism functioning and all the systems of your body in check. The amount of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream is controlled by the pituitary gland, which is located in the center of the skull beneath the brain. When the pituitary gland senses either a lack of or too much thyroid hormone, it adjusts its hormone (thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH) and sends it to the thyroid to balance the amount.
If the amount of thyroid hormone is too high (hyperthyroidism) or too low (hypothyroidism), the entire body is affected.
Who is affected by hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism can affect people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities. This is a common condition, especially in women over 60 years of age. Women are generally more likely to develop hypothyroidism after menopause than earlier in life.
What is the difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism? What is the difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism?
In hypothyroidism, the thyroid does not make enough thyroid hormone.
The difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism is the degree. In hypothyroidism, the thyroid makes too little thyroid hormone. On the other hand, someone with hyperthyroidism has a thyroid that makes too much thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism involves high levels of thyroid hormone, which speeds up your metabolism. If you have hypothyroidism, your metabolism slows down.
There are many things in contrast between these two situations. If you have hypothyroidism, you may find it difficult to deal with the cold. If you have hyperthyroidism, you won’t be able to handle the heat. They are opposite ends of thyroid function. Ideally, you should be in the middle. Treatments for both of these conditions work to bring your thyroid function as close to that middle ground as possible.
What are the causes of hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism can have a primary cause or a secondary cause. A primary cause is a condition that directly affects the thyroid and causes low levels of thyroid hormone to form. A secondary cause is something that causes the pituitary gland to fail, meaning it can’t send thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to the thyroid to balance thyroid hormones.
The primary causes of hypothyroidism are very common. The most common of these primary causes is an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto’s disease. Also called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, this condition is hereditary (passed down through a family). In Hashimoto’s disease, the body’s immune system attacks and damages the thyroid. This prevents the thyroid from making and releasing enough thyroid hormone.
Other primary causes of hypothyroidism may include:-
In some cases, thyroiditis may occur during pregnancy (postpartum thyroiditis) or after a viral illness.
What causes hypothyroidism during pregnancy?
In most cases, women suffering from hypothyroidism during pregnancy develop Hashimoto’s disease. This autoimmune disease causes the body’s immune system to attack and damage the thyroid. When this happens, the thyroid cannot produce and release high levels of thyroid hormone, affecting the entire body. Pregnant people with hypothyroidism may feel very tired, have difficulty handling cold temperatures and experience muscle cramps.
Thyroid hormones are important for fetal development. These hormones help in developing the brain and nervous system. If you have hypothyroidism, it is important to manage your thyroid levels during pregnancy. If the fetus does not get enough thyroid hormone during development, the brain may not develop properly and problems may occur later. Untreated or inadequately treated hypothyroidism during pregnancy can lead to complications such as abortion or premature delivery.
Does birth control affect my thyroid?
When you’re taking birth control pills, the estrogen and progesterone in the pills can affect your thyroid-binding protein. This increases your level. If you have hypothyroidism, the dosage of your medications will need to be increased when using birth control pills. Once you stop using birth control pills, the dosage will need to be reduced.
Can hypothyroidism cause erectile dysfunction?
In some cases, there may be a link between untreated hypothyroidism and erectile dysfunction. When your hypothyroidism is caused by a problem with the pituitary gland, you may also have low testosterone levels. Treating hypothyroidism can often help with erectile dysfunction if it is caused directly by hormone imbalance.
What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism? What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Symptoms of hypothyroidism usually develop slowly over time—sometimes years. They may include:
Will hypothyroidism make me gain weight?
If your hypothyroidism is not treated, you may gain weight. Once you’re treating the condition, weight loss should begin. However, to lose weight you will still need to watch your calories and exercise. Talk to your healthcare provider about ways to lose weight and develop a diet that works for you.
How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?
Hypothyroidism can be really difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can be easily confused with other conditions. If you have any symptoms of hypothyroidism, talk to your healthcare provider. The main way to diagnose hypothyroidism is with a blood test called a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test. Your healthcare provider may also order blood tests for conditions such as Hashimoto’s disease. If the thyroid is enlarged, your provider may be able to feel it during a physical exam during your appointment.
How is hypothyroidism treated?
In most cases, hypothyroidism is treated by replacing the amount of hormone your thyroid is no longer making. This is usually done with a medicine. One commonly used medication is called levothyroxine. Taken orally, this medication increases the amount of thyroid hormone produced by your body, evening out your levels.
Hypothyroidism is a manageable disease. However, you will need to take medication consistently to normalize the amount of hormones in your body throughout your life. With careful management, and follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider to make sure your treatment is working properly, you can live a normal and healthy life.
What happens if hypothyroidism is not treated?
Hypothyroidism can become a serious and life-threatening medical condition if you don’t get treatment from a healthcare provider. If you are not treated, your symptoms may become more severe and may include:
Will I receive the same dose of medicine for hypothyroidism for the rest of my life?
Your medication dosage may actually change over time. At different points in your life, you may need to change the amount of medication you are taking to manage your symptoms. This can happen due to things like weight gain or weight loss. Your levels will need to be monitored throughout your life to make sure your medicine is working properly.
Can hypothyroidism be prevented?
Hypothyroidism cannot be prevented. The best way to prevent a severe form of the condition from developing or having symptoms seriously impact your life is to watch for the signs of hypothyroidism. If you experience any symptoms of hypothyroidism, the best thing to do is talk to your healthcare provider. Hypothyroidism is very manageable if you catch it early and start treatment.