What Is Hypothyroidism?

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the thyroid. The thyroid is a small gland at the base of the neck that produces hormones and that help control most of the bodies activities. Inflammation to the thyroid, from Hashimoto’s, often leads to hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid gland. Hashimoto’s disease is the number one cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. It mainly affects middle aged women but Hashimoto’s can affect men, women of any age, and even children (“Hashimoto’s Disease-National Library of Medicine-PubMed Health,” 2014).

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, also called Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland. It was named for the Japanese surgeon who discovered it in 1912 The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland in the front of the neck. The thyroid makes hormones called T3 and T4. These hormones regulate metabolism. The thyroid is controlled by hormones of the pituitary gland, which is also called the “master gland.” It is a pea-sized gland located in the base of the brain which, among others, makes thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH. TSH stimulates the thyroid to make thyroid hormone. With Hashimoto’s disease, the thyroid cells are damaged resulting in the inability to make enough thyroid

Attention Device Opener- Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States.

A physical exam and blood tests can usually determine if you have a thyroid issue, which one, and the potential causes of it.

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.

You may not have known this before you got news of your condition, but Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the developed world, and it affects literally millions of patients. You are definitely not alone with this condition! “Hypothyroidism” is a medical term, and what it means is simply low thyroid

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).

There are many causes of hyperthyroidism, but the symptoms of hyperthyroidism are the same no matter what causes the over expression of thyroid hormones. The main symptoms of hyperthyroidism are fatigue, shortness of breath, weak muscles, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and heart palpitations. Interestingly, even with an increase in appetite the patient will have weight loss.

Hashimoto Thyroiditis also known as Hashimoto’s disease named after Hakarum Hashimoto back in 1912, is an Autoimmune Lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland by antithyroid autoantibodies. It is highly likely for a person to develop Hypothyroidism as a result of the autoantibodies attacking the thyroid and keeping the thyroid from producing the amount of hormones our bodies need. As stated in the Ear, Nose and Throat Journal “Approximately 5% of the general population has hypothyroidism, with Hashimoto thyroiditis the most common cause.”(2) The journal also goes on to say how women are affected disproportionately with a ratio of 10:1. While there is not a definite cause of Hashimoto’s it has been researched that majority of people who have the disease have a family member who also suffer from thyroid disease, suggesting that it could be genetic.

Hypothyroidism is defined by a reduction in the release of the main thyroid hormones, Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones are essential in the homeostatic maintenance in the area of metabolic function (PetMD, 2017). This condition is not life-threatening and is usually very inexpensive to treat (WebMD, 2017). While there are many causes for hypothyroidism, the common causes include shrinking of the thyroid gland, tumors or cancer of the thyroid, congenital disease, iodine deficiency, and sometimes even an autoimmune issue where the body attacks its own thyroid. The risk for this disease appears to increase when the animal is spayed or neutered for currently unknown reasons (WebMD 2016). This condition is most

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.

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are both disorders of the thyroid gland and both have to do with the secretion of triiodothyronine and thyroxine. The thyroid hormones are stimulated by the thyroid stimulating hormone, which come from the adenohypophysis, and controls the release of triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism, also known as Grave’s disease, means that there is means there is too much thyroid hormone in the system. Symptoms are weight loss, high basal metabolic rate, sweating, nervousness, and rapid heart rate. Hypothyroidism, also known as myxedema, is when there is not enough secretion of thyroid hormones. The symptoms are the exact opposite there is weight gain, lethargy, mental sluggishness, and reduced heart rate.

V.G.’s current symptoms of fatigue, difficulty concentrating, a weight gain of 10 pounds and irregularity noted to her menstrual cycle along with lab findings of an elevate TSH and a decreased T4 level are consistent with hypothyroidism. The condition is more common in women and is associated with an increased risk of heart disease (Woo & Wynne, 2012). Individuals with hypothyroidism present with clinical findings which may include bradycardia, anemia, dyspnea, decreased appetite, constipation, weight gain, hyperlipidemia, dry skin, brittle hair, difficulty with reproduction, memory impairment, hearing loss and changes in vision (Woo & Wynne, 2012). These clinical manifestations are secondary to changes in metabolic demands and blood flow secondary to the thyroid hormone (Woo & Wynne, 2012). With this wide array of potential symptoms V.G.’s physical exam would involve a thorough head to toe exam carefully evaluating her current cardiovascular status including blood pressure, heart sounds, rhythm and rate with perfusion assessment to identify bradycardia and risks of heart failure. In addition, a careful examination of her neck would be

Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in all cardiac group was (22%); in ischemic group (26%) and in hypertensive