Hypothyroidism-How It Can Affect The Life Of A Person?

When there is a lack of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream of a body, its metabolism slows down. The process that takes place is known as hypothyroidism. It is also identified as underactive thyroid disease. Hypothyroidism is a relatively ordinary disease which affects people of all races and ages. Though, older women are more likely to develop this condition as compared to men. It is diagnosed with the help of some clinical features like hoarse slow speech, low levels of thyroid hormones, facial appearance, and dry skin. Basically, there are two types of hormones, namely primary and secondary hypothyroidism. Primary hypothyroidism can be caused by disease in the thyroid, whereas secondary hypothyroidism can be a cause of pituitary and hypothalamus. 

It is because of the disease in the thyroid, like when the thyroid stimulating hormone or TSH is increased. One more ordinary visible cause is autoimmune that usually results from Hashimoto thyroiditis and is often linked with a firm goiter, or later in the disease process, with an emaciated fibrotic thyroid with tiny or no function. Another common cause is post-therapeutic hypothyroidism, particularly after having surgery for goiter or hyperthyroidism or radioactive iodine therapy.  Hypothyroidism at the time of overtreatment with methimazole, iodide abates and propylthiouracil after therapy is stopped.

Deficiency of iodine can be a cause of congenital hypothyroidism. In severely iodine-deficient regions worldwide, it is a major cause of intellectual disability. Those who take lithium, hypothyroidism may occur. It is because lithium slows down hormone release by the thyroid. 

It happens when hypothalamus become unable to produce sufficient thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). It can also occur when the pituitary produces insufficient TSH. Sometimes scarce TSH secretion due to poor TRH secretion is known as tertiary hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism Symptoms

Symptoms of hypothyroidism generally originate with a slow effect over a number of years and contain fatigue, numbness, constipation, tingling in hands, weight gain, forgetfulness, decreased sexual interest, intolerance to cold, frequent or heavy menstrual periods, trouble sleeping, high cholesterol levels, muscle weakness,  dry or coarse skin and hair.

It happens sometimes that children and infants may have conditions like infants who were born without a thyroid gland or the one whose thyroid gland doesn’t function properly. Symptoms in infants might contain jaundice, constipation, puffy face and frequent choking.

Talking about teens and children, symptoms may include poor growth or short stature, slow reaction time, weight gain, muscle cramps, increased menstrual flow for girls, delayed puberty and mental development, etc.

Treatment of hypothyroidism is not so typical for most people. One of the simplest ways to treat this condition is to take a thyroid hormone pill once in a day, and preferably in the morning. Such pills are an artificial form of T4 that is produced in the lab to be an exact replacement of the T4 which the thyroid gland of a human being usually secretes. The dosage must be adjusted monthly and re-evaluated until the proper level is found. If the problem is looking big, there is a need to consult with the doctor about the symptoms, feeling, and the medication which you are taking.  The objective is to provide a better feeling, make the body last longer, and slowing down the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease in addition to make normal blood level.

Taking a high dose can provide symptoms like palpitations, nervousness, along with insomnia typical of hyperthyroidism. It is particularly important for patients suffering from heart conditions or diseases to have an optimal thyroid dose. A slight excess can even increase the risk of a patient for heart attack or worsen angina. Studies have stated one more thing that too much thyroid hormone is able to cause increased calcium loss from bone amplifying the patient’s risk for osteoporosis. 

At such times, increasing the amount of protein in the body is helpful in treating hypothyroidism as it conveys transport hormone to all the tissues and enjoying it at each meal function is helpful in normalizing the function of the thyroid. Even saying no to things like sugar or caffeine is helpful at the time of treating hypothyroidism. If a person is not getting sufficient fat and cholesterol, they could be worsening hormonal imbalance that contains thyroid hormones. Natural and healthful things like olive oil, ghee and avocados, flax seeds like nuts, nut butter, and fish, things like cheese, yogurt and coconut milk products are also essential for both body and to treat the conditions of hypothyroidism.

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