WHAT IS HYPOTHYROIDISM?

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Hypothyroidism is a condition caused by inadequate secretion of the thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland into the blood stream. There are several causes of hypothyroidism, and the condition is more common in women than men.


The most common form of hypothyroidism is caused by a self-destructive process. This means the body's immune system, which normally fights infections, is directed against one's own thyroid tissue.


Other causes of hypothyroidism include surgical removal or partial removal of the thyroid gland. Since the pituitary gland controls the thyroid function, diseases of the pituitary may also result in low thyroid function.


Antithyroid medications (such as those used to treat and overactive thyroid) may also cause hypothyroidism if taken in excessive amounts.





SYMPTOMS OF HYPOTHYROIDISM




Symptoms of hypothyroidism include intolerance to cold, dryness of the skin and hair, fatigue, puffiness or swelling and sometimes a tendency to be constipated. With long-standing hypothyroidism, a patient may also notice a roughening or lowering of the voice. Weight gain is not usually a symptom and the treatment of hypothyroidism does not always mean there will be automatic weight loss.


Some hypothyroid patients have a goiter (enlarged thyroid), while other do not have thyroid enlargement. Symptoms are quite different from patient to patient, and not all patients with hypothyroidism experience each of the symptom described above. Hypothyroidism may develop slowly, even over a period of years.





DIAGNOSING HYPOTHYROIDISM




The diagnosis of hypothyroidism is generally proven by measuring the level of thyroid hormones circulating in the blood stream. It is usually necessary to measure the TSH level (pituitary hormone that controls thyroid function) in order to determine if the problem is caused by disease of the thyroid gland or the pituitary gland.


Usually, the diagnosis is straightforward, and additional tests are not necessary. Sometimes, however, a patient mist have a thyroid scan and measurement of the isotope uptake (usually a 24 hours) in order to answer the diagnostic question.






TREATMENT OF HYPOTHYROIDISM




The treatment of hypothyroidism is simple. This involves taking thyroid hormone by mouth on a daily basis in order to replace the hormone deficiency. Fortunately, this therapy is quite inexpensive, as well as simple. Treatment usually corrects the problem very adequately and restores the patient to his or her usual state of health as if there were no thyroid problem at all.




Brought to you by:
INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center Department of Endocrinology 
Jonathan L. Davis, M.D.