Hypothyroidism

Your thyroid is a tiny gland found in the front of your neck. Its job is to make thyroid hormone, which controls how every organ in your body uses energy. Hypothyroidism occurs when the gland is not making enough thyroid hormone.

Possible complications of hypothyroidism include:

• Anemia

• Low body temperature

• Heart failure

• High cholesterol levels

What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?

If you have hypothyroidism, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Fatigue

• Sensitivity to cold

• Hoarse voice

• Slow speech

• Droopy eyelids

• Facial swelling

• Weight gain

• Constipation

• Dry hair

• Coarse and thickened skin

• Hand tingling or pain

• Slow pulse

• Muscle cramps

• Joint pain

• Thinning of the sides of eyebrows

• Confusion

• Increased or irregular menstrual flow

Talk with your doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms.

What causes hypothyroidism and what are the risk factors?

Hypothyroidism may be caused by:

• Autoimmune disorders

• Treatment for an overactive thyroid gland

• Pregnancy

• Problems with your pituitary gland

Risk factors for hypothyroidism include:

• Being a woman

• Being older than age 60

• A history of thyroid problems or thyroid surgery

• Family history of thyroid problems

• Type 1 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis

• Turner syndrome

• Pregnancy or birth within the last six months

• Iodine deficiency

How is hypothyroidism diagnosed and treated?

A blood test can measure the amount of thyroid hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormones in your blood. Other blood tests can look for antibodies that attack the thyroid gland. See your doctor if you are experiencing hypothyroidism symptoms and would like to be tested for hypothyroidism.

If you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, your doctor may prescribe synthetic thyroxine, a hormone replacement therapy as a treatment.