The thyroid gland which is located at the frontal end of the neck below the structure known as “Adam’s apple” is a vital part of the body. It is responsible for the production and secretion of an hormone called thyroxine.
The thyroid gland which is located at the frontal end of the neck below the structure known as “Adam’s apple” is a vital part of the body.
It is responsible for the production and secretion of an hormone called thyroxine.
The absence of this in sufficient amounts in the body has negative results on an individual.
One of them is a swelling in the neck called Goitre. An individual with goiter lacks a defined amount of thyroxine in his or her body.
The insufficient production of thyroxine can be linked to the absence of iodine in the body. Iodine is a major initiator in the process of thyroxine production.
The symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism are very common.
Some of them are:
Fatigue, Weakness, Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight, Dry hair, Dry rough pale skin, Hair loss, Cold intolerance (you can't tolerate cold temperatures like those around you), Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches, Constipation, Depression, Irritability Memory loss, Abnormal menstrual cycles, Decreased libido.
So you can see now that it looks just like any other common ailment that you probably know.
It for this reason that is deemed deadly. It might be too late before you realize it.
Each individual patient may have any number of these symptoms, and they will vary with the severity of the thyroid hormone deficiency and the length of time the body has been deprived of the proper amount of hormone.
It is the reason why as soon as you notice these symptoms and you have taken energy boosters, mood enhancers or antidepressants without getting any adequate results, you have to go see your doctor as soon as possible. This will at least stem its tendency to become worse.
Medical Causes of Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is caused by varied causes. It could stem from a singular cause or a mixture of various causes such as complications arising from thyroid gland diseases, afflicted brain activities, exposure to medical treatments, and autoimmune disorders.
It is common knowledge that hypothyroidism can arise from a chronic thyroid disease known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This ailment is characterized by thyroid glands that are inflamed or enlarged. This inflammation can be responsible for the brutal damaging of the thyroid cells if it is not attended to early enough and on time.
The reason the thyroid cells are damaged is because of the body’s antibodies attacking the thyroid cells and tissues in the body instead of functioning as a protector. Certain diseases that are autoimmune may even be responsible for hypothyroidism. Examples of such autoimmune diseases are diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Addison’s disease, vitiligo, and anemia. Exposure to various forms of medical treatments can leave an individual lacking adequate thyroxine in the body.
Treatments such as lithium, radioactive iodine and surgery can be responsible as certain research have proven. For instance, someone who takes doses of lithium as a form of treatment for manic depressive disorder –a form of psychiatric disease- is likely to develop hypothyroidism over time as a result of th thyroid’s gland inability to produce the hormone. The production of this hormone in itself is actually hindered by the presence of the lithium in the body.
Other Treatments For Hypothyroidism
Also, an individual suffering from both goiter and hyperthyroidism can be treated using radioactive iodine therapy. This form of treatment is very likely to produce symptoms of hypothyroidism and if not stopped on time, will actually result in hypothyroidism.
The radioactive iodine is useful in the hindering of the production of excessive thyroxine. This is achieved by its getting rid of or preventing the secretion of excess thyroid hormones. The use of radioactive iodine is not a bad idea in itself as it effectively eliminates the production of too much thyroid hormones.
The thing with it is in its excessive application. Because it functions by eliminating the thyroid hormone-producing cells which get rid of hyperthyroidism, it has a tendency to also eliminate the normal ones that will allow the production of the normal hormone quantity. Surgery can also be responsible for hypothyroidism.
Although in this case, most patients have to choose between the lesser of two evils: either death or the total or partial removal of the thyroid gland. For instance, a patient whose thyroid gland cannot be saved or who has cancer of the throat has to choose between leaving the thyroid like that, and getting rid of it. Therefore allowing the individual’s thyroxine producing capacity dwindle.
Hypothyroidism is completely treatable in many patients simply by taking a small pill once a day. However, this is a simplified statement, and it's not always so easy. There are several types of thyroid hormone preparations and one type of medicine will not be the best therapy for all patients. Many factors will go into the treatment of hypothyroidism and it is different for everybody.
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Subject: Blood Tests Are Normal ... But You Still Have Symptoms?
Something I discovered in my research is that the majority of people who read this list of symptoms ... pretty much can tick most of the boxes. And so they go off to their doctor – have a couple of blood tests (expecting a diagnosis) --- only to be told “Your Thyroid Function is NORMAL”.
Has this happened to you?
If this has happened to you, I bet you felt gutted ... and wondered what was going on!
Here’s the thing ... most doctors don’t do all the tests available to make an informed diagnosis. To accurately diagnose hypothyroidism there are 7 tests that need to be done.
Not only do these accurately diagnose your condition ... but they pinpoint the root cause of your symptoms, so that they can be reversed with proper treatment.
You can find out what these tests are in the The hypothyroidism Solution
