HYPOTHYROIDISM[Type the document subtitle]

10/6/2016MOHAMMAD YASER HUSSAIN

The lack of a sufficient amount of thyroid hormone in the body leads to a condition known

as Hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormone is one of the major hormones which regulate the

metabolism of the body. People having problems related to Thyroid gland often tend to

suffer from a slow metabolism. Around 10 million people all over the world suffer from this

condition.

The thyroid gland is responsible for controlling the usage of the energy of the cells from the

food. This process is known as metabolism. Metabolism plays a major role in the

maintenance of the body temperature, regulating the heartbeat as well as burning of the

calories. If a person is suffering from Hypothyroidism, this means that their rate of

metabolism has been drastically slowed down, which makes the person sluggish and less

energetic.

Women, above the age of 60 are at a higher risk of contracting this condition.

Hypothyroidism tends to upset the chemical reactions in the body and if left untreated, can

lead to some of the major problems such as infertility, obesity and heart disease. With the

timely detection, treatment as well as prevention, the condition can be easily controlled

Causes of Hypothyroidism:The Thyroid gland is one of the major constituents of the endocrine system. Thyroxin, the

hormone released by the thyroid gland is used extensively to manage the metabolism of the

body systems. People above the age of 50 are at a greater risk of contracting this problem

as compared to their counterparts.

Swelling or inflammation in the thyroid gland often causes Hypothyroidism. Some of the

major causes of Hypothyroidism are as follows:

1.The attack of the immune systems on the thyroid gland

2.Viral infections, caused due to common cold

3.Postpartum Thyroiditis

4.Certain medications such as lithium or amiodarone

5.Birth or congenital defects

6.Surgical removal of the thyroid gland

7.Sheehan Syndrome – This condition tends to occur in a woman who has been

bleeding excessively during the course of the pregnancy.

8.Pituitary surgery or tumour.

Often, the exposure to radiation during the course of treatment of cancers such as

Lymphoma could be other reasons of Hypothyroidism. This radiation effects and damages

the cells around the thyroid gland which makes it difficult for the glands to secrete thyroxin.

Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism:The following are the major signs and symptoms of Hypothyroidism:

      Constipation

      Increased fatigue

      Heavy and irregular menstrual periods

      Joint as well as muscle pains

      Paleness or dryness of the skin

      Depression

      Loss of body weight

      Weakness

      Impairment of the memory

      Thinning and brittleness of the hair

      Slowing down of the heart rate

      Depression

If the disease is left untreated, its signs and symptoms tend to get much worse.

Advancement of the disease is often termed as Myxedema, which can be life threatening.

The signs and symptoms of Myxedema can range from decreased breathing; lowering

down of the blood pressure, decrease in the body temperature or coma in some of the rarer

cases.

Hypothyroidism in Infants:

Often, babies who are born without a thyroid gland or an inactive thyroid gland suffer from

this problem. The signs and symptoms of Hypothyroidism are as follows:

         Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes

         Frequent choking

         Large and protruding tongue

         Puffiness of the face

         Constipation

         Development of a poor muscle tone

         Excessive sleepiness

Physical and mental retardation are some of the major outcomes of the disease, if left

untreated.

In teenagers and children, the signs and symptoms of the condition are as follows:

         Poor growth of the body, which leads to a short stature

         Delay in the growth of permanent teeth

         Delay in the onset of puberty

         Poor mental development

Tests and Diagnosis of HypothyroidismOlder women and men are at a higher risk of contracting the disease. This is one of the

major reasons why the doctors screen older men and women for the prevalence of this

disease. The doctors can test the person for an underactive thyroid gland if a person has

been feeling tired, constipated or has been incurred diseases like Goitre in the past.

Blood Tests: Blood Tests are one of the surest ways to determine the condition. Blood

tests are done in order to measure the amount of TSH and thyroxin in the bloodstream. A

low level of TSH is indicative of a poor and underactive thyroid gland.

With the help of the sensitive TSH test, doctors are able to diagnose the disorders

beforehand and can follow it up with a thyroid test in case it is needed. TSH tests are best

known in order to determine the dosage of the medication which needs to be prescribed

over to the patient. TSH has also emerged as one of the best ways in order to diagnose

subclinical hypothyroidism. In this condition, though a person would be having regular

amounts of thyroxin, the levels of TSH will be higher than normal. 

Treatment and Medications for Hypothyroidism:Usually, one of the most standard treatment options for Hypothyroidism includes the

injection of artificial thyroid hormone such as Levothyroxine. This oral medication is often

given in the oral form and thus it helps to check and reverse the signs of the disease.

Once the treatment begins, the fatigue tends to lessen with the passage of time. The

treatment with Levothyroxine is usually lifelong, though the dosage tends to change over

the years.

The levels of TSH are determined with the help of the blood tests before the medications

are prescribed. However, with an excessive amount of medication, some of the side effects

such as increased appetite, insomnia, increased palpitations of the heart as well as

shakiness tend to appear. If a person is suffering from Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), then

a lesser dosage of the medication is prescribed.

A few medications, supplements and foods tend to affect the ability of the body to absorb

Levothyroxine. Iron supplements, cholestyramine, aluminium hydroxide and calcium

supplements are often prescribed in addition to the medications for the treatment of the

condition.

For the treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism, treatment options need to be discussed

with the doctor beforehand. With the increase in the amount of TSH, thyroid hormone

therapy can be applied for the benefit of the patient. The higher levels of TSH also improve

the cholesterol levels, the pumping ability of the heart as well as the overall energy level.