Hypothyroidism: Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

      Comments Off on Hypothyroidism: Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

Hypothyroidism: Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

Hypothyroidism is a lack of thyroid hormone production. It is most often caused by primary damage to the thyroid gland (primary or peripheral hypothyroidism). Rarely, it is a central deficit of pituitary origin (dysregulation and control of the thyroid gland). Lack of thyroid hormones has a number of tissue and metabolic effects on the body.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hypothyroidism appear when hormone deficiency is established. They are associated with an overall decrease in all metabolism in the organism.

  • The face is infiltrated and enlarged, becoming a “moon”. The feature is thickened, the eyelids are heavy, and the complexion is yellow. The tongue is large. The hair is rare and brittle (hair, eyebrow, pubic and armpit hair), and the skin is dry and cold. The nails are brittle and have streaks. Fingers are curled.
  • The voice is hoarse.
  • Hearing impairment.
  • All actions slow down (deceleration of mental movements). There is a general indifference, lack of energy, up to the actual depressive syndrome.
  • The fatigue is severe. It is associated with cold, constipation, and weight gain. Convulsions are frequent and painful, and there is pain in the joints. Menstrual disorders include absence of menstruation, infertility, and breast discharge.

Differential Diagnosis

This is a low level of thyroid hormone (mostly T3) and a normal level of TSH. It usually occurs in severely ill patients, including resuscitation, burns, nutritional deficiencies, and very advanced cancer conditions. This is not hypothyroidism, there is no hormone deficiency in organs and tissues, and does not justify replacement therapy.There are several additional tests and analyzes for hypothyroidism.

Blood Test

The first marker to be altered and is usually sufficient (elevated level) of TSH to screen for hypothyroidism. Dosage of thyroid hormone (no T4 and accidentally no T3) indicating the depth of deficiency (initially decreasing after normal). The determination of anti-thyroid antibodies is positive primarily in the case of autoimmune origin (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis). Standard bioassays can show anemia, clotting disorders, high cholesterol, ionic disorders, or increased muscle enzymes.

Morphological Examination

Ultrasound can be performed, along with structural studies, the thyroid gland is dimensioned. Radioactive iodine isotope tests, such as thyroid scintigraphy, are indicated only depending on the clinical situation (nodular goiter).

Treatment

Treatment of hypothyroidism is based on taking thyroid hormones (hormone replacement therapy) in the form of thyroxine. The onset of treatment is always gradual. This is because when hypothyroidism is deep and old, it can lead to heart disease that occurs in the elderly or in heart subjects. In this case, treatment is often started during hospitalization. Your doctor may prescribe beta blockers to prevent coronary artery risk. After that, treatment is gradually adjusted depending on the biological outcome. It is usually a lifelong treatment.

Living with hypothyroidism

With a good lifestyle combined with medical monitoring and effective treatment, the symptoms of the disease disappear. For this, the following are essential:

  • Take your treatment seriously and do not change it by yourself.
  • Inform your healthcare provider about the disease during the test.
  • Its better to consult your doctor if you experience any other symptoms.
  • Balanced diet.
  • Do gentle activities: walking, swimming..

Hypothyroidism is a lack of thyroid hormone production. It is most often caused by primary damage to the thyroid gland (primary or peripheral hypothyroidism). Rarely, it is a central deficit of pituitary origin (dysregulation and control of the thyroid gland). Lack of thyroid hormones has a number of tissue and metabolic effects on the body.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hypothyroidism appear when hormone deficiency is established. They are associated with an overall decrease in all metabolism in the organism.

  • The face is infiltrated and enlarged, becoming a “moon”. The feature is thickened, the eyelids are heavy, and the complexion is yellow. The tongue is large. The hair is rare and brittle (hair, eyebrow, pubic and armpit hair), and the skin is dry and cold. The nails are brittle and have streaks. Fingers are curled.
  • The voice is hoarse.
  • Hearing impairment.
  • All actions slow down (deceleration of mental movements). There is a general indifference, lack of energy, up to the actual depressive syndrome.
  • The fatigue is severe. It is associated with cold, constipation, and weight gain. Convulsions are frequent and painful, and there is pain in the joints. Menstrual disorders include absence of menstruation, infertility, and breast discharge.

Differential Diagnosis

This is a low level of thyroid hormone (mostly T3) and a normal level of TSH. It usually occurs in severely ill patients, including resuscitation, burns, nutritional deficiencies, and very advanced cancer conditions. This is not hypothyroidism, there is no hormone deficiency in organs and tissues, and does not justify replacement therapy.There are several additional tests and analyzes for hypothyroidism.

Blood Test

The first marker to be altered and is usually sufficient (elevated level) of TSH to screen for hypothyroidism. Dosage of thyroid hormone (no T4 and accidentally no T3) indicating the depth of deficiency (initially decreasing after normal). The determination of anti-thyroid antibodies is positive primarily in the case of autoimmune origin (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis). Standard bioassays can show anemia, clotting disorders, high cholesterol, ionic disorders, or increased muscle enzymes.

Morphological Examination

Ultrasound can be performed, along with structural studies, the thyroid gland is dimensioned. Radioactive iodine isotope tests, such as thyroid scintigraphy, are indicated only depending on the clinical situation (nodular goiter).

Treatment

Treatment of hypothyroidism is based on taking thyroid hormones (hormone replacement therapy) in the form of thyroxine. The onset of treatment is always gradual. This is because when hypothyroidism is deep and old, it can lead to heart disease that occurs in the elderly or in heart subjects. In this case, treatment is often started during hospitalization. Your doctor may prescribe beta blockers to prevent coronary artery risk. After that, treatment is gradually adjusted depending on the biological outcome. It is usually a lifelong treatment.

Living with hypothyroidism

With a good lifestyle combined with medical monitoring and effective treatment, the symptoms of the disease disappear. For this, the following are essential:

  • Take your treatment seriously and do not change it by yourself.
  • Inform your healthcare provider about the disease during the test.
  • Its better to consult your doctor if you experience any other symptoms.
  • Balanced diet.
  • Do gentle activities: walking, swimming..