There is a hormone produced in the body and when the thyroid stimulating hormone, TSH, is not produced in sufficient amounts, it causes this serious condition. That is not the only possible cause. Some individuals who have a mild case in conjunction with the lower TSH level, may not know they have it.
There are a high number of symptoms. They range from fatigue, weakness, weight gain or loss, coarse hair, dry skin to hair loss. The person will often complain of feeling cold, being constipated and being depressed.
Severe cases may experience enlarged tongue, slowed speech, irritability and loss of memory. Not every case will include all these symptoms. If the individual is treated early, the outcome will be better.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is another cause. It is an autoimmune disorder in which the patients own body causes the disease. In the United States over ten million people have the hypothyroid deficiency. More women than men suffer from it. For each man afflicted, there are ten women with the disorder.
Congenital thyroid agenesis is a condition in which the person is born without a thyroid gland. Other causative factors are a tumor or a reaction to medication. Generally speaking, the disorder is concomitant with insufficient amounts of thyroid hormones.
The common way to treat it is by prescribing thyroid hormone medicine. A synthetic version is reasonably priced and works very well. The blood must be tested at regular intervals to make certain the individual has the correct amount.
In some cases the thyroid gland begins to function normally again. However, usually a person must be treated for the rest of his or her life. Regular blood tests are needed to monitor the hormone level.
If an insufficient amount of medicine is prescribed, the above mentioned symptoms may grow worse. If too much is prescribed, the individual may suffer from constipation, become nervous and have insomnia. If the hormone level is extremely low before the person is found to have hypothyroidism a serious condition can result. It is myxedema coma, which is extremely rare, but can be fatal when it occurs.
Medication is reasonably priced, is not known to cause side effects and is responsive to treatment. It may require checking all other medicines and even foods may prevent proper absorption of the medicine. Some supplements that are problematic are calcium, cholestyramine, iron and aluminum hydroxide, an ingredient in antacids. A high-fiber diet or excessive consumption of soy can also be problematic.
When a woman with this condition becomes pregnant, monitoring of TSH levels is crucial. Without proper levels the fetus can be harmed. In most instances, the amount of synthetic TSH will have to be increased. By watching the hypothyroidism symptoms Tampa physicians can maintain the correct level and make certain the adequate amount of medication is prescribed.
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