Treating Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a condition that results from an inadequate supply of hormones from the thyroid gland. Your thyroid gland is located in the front of your neck below your Adam's apple. It plays an important role in regulating your body's metabolism. When hypothyroidism develops before birth, the infant is retarded both mentally and physically.

Hypothyroidism may occur at any age but is especially common in older individuals. It affects 17% of women and 9% of men by age 60. Hypothyroidism affects more than 5 million people, many of whom don't know they have the disease. Women are more likely than men to have hypothyroidism.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism include tiredness, weight gain, and a sensitivity to cold. The patient's skin becomes dry and puffy, especially on the face, and the hair of the scalp and the eyebrows becomes dry and brittle. The voice may become hoarse, and Anemia.html">anemia may develop. Sometimes, there is numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. Constipation is common. In women there are menstrual disorders, such as Menorrhagia.html">heavy bleeding (menorrhagia) and irregular periods.

These symptoms develop gradually. Over a period of time, if the condition is untreated, the individual's personality can also change. There may be a slowing down of the thought processes, sometimes mild confusion and dementia, and occasionally symptoms that suggest paranoia. This severe form of hypothyroidism is called myxedema.

A physician usually begins treatment of hypothyroidism with a small dose of one of the thyroid hormones and then gradually increases the dose. The increase generally takes several weeks, because a sudden change may cause cardiac problems, especially in an elderly patient.

Patients who receive appropriate treatment for hypothyroidism recover completely and can expect to lead a normal life. They will, however, require treatment for the rest of their lives, with occasional blood tests to ensure that the correct amounts of hormones are being given.

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