Hypothyroidism

F A C T :
In underdeveloped countries, a chronic lack of iodine in a diet is a major cause of hypothyroidism because the thyroid needs iodine to produce thyroid hormones. Due to the addition of iodine to table salt and iodine-laced disinfectants used on cows' udders, this cause of hypothyroidism has disappeared in the US and most developed countries not in India yet.

What is hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is the condition in which the thyroid is underactive (i.e., it is producing an insufficient amount of thyroid hormones). Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid disorder. Severe hypothyroidism can lead to a condition called myxedema, characterized by dry, thickened skin and coarse facial features.
 

Causes of hypothyroidism:
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune reaction, where the body produces antibodies against the thyroid gland. One such autoimmune disorder is called Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an inflammation of the thyroid gland. Other causes include treatment of hyperthyroidism such as radioactive iodine treatment or surgery.
 

What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Symptoms of hypothyroidism are usually very subtle and gradual and may be mistaken for symptoms of depression. The following are the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:• dull facial expressions
• dull facial expressions
• hoarse voice
• slow speech
• droopy eyelids
• puffy and swollen face
• weight gain
• constipation
• sparse, coarse and dry hair
• coarse, dry, and thickened skin
• carpal tunnel syndrome (hand tingling or pain)
• slow pulse
• muscle cramps
• orange-colored soles and palms
• sides of eyebrows thin or fall out
• confusion
• increased menstrual flow in women
 

Untreated hypothyroidism may lead to anemia, low body temperature, and heart failure.
The symptoms of hypothyroidism may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult a physician for diagnosis.
A condition called secondary hypothyroidism sometimes occurs as a result of a failing pituitary gland. When the pituitary gland fails, it no longer stimulates the thyroid to produce thyroid hormones.
 

Where is the Thyroid and What Does it Do?
Your thyroid is a small bowtie or butterfly-shaped gland, located in your neck, wrapped around the windpipe, behind and below the Adam's Apple area. The thyroid produces several hormones, of which two are key: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones help oxygen get into cells, and make your thyroid the master gland of metabolism.

When it's in good condition, of all the hormone produced by your thyroid, 80% will be T4 and 20% T3. T3 is considered the biologically more active hormone -- the one that actually functions at the cellular level -- and is also considered several times stronger than T4.

You have a higher risk of developing thyroid disease if, among a variety of factors:

…You have a family member with a thyroid problem
…You have another pituitary or endocrine disease
…You or a family member have another autoimmune disease
…You've been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
…You've been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia
…You're female
…You're over 60
…You've just had a baby
…You're near menopause or menopausal
…You're a smoker
…You've been exposed to radiation
 

…You've been treated with lithium …You've been exposed to certain chemicals (i.e., perchlorate, fluoride) What is the Thyroid? The thyroid is a small gland, shaped like a butterfly, located in the lower part of your neck. The function of a gland is to secrete hormones. The main hormones released by the thyroid are triiodothyronine, abbreviated as T3, and thyroxine, abbreviated as T4. These thyroid hormones deliver energy to cells of the body.

What Diseases and Conditions Affect the Thyroid? The most common problems that develop in the thyroid include: • Hypothyroidism -- An underactive thyroid. • Hyperthyroidism -- An overactive thyroid. • Goiter -- An enlarged thyroid. • Thyroid Nodules -- Lumps in the thyroid gland. • Thyroid Cancer -- Malignant thyroid nodules or tissue. • Thyroiditis -- Inflammation of the thyroid. . Hypothyroidism When the thyroid gland is underactive, improperly formed at birth, surgically removed all or in part, or becomes incapable of producing enough thyroid hormone, a person is said to be hypothyroid. One of the most common causes of hypothyroidism is the autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's disease, in which antibodies gradually target the thyroid and destroy its ability to produce thyroid hormone. Symptoms of hypothyroidism usually go along with a slowdown in metabolism, and can include fatigue, weight gain, and depression, among others. What is the Thyroid? The thyroid is a small gland, shaped like a butterfly, located in the lower part of your neck. The function of a gland is to secrete hormones. The main hormones released by the thyroid are triiodothyronine, abbreviated as T3, and thyroxine, abbreviated as T4. These thyroid hormones deliver energy to cells of the body. What Diseases and Conditions Affect the Thyroid? The most common problems that develop in the thyroid include: • Hypothyroidism -- An underactive thyroid. • Hyperthyroidism -- An overactive thyroid. • Goiter -- An enlarged thyroid. • Thyroid Nodules -- Lumps in the thyroid gland. • Thyroid Cancer -- Malignant thyroid nodules or tissue. • Thyroiditis -- Inflammation of the thyroid. Hypothyroidism / Underactive Thyroid / Hashimoto's Disease When your thyroid is unable to produce some or all needed thyroid hormone, your thyroid has been surgically removed or treated with radioactive iodine, and you now take thyroid hormone replacement (like levothyroxine), you are considered hypothyroid. Thyroid patient advocate Mary Shomon helps you learn about hypothyroidism, plus the autoimmune Hashimoto's disease that often causes hypothyroidism. Do You Need Preventative Thyroid Treatment? Treating Antibodies When TSH is Normal Do you need preventative thyroid treatment? If you have thyroid auto-antibodies, but normal TSH, the research evidence is mounting to support the fact that autoimmune disease may be slowed down, and hypothyroidism prevented, with treatment. Treating Hashimoto's When the TSH is Normal: New Research Says It Can Help New research says that treatment can help Hashimoto's patients, even when TSH levels are normal. 15 Ways to Feel and Live Well With Hypothyroidism If you are hypothyroid -- whether due to surgery, radioactive iodine treatment, or Hashimoto's disease -- here are 15 of the best ideas that can help you feel your absolute best! To calculate how many calories you need: 1. Dvide your current weight in pounds by 2.2, in order to convert your weight to kilograms. 2. Multiply you weight in kilograms by 30. (30 is the number of calories you need per pound of body weight.) So, if you are 160 pounds, you divide 160 by 2.2, which equals 73 kilograms. Multiply 73 kilograms by 30, which equals 2190, which would be how many calories you theoretically need to maintain your current weight of 160. Subtract 200 calories for your thyroid condition, an estimate to reflect the reduction in your metabolism and calorie requirements. 1990 calories is now the estimated calorie requirements for you as a thyroid patient to maintain a weight of 160 pounds. To lose weight, you need to cut your calorie requirements by 5 calories per kilogram, so that means you multiply your current weight in kilograms by 25 instead of 30. So, in our example above, if you are 160 pounds, you divide 160 by 2.2, which equals 73 kilograms. Multiply 73 kilograms by 25, which equals 1825, which would be how many calories you theoretically need to lose about a pound every ten days, at 3500 calories per pound). Again, subtract 200 calories to account for your thyroid condition. 1625 calories is now the estimated calorie requirements for you as a thyroid patient to lose weight at a safe rate. Also, most of the effective weight loss programs for thyroid patients also focus on breaking up those calories into multiple "mini-meals" per day. Some experts believe that people with hypothyroidism should eat 40% protein/25% fat/35% low glycemic carbohydrates in smaller, 250-300 meals. So, let's look at one more set of calculations. Current Weight, in Pounds _____ Divide above by 2.2 _____ Multiply result by 25 _____ Subtract 200 for "Thyroid Factor" -200 Calories Per Day for Weight Loss _____ Divide by 300 = # of 300-calorie "mini-meals" Per Day _____ At 300 calories per meal, a 175 pound hypothyroid person could expect to lose weight eating approximately six balanced mini-meals of around 300 calories each, spaced out evenly throughout the day...along with appropriate exercise, of course!