Underactive Thyroid Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

The thyroid is an endocrine gland that secretes thyroid hormones to regulate the body's metabolic processes. Underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, is characterized by insufficient amounts of thyroid hormone in the blood. This results in decreased metabolism, causing fatigue and weight gain.

Thyroid Hormones:

The hormones secreted by the thyroid are:

1. Thyroxine (T4)


2. Triiodothyronine (T3)

These hormones work to regulate the rate at which your body burns energy. They affect weight and sleep patterns, as well as menstrual cycle changes in women and erectile dysfunction in men.

Another hormone involved in this process is thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), manufactured by the pituitary gland. TSH is responsible for stimulating the production and release of T3 and T4.

Symptoms:

Subclinical hypothyroidism is the term that describes the initial symptoms of hypothyroidism that are subtle and may not be noticed at first. Symptoms include:

• Fatigue


• Intolerance to cold


• Dry and/or pale skin


• Hair loss and brittle nails


• sore muscles, slow movements and weakness


• Hoarse voice


• a change in facial expression


• Depression


• Memory deficits and difficulty in concentrating


• Increased weight


• Constipation


• fertility problems and increased risk of miscarriage


• heavy, irregular, or prolonged menstrual periods


• Bradycardia (slow heart rate)

It is very important to seek the help of a health care professional if you are having any of the above symptoms. Because these symptoms may be easily overlooked, this can cause a delay in treatment resulting in complications of this disease.

Causes:

• Hypothyroidism is more common in older people.


• Women are more likely to be affected than men.


• Autoimmune conditions such as diabetes, vitiligo, and Addison's disease.


• Certain medications, such as lithium carbonate (psychotropic med) and amiodarone (for the heart)


• Inefficient amount of iodine


• Autoimmune Hashimoto's thyroiditis


• Problems with hypothalamus or pituitary gland

Hypothyroidism is diagnosed by testing the blood TSH levels and thyroid hormone levels in the blood. A diagnosis of autoimmune hypothyroidism is usually determined by the presence of certain antibodies in the blood, which show as a problem with autoimmunity.

Treatment:

Treatment for Hypothyroidism involves replacing the thyroid hormones that are absent. This is easily accomplished by taking oral levothyroxine. The dosage will need to be adjusted by your physician to get the correct dosage for you. Regular blood testing will be required to check hormone levels. Medication will then be adjusted accordingly. Medication and treatment for underactive hypothyroid will continue for the rest of the patient's life. Once the correct dose of thyroxine replacement has been determined, yearly blood tests will be needed to ensure appropriate hormone levels are maintained.

Thyroxine replacement medicine (levothyroxine or L-thyroxine) for underactive thyroid symptoms is safe to take during pregnancy, particularly during the first 12 weeks of gestation. During this time, the fetal thyroid gland is not yet developed. Therefore, the fetus depends on the mother's thyroid hormone levels for fetal nervous system development.

by Barb Hicks, RN/LMT