What is Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a
condition in which the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormone. Since the main purpose of thyroid
hormone is to manage metabolism, it is understandable that
people with this condition will have symptoms associated with a slow
metabolism. Over five million Americans have this common medical
condition. In fact, as many as ten percent of women may have some
degree of thyroid hormone deficiency.
Hypothyroidism is more common than you would believe...and, millions of people are currently hypothyroid and don't know it!
Causes
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—often 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. 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 and 8 percent of men over the age of 60 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.
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 several of these symptoms. Occasionally, some patients with hypothyroidism have no symptoms at all, or they are just so subtle that they go unnoticed.
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.
Dr. Bronner takes a holistic approach to treating hypothyroidism 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. He will tailor your treatment to your unique needs.
Quiz: Could You Be Hypothyroid?
