What is Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a medical condition in which your thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine) to be released into your bloodstream. It is a relatively common condition that is sometimes referred to as underactive thyroid disease. When left untreated, hypothyroidism could become life-threatening.
What does the Thyroid do?
Your thyroid is a small gland located near the voice box in your throat. The thyroid is responsible for releasing thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) hormones, which collectively make up the thyroid hormone. These hormones are responsible for regulating metabolism. When too little or too much thyroid hormone is produced, the entire body is affected.
As metabolism dictates to your body how much energy to use, the most common effects of irregular amounts of thyroid hormone include body temperature, heart rate, and weight.
Your pituitary gland controls the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to produce based on the activity of the thyroid, which is why problems with the pituitary gland could also lead to hypothyroidism.
What are the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism?
Depending on the severity of the condition, symptoms of hypothyroidism may go unnoticed. Once the condition begins to worsen, however, common symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, weight gain, constipation, muscle weakness or soreness, elevated cholesterol, depression, intolerance of cold temperatures, dry skin and hair, low libido, puffy face and eyes, hoarse voice, and brain fog or forgetfulness.
When the levels of your thyroid hormones are excessively low, you can develop a life-threatening condition known as myxedema. Symptoms of myxedema include anaemia, confusion, low body temperature, coma, or heart failure.
What Causes Hypothyroidism?
The number one leading cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s Disease, an autoimmune disorder. Occasionally the immune system attacks an infection and indirectly attacks and damages the thyroid gland.
Other conditions that may cause hypothyroidism include thyroid gland surgery, radioactive iodine therapy, insufficient dietary iodine, congenital hypothyroidism, problems with the pituitary gland, and some medications used to treat other conditions.
Medications that are known to have an adverse effect on proper thyroid function include lithium, amiodarone, and interferons.
How is Hypothyroidism Treated?
In general, hypothyroidism is easily managed and treated. The most common and effective treatment of underactive thyroid disease is with hormone replacement tablets containing levothyroxine. This is a daily hormone replacement therapy that is, in general, very effective.
Eltroxin is a common medication used to treat hypothyroidism. Eltroxin in New Zealand is available by prescription at your local pharmacy. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine whether hormone replacement therapy with Eltroxin is right for you.
Risks of Untreated Hypothyroidism
When left untreated, hypothyroidism may become serious or life-threatening. An increase in the number and severity of symptoms may arise without proper treatment. More severe symptoms include trouble breathing, inability to regulate body temperature, mental health issues, development of a heart condition, or development of a goitre (enlarged thyroid gland).
As mentioned above, untreated hypothyroidism may also lead to a life-threatening condition known as myxedema.