Hypothyroidism or inactive thyroid gland. It means that the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones to meet the body’s needs. The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck below the larynx, and has two lobes, one on either side of the trachea. It is an endocrine gland made up of special cells that make hormones, hormones are chemical messengers that transmit information to the organs and tissues of the body. It controls multiple processes such as metabolism, growth and mood, and the production of thyroid hormones is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is produced by the pituitary gland.
The thyroid gland produces two thyroid hormones, T3 and T4, and these hormones regulate the body’s metabolism. The most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States is Hashimoto’s disease. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, joint and muscle pain.
The thyroid gland creates two thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones regulate metabolism and also affect the following functions:
- Brain development .
- Heart and nervous system functions .
- Body temperature .
- Muscle strength .
- Dry skin .
- Menstrual cycles .
- Weight.
- Cholesterol levels .
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Feeling unwell .
- Overweight .
- Slowing heart rate, movements, and speech .
- Joint and muscle pain, cramps and weakness.
- Constipation .
- Dry skin .
- Thin hair and weak nails.
- Decreased sweating .
- Puffy face, feet and hands .
- Insomnia .
- Loss of libido .
- Frequent urinary and respiratory tract infections.
- Anemia .
- Feeling depressed .
If the thyroid gland is left untreated, the following symptoms can appear:
- Hoarseness.
- Puffiness in the face .
- Slow heart rate .
- Hearing loss .
- Children with hypothyroidism may experience poor growth, delayed tooth development, poor mental development, delayed puberty.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism develop slowly, and the symptoms may go unnoticed for a long time. Symptoms vary greatly between individuals, so the only way to get a concrete diagnosis is a blood test.
What are the causes of hypothyroidism:
1. Hashimoto’s disease:
The most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States is Hashimoto’s disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or autoimmune thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease, a disorder in which the immune system attacks the body’s cells and organs. This condition causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland, leading to inflammation and interfering with its ability to produce thyroid hormones.
2. Adnexitis:
Adnexitis can occur due to a viral or bacterial infection, an autoimmune condition or after pregnancy, and thyroiditis leads to the leakage of thyroid hormones into the blood, which leads to raising its total levels and leads to hyperthyroidism, and after a month or two, this may develop into hypothyroidism.
3. Congenital hypothyroidism:
In cases of congenital hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland does not function properly from birth, and this can lead to the appearance of problems with physical and mental development, but early treatment can prevent these complications, most newborns in the United States are screened for hypothyroidism .
4. Thyroid surgery and treatment of the causes of hypothyroidism:
Hypothyroidism can occur after removing part of the thyroid gland During surgery, the treatment of several conditions such as hyperthyroidism, goiter, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer by partially or completely removing the thyroid gland leads to hypothyroidism. Radiation therapy for the thyroid gland can also lead to hypothyroidism, radioactive iodine is a common treatment for hyperthyroidism, it works by destroying thyroid cells and reducing T4 production, radiation is also used to treat people with head and neck cancers, Hodgkin’s disease, and other lymphomas, which can damage the thyroid gland.
5. Medications:
A number of medications can interfere with thyroid hormone production, and these include amiodarone inhibitors, alpha interferon, interleukin-2, lithium, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
6. Pituitary malformations:
If the pituitary gland stops working properly, the thyroid gland may not produce the correct amount of thyroid hormone, pituitary tumors or pituitary surgery can affect pituitary function, and this can negatively affect the thyroid gland.
7.Iodine imbalance:
Iodine is needed to produce thyroid hormones, but the level must be balanced, too much or too little iodine can lead to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
Apart from certain disorders and medications that cause hypothyroidism, other risk factors include:
- People are more likely to develop a thyroid disorder if they have conditions such as Turner syndrome, or autoimmune diseases such as lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis .
- The risk of hypothyroidism also increases in people with a family history of thyroid disease and over the age of 60.
- During and after pregnancy .
When is it recommended to take a blood test to diagnose hypothyroidism:
These people can be tested for early signs of the condition, and if the tests are positive, they can take measures to prevent the disease from progressing.
- People with a history of autoimmune disease.
- People who have been treated with previous radiation therapy to the head or neck.
- People with goiter.
- If there is a family history of thyroid problems.
- Or in the case of the patient using drugs known to affect the functions of the thyroid gland.
Diagnosis:
The most common blood test is the TSH test and it determines the levels of TSH in the blood, if the TSH reading is higher than normal, the patient may suffer from hypothyroidism, and if the TSH levels are below the normal range, the patient may suffer from hyperthyroidism, T3 and T4 tests can also be performed which are additional blood tests used to confirm the diagnosis, and in order to fully prove the health and activity of the thyroid gland. There may also be tests to check blood cholesterol levels, liver enzymes, prolactin, and sodium.
Thyroid and pregnancy:
Pregnancy can be the cause of hypothyroidism, as the increased demand for metabolism during pregnancy leads to an increase in the demand for the thyroid gland, and in the event of hypothyroidism during pregnancy, it is due to Hashimoto’s disease, a condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, and this condition affects between 3 and 5 out of every 1000 women during pregnancy.
Uncontrolled hypothyroidism increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, high blood pressure during pregnancy, or preeclampsia, and can also affect brain development and fetal growth rates.
Treatment of hypothyroidism:
1. Synthetic thyroid hormone:
Doctors usually prescribe synthetic thyroid hormone, which is a T4-identical drug, andthe dose is determined by the patient’s history, symptoms, and current TSH level, and doctors regularly monitor the patient’s blood tests to determine whether or not to adjust the synthetic T4 dose.
2. Iodine and nutrition:
Iodine is an important essential mineral for thyroid function, iodine deficiency is one of the most common causes of the development of hypothyroidism, and maintaining an adequate amount of iodine is important for most people, but people with autoimmune thyroid disease can be particularly sensitive to the effects of iodine, which means that it can lead to increased thyroid activity, so they should inform the doctor if they are sensitive to the effects of iodine, as they should People with hypothyroidism discuss any major dietary changes with their doctor, especially when starting a high-fiber diet, or eating too many soy or pine vegetables, as diet can affect the way the body absorbs thyroid medications.
Thyroid can usually be managed appropriately by following the advice of a qualified healthcare doctor, with appropriate treatment, until thyroid hormone levels return to normal.
Natural remedies for the treatment of hypothyroidism:
There are some natural remedies used to treat hypothyroidism, but it is important to talk to a doctor first, because the treatment of thyroid problems must be carefully balanced.
- Selenium: People with some types of thyroid problems may benefit from taking selenium, but it should only be used after discussing it with their doctor. Selenium supplements that are not recommended by a health professional can be dangerous.
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to the severity of Hashimoto’s disease, a condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, vitamin D supplements may be necessary to prevent hypothyroidism.
- Probiotics: Some people with hypothyroidism may have problems with bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine (SIBO) and taking probiotic supplements that contain live bacteria helps keep your stomach healthy.
In addition, for those with autoimmune and thyroid diseases, supplements such as turmeric (containing at least 500 mg of curcumin) and omega-3 may help improve inflammation.
Prevention:
There is no way to prevent hypothyroidism, but people who may have a higher risk of thyroid problems, for example, women during pregnancy, should check with their doctor about the need to add iodine to their diet.