There are two fairly common causes of
hypothyroidism.
The first is a result of previous (or currently ongoing)
inflammation of the thyroid gland which leaves a large percentage of
the cells of the thyroid damaged (or dead) and incapable of
producing sufficient hormone. The most common cause of thyroid gland
failure is called autoimmune
thyroiditis (also called
Hashimoto's thyroiditis), a form of thyroid inflammation caused by the patient's
own immune system. The second major cause is the broad category of
"medical treatments".
Subclinical
Hypothyroidism
The medical definition of subclinical hypothyroidism is a
hypothyroid condition -- usually asymptomatic -- in which free
thyroxine (T4) is normal and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level
is between 5 and 25 mU/L, or, if a thyrotropin-releasing hormone
(TRH) test is conducted, there's a greater than normal elevation in
TSH response.
According to Dr. Douglas Ross, symptoms
described in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism include
greater than average incidence of problems with muscles and nerves,
such as weakness, muscle fatigue, and tingling
extremities.
And the level of 5 as a bottom "cutoff" is
actually also being questioned.
In January of 2001, the
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) released
a statement that said:
"Even though a TSH level between 3.0 and
5.0 uU/ml is in the normal range, it should be considered suspect
since it may signal a case of evolving thyroid
underactivity."
And some practitioners
actually believe that levels above 2 are evidence of developing
hypothyroidism.
In particular, there are
practitioners who believe that a normal TSH level, with the presence
of elevated thyroid antibodies, may trigger hypothyroidism symptoms,
and may warrant treatment.
How Common is
Subclinical Hypothyroidism?
Using the TSH of
5 as a bottom cutoff, it's estimated that on average, approximtely 8
percent of women, and 4 percent of men are subclinically
hypothyroid. The prevalence is much higher with age, and 15 percent
of women over the age of 60 and 8 percent of men are subclinically
hypothyroid.
Given the AACE's belief that TSH over 3 may be
suspect, the number of people who may be subclinically hypothyroid
is likely to be far greater than currently thought.
What Are the
Risks of Not Treating Subclinical
Hypothyroidism?
The risks of untreated subclinical
hypothyroidism include:
- Increased risk of heart attack
and atherosclerosis
- Increased risk of elevated cholesterol
and high triglycerides
- Increased risk of depression, anxiety,
and panic attacks
- Increased risk of miscarriage.
- Increased risk of developmental delays
in infants born to mothers who were subclinically hypothyroid
during pregnancy
Symptoms of
Hypothyroidism
Fatigue
Weakness
Weight gain or increased difficulty losing
weight
Coarse, dry hair
Dry, rough pale skin
Hair loss
Cold intolerance (can't tolerate the cold like
those around you)
Muscle cramps and frequent muscle
aches
Constipation
Depression
Irritability
Memory loss
Abnormal menstrual cycles
Decreased libido
Each individual patient will have any number of these
symptoms which will vary with the severity of the thyroid hormone
deficiency and the length of time the body has been deprived of the
proper amount of hormone. Some patients will have one of these
symptoms as their main complaint, while another will not have that
problem at all and will be suffering from a different symptom. Most
will have a combination of a number of these symptoms. Occasionally,
some patients with hypothyroidism have no symptoms at all, or they
are just so subtle that they go unnoticed. Note: Although this
may sound obvious, if you have these symptoms, you need to discuss
them with your doctor.
If you have already been diagnosed and treated for
hypothyroidism and you continue to have any or all of these
symptoms, you need to discuss it with your doctor. Although
treatment of hypothyroidism can be quite easy in some individuals,
others will have a difficult time finding the right type and amount
of replacement thyroid hormone thats why its important for you to
have a doctor who is willing to work closely with you.
Potential Dangers of
Hypothyroidism
Because the body is expecting a certain amount of thyroid
hormone the pituitary will make additional
thyroid-stimulating-hormone (TSH) in an attempt to entice the
thyroid to produce more hormone. This constant bombardment with high
levels of TSH may cause the thyroid gland to become enlarged and
form a goiter (termed a "compensatory goiter"). Left untreated,
the symptoms of hypothyroidism will usually progress. Rarely,
complications can result in severe life-threatening depression,
heart failure or coma.
Hypothyroidism can often be diagnosed with a
simple blood test. In some persons, however, its not so simple and
more detailed tests are needed.
Hypothyroidism is completely treatable in many patients
simply by taking a small pill once a day! Once again, however, this
is a simplified statement and its not always so easy. There
are several types of thyroid hormone preparations and one type of
medicine will not be the best therapy for all patients. Many
factors will go into the treatment of hypothyroidism and it is
different for everybody. You need to custom taylor your treatment
with a doctor who has experience in treating this.
A holistic approach is taken to ensure
that all factors that may be causing the condition have
been identified. Some related factors that may contribute to
hypothyroidism are environmental toxins, heavy metals like
mercury, high stress and adrenal fatigue as well as certain
nutrient deficiencies.
Quiz:
Could
You Be Hypothyroid?
