Hypothyroidism. Causes, Risk Factors, Symptoms

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is unable to produce enough hormones. Since the main purpose of thyroid hormones is to “regulate the body’s metabolism,” it is clear that people with this condition will have symptoms related to a slowed metabolism.

Hypothyroidism. Causes

• Inflammation of the thyroid gland (thyroiditis). Hypothyroidism often occurs as a result of previous or ongoing inflammation of the thyroid gland, which leaves a large percentage of thyroid cells damaged (or dead) and unable to produce sufficient amounts of hormone
• The most common cause of thyroid insufficiency is autoimmune thyroiditis (also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) – a form of thyroid inflammation caused by the body’s own immune system attack.
• Procedures or medications that affect the thyroid gland’s ability to produce enough hormones to meet the body’s needs. For example, the treatment of many thyroid diseases, including thyroid cancer, requires surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid gland. If the total mass of thyroid cells responsible for hormone production is insufficient to meet the body’s needs, the patient will develop hypothyroidism.
• Thyroid neoplasms. They often require surgical removal. The operation involves removing the nodule, leaving half of the thyroid gland intact. In these cases, the remaining lobe of the thyroid and the isthmus (the thin section connecting the two lobes) produce enough hormone to meet the body’s needs. However, in some patients, it is discovered years later that the remaining part of the thyroid was unable to meet the hormone demand, resulting in hypothyroidism.
• Goiter and some other thyroid diseases can be treated with radioactive iodine therapy. The goal of radioactive iodine therapy for benign conditions is to destroy part of the thyroid gland to prevent goiter growth or excessive hormone production (hyperthyroidism). Sometimes, too many cells are damaged as a result of radioactive iodine treatment, leading to hypothyroidism within a year or two. This may not seem like a very good outcome, but it is usually preferable to the original problem.

• There are several other, less common causes of hypothyroidism, one of which is a completely “normal” thyroid gland that does not produce enough hormones due to a problem in the pituitary gland (in the brain). If the pituitary gland does not produce enough thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), then the thyroid gland simply does not receive the “signal” to produce the hormone.
• In addition, hypothyroidism can cause iodine deficiency. Despite recommendations to use iodized salt, this cause of hypothyroidism remains a global issue in the Russian Federation
• Some children are born with abnormally low thyroid function, known as congenital hypothyroidism. About half of the children, as they grow, transition to the healthy group, while others require lifelong treatment with thyroid hormone replacement medications.

Risk Factors for Hypothyroidism

Anyone can develop hypothyroidism, but you are at increased risk if you:

• woman
• over 50 years old
• have a family history of thyroid disease or any other autoimmune disease
• have an autoimmune disease, such as type 1 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis
• took antithyroid medications (treatment for hyperthyroidism) or were treated with radioactive iodine
• postponed thyroid surgery (partial or total thyroidectomy)
• were exposed to radiation on the neck or upper chest
• were pregnant or gave birth within the last six months

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

A person with hypothyroidism may experience any number of the symptoms listed below, and they will vary depending on the severity of the thyroid hormone deficiency and the duration of time the body has been deprived of the proper amount of hormones. Symptoms also vary among different individuals; what may be a major complaint for one person may not affect another at all, and vice versa.

Most people will have a combination of these symptoms. Sometimes, some patients with hypothyroidism have no symptoms at all, or they go unnoticed due to their mild nature.

So, the symptoms of hypothyroidism may include:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Coarse, dry hair
• Dry, rough, pale skin
• Hair loss
• Cold intolerance (you do not tolerate cold like others)
• Muscle cramps and frequent muscle pain
• Constipation
• Depression
• Irritability
• Memory loss
• Abnormal Menstrual Cycles
• Decreased libido

If you have one or more of the listed symptoms, consult an endocrinologist. If you have already been diagnosed and treated for hypothyroidism but still experience any or all of these symptoms, it is important to discuss this with your doctor.