Hypothyroidism - Symptoms and Treatment - Avicenna Health
August 27, 2020
What is Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism can be seen across all age forms. This condition occurs when an individual's thyroid gland located at the front of the neck right longer produces enough of certain essential hormones, especially the thyroid hormone. A person needs a proper amount of these hormones to be functioning healthily.
What causes hypothyroidism?
While there are many different reasons an individual can develop hypothyroidism, according to the American Thyroid Association here are some common reasons:
- Autoimmune disease: In certain people, the immune system, which helps protects the body from different microscopic invaders, mistakes the thyroid gland as a foreign body and attacks the gland. This autoimmune dysfunction can cause the gland to stop functioning properly.
- Surgical removal of part or all of the gland: In some cases, individuals undergo surgery to have their thyroid gland removed for other medical reasons. However, this can cause insufficiency of the hormones that are typically released by the thyroid.
- Radiation treatment: Some individuals get treated by radiation for other medical conditions. The radiation can destroy the thyroid gland and decreases the hormones typically released by the gland to decrease.
- Congenital hypothyroidism: some babies are born without a thyroid gland present or have their gland located in the wrong place. Some babies have their thyroid cells or enzymes not function properly.
- Thyroiditis: Can occur when the thyroid gland gets inflamed. The inflammation can occur for a variety of different reasons. Still, the outcome results in the gland releasing the stored amount of thyroid hormones into the blood all at once, causing the thyroid to be overactive for a while and then dormant.
- Medicine: Certain medicines such as lithium, amiodarone, and interleukin-2 prevent the thyroid gland from making proper amounts of the thyroid hormone, resulting in too little thyroid hormone in the blood.
What are some of the signs and symptoms?
There are many symptoms present for an individual suffering from hypothyroidism. Symptoms can include but are not limited to:
• Fatigue
• Higher than usual sensitivity to cold.
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Muscle weakness
• Thinning hair
• High cholesterol level
• Enlarged thyroid gland
When should you see a doctor?
It might be time to consult with a physician if you feel tired for no reason or seem to be displaying the symptoms mentioned above. If you are currently receiving hormone therapy for hypothyroidism, continuously schedule follow-up visits with a doctor for the best care and health results.
Definition of the illness
Vaginal bleeding
Vaginal discharge
Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones and makes them more likely to break. Learn about causes and treatment from the telemedicine experts at Avicenna Health.
Endometriosis causes pain and sometimes infertility in many women. Learn more about symptoms and treatment from the online doctors at Avicenna Health.
Vaginal discharge and itching can accompany yeast infection and other types of vaginitis. Learn about signs and symptoms and when to seek help at Avicenna Health.
Telemedical professionals answers questions pregnant women may have about the coronavirus, COVID-19 and risks to their unborn child at Avicenna Health.
