In hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland produces too much hormone less to stimulate the metabolism, or the body can not use hormones. The lack of thyroid hormones slows metabolism and therefore all activities in the body, giving a combination of many symptoms related to slowness of bodily processes.
Hypothyroidism is common, but the frequency of the disease is not well determined. Some authorities estimate that 0.5% of the total population of America have the disease to some extent. The frequency is much higher among people over 50 years of age than among youth.
SYMPTOMS AND COMPLICATIONS OF HYPOTHYROIDISM
The most common initial symptoms are physical and mental fatigue, weakness, weight gain or more weight and depression.
One or more of these symptoms usually appear at the beginning: Constipation, sensitivity to cold, cold hands and feet, thick tongue, decreased sweating, dry hair, thin brittle hair, thin brittle nails, muscle and joint pain, pale or yellowish skin, rashes and itching.
One or more of these symptoms usually appear later: Poor memory, slow our thought process, drowsiness, slow speech, thinning of eyebrows, hoarseness, low blood pressure, poor circulation, dry, flaky skin, decreased taste and smell, menstrual irregularities, skin thickening, puffy face, puffy hands and feet, swelling of limbs, spasms, general swelling, muscle, muscle atrophy, joint stiffness.
In children or young hypothyroidism can develop problems such as impaired development of teeth and short stature.
Hypothyroidism increases the risk of high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes (diabetes mellitus). This occurs even by moderately decreased thyroid production.
The thyroid gland and its hormones
To understand the hypothyroidism, some knowledge about the thyroid gland and its hormones is essential.
The thyroid gland produces hormones that accelerate the metabolism and other regular sage. A part of metabolism is the process of breaking down nutrients containing energy, and energy use to produce molecules that all processes and activities in the body use as fuel. Another part is the production of molecules that the body use as building materials.
The thyroid makes four hormones: thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), diiodothyronine (T2) and monoiodothyronine (T1). The hormones contain iodine, and the figures speak of the number of iodine atoms in each molecule of the hormone. T3 is not made directly, but is produced from T4. T3 is a more efficient hormone than T4. Therefore this conversion is important.
The pituitary gland in the brain produces a hormone called thyrotropin or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) that enhances the activity of the thyroid gland. If the body has too less thyroid hormone in the blood, the pituitary produces more thyrotropin. This causes the thyroid gland speed up its own production. At a concentration of thyroid hormone too heavy, less TSH is produced by the pituitary gland and thyroid gland slows down. This feedback mechanism regulates the body's metabolism.