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Article of the Day :
6th October, 2006
Hypothyroidism, Causes, Symptoms, and importance of exercise
and supplements
Hypothyroidism
A condition
in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid
hormone is Hypothyroidism. It is the most common thyroid
disorder, far more common than hyperthyroidism (an overactive
thyroid).
In about
95 percent of cases, hypothyroidism is due to a problem in the
thyroid gland itself and is called primary hypothyroidism.
Certain medications and diseases can decrease thyroid
function, and, ironically, hypothyroidism can also follow
medical treatments for hyperthyroidism, such as thyroidectomy
(surgical removal of the thyroid) or radioactive iodine
treatment (to destroy thyroid tissue). In some cases,
hypothyroidism is a result of decreased production of
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) by the pituitary gland.
Thyroid
problems and the presence of antibodies against the thyroid
(which predict hypothyroidism) are more common in women,
increase with age.
Hypothyroidism usually develops gradually. When the disease
results from surgery or other treatment for hyperthyroidism,
symptoms may appear suddenly and include severe muscle cramps
in the arms, legs, neck, shoulders, and back.
It's
important to see a doctor if any of these symptoms appear
unexpectedly. People whose hypothyroidism remains undiagnosed
and untreated may eventually develop myxedema. Symptoms of
this rare but potentially deadly complication include enlarged
tongue, swollen facial features, hoarseness, and physical and
mental sluggishness
Causes
of
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is most often the result of Hashimoto's
disease, also known as chronic thyroiditis (inflammation of
the thyroid gland). In this disease, the immune system fails
to recognize that the thyroid gland is part of the body's own
tissue and attacks it as if it were a foreign body. The attack
by the immune system impairs thyroid function and sometimes
destroys the gland. Other causes of hypothyroidism include:
-
Radiation. Radioactive iodine used to treat
hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or radiation
treatments for head or neck cancers can destroy the thyroid
gland.
-
Surgery. Removal of the thyroid gland because of
cancer or other thyroid disorders can result in
hypothyroidism.
-
Viruses and bacteria. Infections that depress
thyroid hormone production usually cause permanent
hypothyroidism.
-
Medication. Nitroprusside, lithium, or iodides
can induce hypothyroidism. Because patients who use these
medications are closely monitored by their doctors, this
side effect is very rare.
-
Pituitary gland malfunction. This is a rare
condition in which the pituitary gland fails to produce
enough TSH to activate the thyroid's production of T4.
-
Congenital defect. One of every 4,000 babies is
born without a properly functioning thyroid gland.
-
Diet. Because the thyroid makes T4
from iodine drawn from food, an iodine-deficient diet can
cause hypothyroidism. Adding iodine to table salt and other
common foods has eliminated iodine deficiency in the
United
States. Certain foods (cabbage, rutabagas, peanuts, peaches,
soybeans, spinach) can interfere with thyroid hormone
production.
-
Environmental contaminants. Certain man-made
chemicals-such as PCBs-found in the local environment at
high levels may also cause hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism is sometimes referred to as a "silent" disease
because early symptoms may be so mild that no one realizes
anything is wrong. Untreated symptoms become more noticeable
and severe, and can lead to confusion and mental disorders,
breathing difficulties, heart problems, fluctuations in body
temperature, and death.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
The
symptoms of hypothyroidism vary widely, from no symptoms to
marked symptoms, to, rarely, life-threatening symptoms. The
symptoms of hypothyroidism are notorious for their nonspecific
nature and for the way in which they mimic many of the normal
changes of aging.
The
extent of symptoms depends on the severity of the hormone
deficiency and the speed with which the deficiency developed.
Usually, symptoms are milder when hypothyroidism develops
gradually.
General
symptoms
— Thyroid hormone normally stimulates metabolism, and most of
the symptoms of hypothyroidism reflect slowing of metabolic
processes. General symptoms may include fatigue, sluggishness,
weight gain, and difficulty tolerating cold weather.
Skin
— Hypothyroidism can decrease sweating. The skin may become
dry and thick. The hair may become coarse or thin, eyebrows
may disappear, and nails may become brittle.
Reproductive
system
— Women with hypothyroidism have menstrual cycle
irregularities, ranging from absent or infrequent periods to
very frequent and heavy periods. The menstrual irregularities
can make it difficult to become pregnant, and pregnant women
with hypothyroidism have an increased risk for miscarriage
during early pregnancy.
Neuromuscular system
— Hypothyroidism depresses the nervous system, which can
result in fatigue.
Eyes —
Hypothyroidism can lead to mild swelling around the eyes.
People who develop hypothyroidism as a result of treatment for
hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease may also retain some
of the eye symptoms of Graves' disease, including protrusion
of the eyes, the appearance of staring, and impaired movement
of the eyes.
Myxedema
coma — Very rarely, if a person has severe
hypothyroidism, any trauma, infection, exposure to the cold,
and certain medications can trigger a life-threatening
condition called myxedema coma, with not only a loss of
consciousness, but also hypothermia (low body temperature).
Respiratory system
— Hypothyroidism weakens the respiratory muscles and decreases
lung function. The resulting symptoms may overlap with those
of cardiovascular compromise -- fatigue, shortness of breath
on exertion, and decreased ability to exercise. Hypothyroidism
can also lead to swelling of the tongue and sleep apnea, a
condition characterized by periodic blockage of the airway
while sleeping, fitful sleep, and daytime sleepiness.
Furthermore, hypothyroidism can cause a hoarse voice.
Cardiovascular system
— Hypothyroidism slows the heart rate and weakens the heart's
contractions, decreasing this vital organ's overall function.
Related symptoms may include fatigue and shortness of breath
with exercise. These symptoms may be more severe in people who
also have cardiovascular disease. In addition, hypothyroidism
can cause mild hypertension and raise blood levels of
cholesterol.
Gastrointestinal system
— Hypothyroidism slows the actions of the digestive tract,
causing constipation. Rarely, the digestive tract may stop
moving contents entirely.
Exercise is an
important factor in the treatment of hypothyroidism
Exercise
is important to maintain health, but many people with
hypothyroidism lack the energy to exercise. One expert
suggests splitting exercise into several short sessions
Exercise is an
important factor in the treatment of hypothyroidism. Exercise
increases tissue sensitivity to the thyroid hormone and
stimulates thyroid gland secretion. This is especially true in
people who are dieting; this is because when dieting the
metabolic rate decreases but exercise prevents this decline.
An exercise regime of between 15-20 minutes per day will be
beneficial with hypothyroidism. This exercise needs to be
strenuous enough to raise the heartbeat, an exercise such as
walking, swimming, running and cycling.
In conclusion, to hypothyroidism, it is best not to consume
foods high in goitrogens especially raw but to increase foods
high in iodine in the diet, to exercise daily for 20 minutes,
to supplement the diet with multi minerals and multi vitamins,
B complex, vitamin C, manganese, tyrosine, kelp and iodine and
to check whether sensitivity to chemicals are causing
hypothyroidism. Some Chinese herbs may also help.
The following supplements may help if you are suffering
from Hypothyroidism.
B vitamins complex, Manganese, Multi vitamin and multi
minerals, Vitamin C, Tyrosine, Kelp, Iodine
Top Referred Websites for Today's Topic
http://www.mayoclinic.com
http://patients.uptodate.com
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
http://www.medicinenet.com
http://ezinearticles.com
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