Symptoms And Treatment Of Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism, while a common disorder, is often misdiagnosed due to its ability to mimic other common health problems. A simple, yet specialized blood test, coupled with a complete medical history, will allow the experts at RCMC Medical Center to not only diagnose the problem in a timely manner, but also develop a treatment plan based on the results, and your personal lifestyle, with the end goal of returning you to the level of health and wellness you

The history of hypothyroidism dates way back to the 1800s; seeing the symptoms in patients, even before the disease was able to be diagnosed. Later realizing that many of the cases of cretinism, later called hypothyroidism, were largely associated with the lack in function of the thyroid. Today, also realizing that there is not only internal factors that influence hypothyroidism but also external factors that can contribute. Hypothyroidism can present itself in many different ways from no symptoms at all to organ failure, in a severe enough case. Discovering and treating hypothyroidism with medication or alternative, if the patient chooses, can be very simple after confirming diagnosis with lab results. An optimistic prognosis is usually given to patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland. You would find it located in the lower neck, right below the Adam’s apple. The location is the same in both men and women. What the thyroid does is create and store thyroid hormone. It then releases the hormone in appropriate amounts to keep the body’s metabolism functioning at a normal level. If there is too much thyroid hormone, this is known as hyperthyroidism. In hyperthyroidism, the body’s metabolism increases. This condition can cause high blood pressure, high heart rate, nervousness, palpitations, and severe weight loss. Too little thyroid hormone, on the other hand, can cause tiredness, depression, memory loss, dry skin, brittle hair, and weight gain—among many other symptoms.

Hypothyroidism is caused by the thyroid’s gland inability to produce thyroid hormone as required by the body. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism requires the laboratory testing of the thyroid stimulating hormone known as TSH. When the TSH is found to be elevated, a clinician should repeat the test along with a free thyroxine (T4) measurement. If the TSH is found to be elevated, while the T4 is normal, the patient is said to suffer from subclinical hypothyroidism. However, if the TSH is elevated and the T4 is low, the diagnosis is primary hypothyroidism (Gaitonde et al., 2012).

Commonly, problems with the thyroid involve an abnormal production level of these hormones. It is called hyperthyroidism if there the thyroid hormones are overproduced, and this can cause things like Graves’ disease, Toxic adenomas, and subacute thyroiditis (7). Hypothyroidism is the underproduction of the hormones which can be caused by an inflamed thyroid, iodine deficiency, a non-functioning thyroid gland and more. Hypothyroidism is especially dangerous in infants and newborns as the lack of these thyroid hormones can lead to mental retardation and dwarfism (7). However, in humans hypothyroidism can be caused by things such as a pituitary disorder, a defective thyroid or a lack of the gland completely. (7)

The patient’s diagnosis is primary overt hypothyroidism. The patient presents with certain features such as weight gain, weakness, excessively dry flaking skin, dry hair, sluggish movements, constipation, bradycardia, diminished deep tendon reflexes, and bilateral edematous hands, which is classical signs and symptoms for primary hypothyroidism. The patient laboratory test reveals she has an elevation in serum thyroid stimulating hormone level along with low serum free thyroxin and triiodthyronine levels, which indicates it is a dysfunction or abnormality in the thyroid gland as opposed to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus (Gaitonde; Lohano; Porth, 2015, p. 780; Ross, 2014).

This study showed that among the subjects chosen, the prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients with coronary heart disease was around 11.5% and the likelihood of the hypothyroid patient being female was four times more likely than male R. It has been determined that the risk of hypothyroidism becomes higher with age, more common between the ages of 45 and 60.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination survey concluded that 0.33% of the United Stated population suffers from hypothyroidism. Gaitonde (2012) therefore, confirms that the population suffering from the disorder in America is approximately 13 million. Women are said to be more vulnerable to the disorder than the men and progressively more with age.

Hypothyroidism is a lack of activity in the Thyroid (the Endocrine gland), which is located in the neck. Because it is a part of the Endocrine gland, it plays a major role in the hormonal system; which may cause complications with the pituitary (located in the brain), the ovaries or the testes.

Hypothyroidism isn’t picky, it can strike at any age and can affect anyone. However, it’s favorite victim appears to be women since it occurs in approximately 1 in 50 women and only about 1 in 1,000 men. It typically occurs in adults and becomes more common as age increases.

Hyperthyroidism , part of the endocrine system, is a the gland that makes hormones that controls the way every cell in the body uses energy. Your thyroid is located in the front of your neck where the collarbones meet. Having this disease can affect some vital signs. Having hyperthyroidism can cause heart palpitations and high blood pressure. Therefore, because of having this disease, blood pressure and pulse need to be checked and documented every visit. It is important to collect vital signs and note them because it could help diagnose a patient.

Hashimoto’s disease is now recognized as an autoimmune disease and the primary cause of hypothyroidism, occurring almost twice as often in women than in men. The immune system of someone with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, will mistakenly recognizes the normal thyroid cells as foreign tissue and it produces antibodies that may destroy these cells (American Thyroid Association). When the immune system attack the thyroid, this can lead to hypothyroidism. This is when the body is not making enough hormone to maintain your

For my Search Engine/Database Comparison and Self Reflection paper I selected to search hypothyroidism. I chose this subject for two reasons. The first is in 1986 I had a tumor on the back right lobe of my thyroid that I had to have surgically removed. Within five years of that surgery my left lobe had stopped functioning which I knew was a possibility and if this happened I would be on medication the rest of my life. Which brings me to my second reason for researching this – I ran out my prescription recently and when the pharmacy contacted my physician for a refill the office did not respond so I had went approximately a week with no medication which I had never done. So to be aware of the symptoms and how it might affect me if at all, I

Hypothyroidism occurs when there is an abnormally low amount of activity in the thyroid gland, a small gland on the front of a patient’s neck. A sluggish thyroid gland may cause a number of symptoms, including: muscle weakness, mental and physical fatigue, fluid retention, weight gain, hearing and vision difficulties, depression,

Hypothyroidism a common endocrine disorder resulting from deficiency of thyroid hormone which can cause symptoms such as fatigue, hair loss, and menstrual disturbances ("Hypothyroidism: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology," 2017).