The thyroid is a gland located in the anterior part of
the neck; it is in the shape of a butterfly and is the engine that gives energy
to our body due to the hormones that it produces.
Hypothyroidism can occur due to a lack of iodine, or
because the thyroid has been eliminated due to autoimmune diseases, surgery,
medications, etc.
According to the American Thyroid Association, 40% of
the world’s population suffers hypothyroidism due to a lack of iodine.
Autoimmune Hypothyroidism occurs when our own body’s
defences attack the thyroid. 3% of the word’s population suffer from this
pathology, and is predominantly found in middle-aged adults, especially women.
Hypothyroidism is the congenital pathology most commonly
found in newborns, and is something that will be further explored in another
article along with subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroidism in pregnant
women.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
Even though there are number of symptoms that can also
be found in other pathologies, the main ones are:
- Tiredness, weakness and a lack of energy.
- Sleeping more than usual.
- Constipation.
- Hair loss in the edges of the eyebrows and in the temples.
- Feeling colder than usual.
- Gaining weight easily.
- Skin that is dry and rough.
- Bloated face.
- Loss of memory and concentration.
- Depression.
- Irregular periods.
- A decrease of libido in both men and women.
- A slower heart rate.
- An emergence of a goiter or inflammation of the thyroid in the neck (when the gland is swollen).
- An emergence (in some cases) of other autoimmune diseases such as Diabetes Type 1, Lupus, etc.
In terms of blood tests, an increase in cholesterol
levels takes place; there is also a possibility of suffering from anaemia and
an increment in inflammatory markers, etc.
The diagnosis is easy as only a blood test would be
needed to determine whether or not the thyroid hormones are altered.
Due to the common occurrence of this pathology, the
American Thyroid Association recommends that people over the age of 35, along
with pregnant women and patients that have family members that have suffered
from this pathology in the past, to undertake regular tests to check the levels
of the thyroid hormones.
The treatment will vary depending on whether if it is
caused for a lack of iodine, which will be the responsibility of Governments to
ensure that iodine is added to different foods, or through the individualized
use of iodized salt when cooking.
And a treatment of Thyroxine would be prescribed by a
doctor in the case of Autoimmune Hypothyroidism and would last during their
lifetime.
Dr J. Hurtado Martínez
Medical Director of HealthSalus
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