Gourt > Health > Conditions and Diseases > Endocrine Disorders > Thyroid > Hypothyroid
Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism.
The severity of hypothyroidism varies widely. Patients are classified as "subclinical hypothyroid" if diagnostic findings show thyroid hormone abnormalities, but they do not exhibit any symptoms. Others have moderate symptoms that can be mistaken for other diseases and states. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is myxedema.
Signs and symptoms
Adults
- Slowed speech and a hoarse, breaking voice. Deepening of the voice can also be noticed.
- Impaired memory
- Impaired cognitive function (brain fog)
- Urticaria (hives)
- Migraine headache
- Increased sensitivity to heat and cold
- A slow heart rate with ECG changes including low voltage signals. Diminished cardiac output and decreased contractility.
- Pericardial effusions may occur.
- Sluggish reflexes
- Dry puffy skin, especially on the face, and hair loss, especially thinning of the outer 1/3 of the eyebrows
- Depression (especially in the elderly)
- Weight gain and obesity
- Anemia caused by impaired hemoglobin synthesis (decreased EPO levels), impaired intestinal iron and folate absorption or B12 deficiency from pernicious anemia
- Slowed metabolism
- Constipation
- Fatigue (physical)
- Choking sensation or difficulty swallowing
- Shortness of breath with a shallow and slow respiratory pattern.
- Impaired ventilatory responses to hypercapnia and hypoxia.
- Increased need for sleep
- Muscle cramps and joint pain
- Decreased sex drive
- Brittle fingernails
- Osteoporosis
- Paleness
- Irritability
- Yellowing of the skin due to impaired conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A
- Abnormal menstrual cycles
- Impaired renal function with decreased GFR.
- Thin, fragile or absent cuticles
- Infertility or difficulty becoming pregnant
- Elevated serum cholesterol
- Acute psychosis (myxedema madness) is a rare presentation of hypothyroidism
- Poor muscle tone (muscle hypotonia)
@dearthyroid although it was non-cancerous caused massive problems as I was hyperparathyroid & hypothyroid at the same time
amethystdragon (Jo Corless) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:21:17 -0000
@dearthyroid although it was non-cancerous caused massive problems as I was hyperparathyroid & hypothyroid at the same time
Published a blog post: "Are There Any Weight Loss Pills That Can Be Taken By Hypothyroid People?" http://tinyurl.com/ya6gycs
buknuk (buknuk) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:54:08 -0000
Published a blog post: "Are There Any Weight Loss Pills That Can Be Taken By Hypothyroid People?" http://tinyurl.com/ya6gycs
Need Recommendations for Energy herbal supplements? I have a hypothyroid condition, and even when http://bit.ly/7tsTk4
askgetanswer (ahmdi) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:30:29 -0000
Need Recommendations for Energy herbal supplements? I have a hypothyroid condition, and even when http://bit.ly/7tsTk4
@wannabemomerin therm. didn't help me as I am hypothyroid, always low temps! charted a few months to know how long cycle and then poor DH...
AmandaDeGrace (Amanda DeGrace) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:40:26 -0000
@wannabemomerin therm. didn't help me as I am hypothyroid, always low temps! charted a few months to know how long cycle and then poor DH...
Whoa, my dad has a hypothyroid problem! Yikes
haleyyyyyyyy (Haley Myhre) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:03:16 -0000
Whoa, my dad has a hypothyroid problem! Yikes
http://twitpic.com/ujgcy - Waiting @ the vet's for our 2nd hypothyroid followup
stephenieliu (Stephenie Liu) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:21:47 -0000
http://twitpic.com/ujgcy - Waiting @ the vet's for our 2nd hypothyroid followup
MedicineNet - Hypothyroidism - Description, causes, symptoms, and treatment. Includes information about secondary hypothyroidism which is related to an abnormality in the pituitary gland.
Meta Description: [ Learn about Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) including causes, symptoms (such as weight gain, fatigue, and depression), diagnosis, and treatment. ]
2 - Suggests that there is more than one type of myxedema that is yet to be recognized by mainstream medicine. Provides a number of photographs.
Endocrineweb - Hypothyroidism - Thorough overview includes symptoms, dangers, diagnosis, and treatment of hypothyroidism. Written by doctors for patients.
Meta Description: [ Causes, diagnosis and simple treatments are part of this very large site. Find a doctor in your town using our new directory. ]
Hypothyroidism - A physician's site covering the basics. Includes causes, risks, associated disease, symptoms, standard laboratory tests, reference ranges, Free T3 and Free T4.
Meta Description: [ anti-aging resources can be found at LamMD.com, with information on menopause, cholesterol, high blood pressure, and more! ]
Hypothyroidism - Recommendations for the evaluation and treatment of patients with thyroid diseases. From the AACE.
Hypothyroidism (Myxedema) - HealthWorld Online provides signs, symptoms, and discusses alternative therapies for low thyroid function.
Meta Description: [ HealthWorld Online is the Internet's leading resource on alternative medicine, wellness, and mind/body health, featuring the Wellness Inventory whole person assessment program, the Healthy Shopping Network, Find a Practitioner Network, Healthy Update e-newsletter, and thousands of expert articles... ]
The Merck Manual - Hypothyroidism - A look at myxedema including signs, symptoms, diagnosis, laboratory evaluation, and treatment.
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