Struggling to lose weight? Feel tired a lot? Are these major problems in your life despite the fact that your diet is in check and you’re catching plenty of z’s? You could have an underlying condition making you feel so tired or gain weight. The potential culprit: an underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism.
In community surveys between 0.1-2 percent of the U.S. population have this condition. Some data suggest up to 12% of people will develop a thyroid condition in their life time. An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of a thyroid disease. If you’re a woman, it’s even more common for you to have a thyroid problem- five to eight times more likely in fact!
Below, I will discuss some basics about hypothyroidism. Not everyone experiences the same signs and symptoms from this thyroid disease. It’s best to talk to your doctor about your concerns to properly diagnose what is going on with your body.
When a person has hypothyroidism, his or her body doesn’t produce enough of the hormone thyroxine. This chemical produced by the thyroid gland regulates cellular metabolism. Iodine deficiency is the main cause of thyroid disease worldwide. Prior to the 1940’s and 50’s this was true in the US but providing iodinated salt, virtually eliminated this cause. Presently, in the US, one common cause of this disease is inflammation of the thyroid gland. Chronic attack of the thyroid cells by our immune system can leave a large number of cells in the thyroid damaged or dead and incapable of producing sufficient active hormone.
Primary hypothyroidism is when there is an insufficient amount of thyroxine by the thyroid gland. Most cases of hypothyroidism are primary, and in the US, a major cause of this is an autoimmune thyroid disease also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Secondary hypothyroidism is the result of a pituitary disorder and tertiary hypothyroidism is when there is problem with the hypothalamus. The pituitary and the hypothalamus are endocrine glands that live in the brain and are responsible for regulating multiple other hormone glands in the body.
Other causes of hypothyroidism include: iodine deficiency (as stated earlier), as a consequence of treatment for hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), thyroid surgery, radiation therapy, and medications like lithium.
Hypothyroidism presents itself in a variety of different ways in people; it can range from little to no symptoms at all to severe cases that lead to comas and organ failure. Symptoms usually develop slowly over many years. If hypothyroidism goes untreated, symptoms can worsen and lead to physical changes including a puffy face, thinning eyebrows, hoarseness, thickened skin, and trouble with tasting and smelling and slow reflexes.
Common hypothyroid systems include:
Fatigue and weakness
Weight gain or the inability or a difficulty of losing weight.
Dry hair and skin
Hair loss
Changes in menstrual cycle
Infertility
Memory problems
Depression
Constipation
High cholesterol
Due to the slow onset and wide range of symptoms of low thyroid function, testing the blood for the thyroid function and the stimulation hormone for thyroid is how doctors screen for this condition. Additional lab testing can be pursued to differentiate the various causes. Metabolism (the main function of the thyroid hormone) can be objectively measured by quantifying the amount of expired carbon dioxide a person produces over time. I offer this serve in my practice using a machine called the Metabolic ReeVue. Treatment requires taking oral thyroid hormone replacement. The usual treatment includes daily use of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine. Sometimes other forms of thyroid replacement are used.
For most people with this condition, treatment successfully relieves systems. Oral medication restores hormone levels to reverse symptoms of hypothyroidism. Blood testing is required to determine the correct dose for each individual patient. Patients start to notice differences after one to two weeks on the treatment. Treatment with this hormone is usually lifelong.
If you are experiencing symptoms of hypothyroidism and believe you may have it, contact Dr. Kordonowy of Internal Medicine, Lipid & Wellness of Fort Myers. His office offers dietary consults and can test for hypothyroidism. To book an appointment, call 239-362-3005, Ext. 200 or click here.
