About Hypothyroidism

If you are gaining weight or lack energy, you might have a thyroid condition called hypothyroidism. This tends to be a little more common than hyperthyroidism. With hypothyroidism, you have an underactive thyroid, meaning you aren’t producing enough thyroid hormones. It can lead to a lot of different physical and mental side effects. It is best to learn what you can about the condition so you know how best to approach it.

What are the symptoms?

Many people go too long without realizing they have hypothyroidism because some of the symptoms are similar of a lot of different conditions, even just from being stressed out. It isn’t necessarily a sign that you have this thyroid condition if you have just one symptom, but a combination of these symptoms is a good reason to see the doctor. Here are some of the symptoms to look out for and keep an eye on:

* Weight gain or trouble losing weight
* Sensitivity to cold temperature
* Extreme fatigue
* Constipation
* Puffy face
* Muscle weakness
* Hoarseness in the voice
* Dry or cracking skin
* High blood pressure and cholesterol
* Muscle aches and stiffness
* Thinning hair
* Irregular menstrual periods
* Pain in your joints
* Impaired focus or memory
* Depression

If you have extremely low blood pressure, lower body temperature, or decreased breathing, see a doctor right away. These are potential signs of myxedema, a severe form of hypothyroidism. It isn’t common, but it can be fatal if you don’t get treatment right away.

If you have an infant, their symptoms of hypothyroidism might be a little different. You should look for choking often with no seemingly good reason, a large and protruding tongue, severe jaundice of the skin and eyes, constipation, puffy face, and sleeping a lot.

What causes hypothyroidism?

The basic cause of this type of thyroid condition occurs when your thyroid gland doesn’t produce a high enough level of hormones. However, what causes the hormone problem is a little more complicated. It could be genetic, something you are born with. Like hyperthyroidism, it is often from things like an autoimmune disease, thyroid surgery in the past, certain medications, eating an unhealthy diet, or radiation therapy. If you have had hyperthyroidism, treatment could actually cause hypothyroidism. There are also some other conditions that might lead to a higher risk of an underactive thyroid, though are less common. This includes having a pituitary gland disorder, congenital disease, iodine, deficiency, or pregnancy. You are at a higher risk for hypothyroidism if you are over 60, have an autoimmune disease, or you have a family history of thyroid disease.
