What Is Hypothyroidism, How Is It Caused And Who Is Likely To Suffer From It?

By J Russell Hart

Hypothyroidism. It's a term you often hear when people are struggling to lose weight, but what is it, how do you get it and, most importantly, how is it treated?
What is hypothyroidism?
In its simplest terms, hypothyroidism is a condition where there is a reduced level of thyroxine (thyroid hormone) in the blood. As this hormone is responsible for keeping the body's metabolism working properly, if you don't have the correct amount, you're not only likely to experience weight gain, but a whole host of other symptoms too. Thyroxine is produced in the thyroid gland, a small butterfly shaped gland which is located in the neck just in front of the windpipe. If the thyroid doesn't produce enough thyroxine, your body's functions start to slow down.
Who is likely to suffer from an underactive thyroid?
Unfortunately women tend to suffer from hypothyroidism more than men, with 1 in 50 women expected to develop the condition compared to 1 in 1000 men. While it usually develops in adulthood, becoming more prevalent with increasing years, it can occur at any age and anyone can be affected, with some children being born with congenital hypothyroidism.
What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
There are a range of common symptoms which are associated with an overactive thyroid. These include feeling more tired than usual, weight gain, fluid retention, aching muscles, dry skin, lifeless hair and feeling cold, although you won't necessarily experience all these at the same time. There are also some less common symptoms, including loss of sex drive, carpal tunnel syndrome and a hoarse voice.
How is it caused?
The main cause of hypothyroidism in the US is autoimmune disease, known as Autoimmune Thyroiditis or Hashimoto's disease, where the antibodies produced by the immune system attach to the thyroid gland and prevent it from producing the correct levels of thyroxine.
How is it diagnosed and treated?
An underactive thyroid can be diagnosed by means of a simple blood test which measures the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone in the blood. Higher levels than normal indicate that the thyroid is not producing enough thyroxine. It can also be diagnosed by low levels of thyroxine (T4). While the condition can't be cured it can be treated with a daily dose of the synthetic thyroid hormone, Levothyroxine, which can reverse symptoms in as little as 7 to 14 days. Once you start this treatment, you'll have to take it for the rest of your life and you'll have to undergo annual checks to ensure that the dosage is still appropriate for your needs.
Russell (Rusty) Hart is the founder of the Health, Fitness & Sport Club, a website devoted to the promotion of health, fitness and wellness. Should this subject matter be of interest you can visit the HF & S Club home site where you'll find over 1,300 quality posts with new posts being published daily. To quickly access those that are of interest you can select any of 20 Categories broken down by over 260 Sub-Categories for easy access. . Access this website by going to [http://www.healthfitnessandsport.com]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/J_Russell_Hart/278755
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Is-Hypothyroidism,-How-Is-It-Caused-And-Who-Is-Likely-To-Suffer-From-It?&id=8988194