What is called hypothyroidism
A butterfly inside the base of
your neck, with 2 wings laying each side of your windpipe. Right. That’s how your thyroid gland closely looks
like. Although pretty small, yet, it virtually takes a mighty and most significant
role in your body and influences the functions of the lifeline organs including
the heart, brain, kidneys, liver and skin. When the thyroid gland functions
properly and secretes the thyroid hormones as per the body’s demand, you are
vitally healthy. When things go wrong and
your thyroid gland doesn’t produce the required hormones, then it would slow
down all your body functions. This condition is called HYPOTHYROIDISM. It’s the
most common type of thyroid disease.
What it does?
Shortage of sufficient thyroid
hormones in your body is identified as Hypothyroidism. What it does to your
body? While ample thyroid hormones are not secreted from your thyroid gland, it
can affect your overall health and well being. It not only slows down your
physical bodily functions, it also affects your mental well being.
Can you prevent?
Thyroid disease is as common as
diabetes and heart disease. Anyone can develop Hypothyroidism right from
infants to adults. Preventing your body from under producing thyroid is
unfortunately a hardly ever phenomenon.
What are the Signs & Symptoms?
The symptoms of hypothyroidism
may become visible gradually over a period of time, months or years and
sometimes these signs and symptoms can be so simple that you may not even make
out that something is wrong and it’s easy to neglect.
As hypothyroidism comes with wide
range of symptoms, the recommended way for you is to go for a blood test under
a doctor’s opinion to measure the hormone levels and to diagnose the condition.
Common symptoms are:
* Muscle & Joint aches
Prolonged and untreated
hypothyroidism can inflict destruction to your entire body and may lead to the
increased risk of heart disease, deafness and in very exceptional cases it can
also cause myxedema coma, a critical loss of the brain function.
How do you diagnose?
The diagnosis is commonly made
through blood test that measures the level of TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
and Thyroxine (T4 - thyroid hormone). When thyroxine levels are comparatively
low and TSH is at elevated levels, it indicates under active thyroid. It shows
that your Pituitary gland (located at the base of the brain and responsible for
TSH production) produces more TSH in an attempt to stimulate your thyroid gland
to churn out more thyroid hormones.
What causes hypothyroidism?
The most common reason of hypothyroidism
is the effect of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis which is an autoimmune disorder. Hashimoto’s
makes your body to produce antibodies that attack and damage your thyroid
gland. There are also many other variety of factors that causes under active
thyroid which includes:
* If
anyone in your family is with a thyroid problem* Damaged pituitary gland
* Down’s Syndrome
* Turner’s Syndrome
* Radiation therapy in the neck area while treating cancers
* Treatment for hyperthyroidism may cause low thyroid
* Thyroid surgery and removal of thyroid gland gives rise to hypothyroidism
* Too little iodine in the diet
How it is treated?
Doctors would prescribe you a
pill which contains synthetic (man-made) thyroid hormone (Thyroxine -T4) which
you are expected to take it on an empty stomach in the morning, through your
life time. Periodical blood tests will be taken to monitor the levels and it
may be a long process to establish the proper dosage and once it is achieved,
this method is by and large very successful in treating hypothyroid.
However, over dosage of thyroxine
may result in side-effects which could lead to diarrhea, development of
hyperthyroid and sometimes increased risk of development of osteoporosis.
Does Nutritional plans help Hypothyroid?
Definitely Yes! Foods that are
rich in Iodine, Selenium, Zinc, Copper, Iron, and B Vitamins help your thyroid
gland stay healthy and work properly. Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian
who can in turn help you with a tailor-made nutritional plan and an exercise
routine to stay hale and healthy.
Posts
No comments: