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Hypothyroidism, also known as underactive thyroid, is a common condition that occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. This gland is located in the front lower part of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple.
The thyroid gland produces two main thyroid hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine or thyroxine (T4). Thyroid hormones are responsible for many functions including regulating the metabolism in the body. This means that T3 and T4 hormones decide how your body will convert food into energy.
Hypothyroidism, or the deficiency of thyroid hormones, slows down the metabolism, which then affects several functions of the body. Thyroid hormone deficiency increases the risk of developing heart problems along with several other complications.
If you have an underactive thyroid, you can experience symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, slow heart rate, and depression. Management of hypothyroidism includes thyroid hormone replacement medications along with diet and lifestyle changes.
Statistics show that hypothyroidism affects every 5 out of 100 people. The prevalence of hypothyroidism ishigher in females than males.
Problems that influence the functioning of the thyroid gland are responsible for hypothyroidism. Some prevalent causes of hypothyroidism are:
Hashimoto’s disease, or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. It’s an autoimmune condition in which the immune cells of the body mistakenly consider healthy cells of the body as foreign pathogens and start making antibodies against them.
Eventually, the body starts attacking the thyroid gland which causes inflammation. This diminishes the thyroid gland’s ability to produce adequate thyroid hormones and causes hypothyroidism.
Women, especially pregnant women, are at higher risk of developing Hashimoto’s disease. The risk factor is also high if you have a familyhistory of autoimmune disorders like celiac disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes.
Radioactive Iodine therapy is a treatment option for hyperthyroidism where there is excess thyroid hormone production. It uses radioactive iodine to destroy cells in the thyroid gland as the thyroid gland stores70–80% of total body iodine.
The damage to the thyroid gland causes reduced thyroid hormone production and, mostly, less than the body's requirements. So, with radioactive iodine therapy, there is a higher risk of developing hypothyroidism.
Statistics show that abouttwo-thirds of people who undergo radioactive iodine therapy develop hypothyroidism.
Radiation therapy is a common treatment protocol for cancer cells. The application of radiation therapy for cancers in the head and neck region sometimes causes damage to the thyroid gland.
This leads to less or no production of thyroid hormones and symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Research shows that there is a40–50% incidence of hypothyroidism among patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancers.
The most common medicines responsible for hypothyroidism are the ones used in the management of hyperthyroidism, such as propylthiouracil and methimazole. These medicines can drop thyroid hormone production lower than normal and lead to hypothyroidism.
Some other medicines that can cause hypothyroidism are:
Iodine intake is essential for making thyroid hormones as your body cannot produce iodine. Lack of iodinecauses overgrowth of the thyroid gland, a condition called goiter. It can damage the thyroid gland and impair the production of thyroid hormones.
In several underdeveloped countries, a low-iodine diet is the common cause of hypothyroidism. However, consuming iodine-rich food sources such as seafood, dairy products, and iodized salt helps manage iodine deficiency.
Hyperthyroidism is the overproduction of thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine and tetraiodothyronine. In contrast, hypothyroidism is the underproduction of thyroid hormones compared to the body's requirements.
Hyperthyroidism can result from thyroid gland inflammation, the formation of thyroid nodules, or an autoimmune condition calledGraves’ disease. Overproduction of thyroid hormones speeds up metabolism, causing weight loss and several other complications, such as irregular heartbeat, osteoporosis, and vision problems.
The management of hyperthyroidism involves suppressing the production of thyroid hormones via several treatment options.
Meanwhile, hypothyroidism can result from damage to the thyroid gland caused by autoimmune diseases or as a side-effect ofhyperthyroidism treatment.
Lower production of thyroid hormones slows the metabolism, causing weight gain and other cardiovascular complications. The most common management of hypothyroidism involves replacing thyroid hormones with regular intake of medicines.
There are several management options for hypothyroidism to help the body function properly. But, if you don’t treat hypothyroidism, it can lead to several health problems and life-threatening conditions, including:
Hypothyroidism influences the physiology of the cardiovascular system via several mechanisms and leads to heart problems. Low levels of thyroid hormonesreduce cardiac output by slowing heart rate. It also reduces the elasticity of arteries, causing increased blood pressure.
Hypothyroidism is also responsible forincreasing LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. High LDL cholesterol increases systemic vascular resistance and promotes heart failure.
Hypothyroidism lowers the energy of your body, and you find it hard to concentrate. It makes you feel tired, along with mood swings and irritability. Forgetfulness, mental sluggishness, and lethargy are thesymptoms associated with hypothyroidism.
Research shows that people with hypothyroidism have an increased risk of dementia. Severalstudies also support the association between hypothyroidism and depression.
The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones after receiving thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) as a stimulus from the pituitary gland. When thyroid hormones are deficient in the body, the pituitary glandincreases the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). This causes the overgrowth of the thyroid gland, a condition called goiter.
Goiter appears as a lump at the front of the neck and can cause breathing and swallowing problems.
Hypothyroidism can cause nerve injury in the arms and legs. In hypothyroidism, there is fluid retention in the soft tissues that can put pressure on the surrounding nerves and cause injury.
The most common example of nerve injury from hypothyroidism iscarpal tunnel syndrome. The nerves of the hands pass through a tunnel of soft tissue at the wrist. The swelling of tissues around the tunnel due to fluid retention puts pressure on the nerves. Symptoms of this nerve injury include pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand.
Myxedema coma is a rare butlife-threatening complication of hypothyroidism. In myxedema, several changes in the body from hypothyroidism, such as infections, heart failure, or stroke, slow down the body process to a critical level.
In myxedema, a person cannot perform any bodily function and appears to be in a coma. It is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical assistance.
The diagnosis of hypothyroidism can involve several steps and procedures, depending on your condition and the preference of your doctor. It can include your symptoms, medical history, and physical examination.
However, the most common and accurate diagnosis of hypothyroidism is increased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in the blood. It’s because when thyroid hormone is deficient in the body; the pituitary gland releases more TSH to stimulate the thyroid gland.
Tests for T4 and T3 hormones are also available to confirm the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. These tests evaluate the levels of T4 and T3 in the blood, where low concentration means an underactive thyroid.
Hypothyroidism is among those medical conditions that have no cure but can be controlled effectively. The treatment option to achieve the normal amount of thyroid hormones in the body is taking thyroid hormone medicines regularly.
The most common medicine for the treatment of hypothyroidism islevothyroxine, which is a synthetic thyroid hormone that replicates the role of natural thyroid hormone in the body. It is mostly used in pill form, but liquid and soft gel capsules are also available.
The challenge in treating hypothyroidism with levothyroxine is finding thecorrect dosage. Doctors usually prefer starting with a lower dose and increasing the dosage gradually. The dosage is decided based on the blood test for thyroid hormone after every change in dosage.
There is usually a period of 6 to 8 weeks between blood tests until your doctor figures out the correct dosage of levothyroxine for your condition. Once you achieve the correct dosage, the interval of blood tests can increase from 6 weeks to a year.
Levothyroxine eliminates almost all the symptoms of hypothyroidism and keeps your thyroid levels in control. Theside effects of levothyroxine appear when you take more than the required dosage and thyroid levels in the body exceed normal levels— hyperthyroidism.
In most cases, hypothyroidism results from autoimmune disease or damage to the thyroid gland from secondary causes. So, lifestyle changes cannot prevent hypothyroidism but they can help in managing the symptoms and improving overall health.
Here are some lifestyle modifications effective in the management of hypothyroidism:
Hypothyroidism can result from iodine deficiency, and the symptoms become worse if the deficiency persists. Add iodine-rich foods such as seafood, dairy products, and iodized salt to your diet.
Shifting towards a plant-based diet and unsaturated fats from refined carbohydrates and saturated fats helps inweight management - a serious complication of hypothyroidism.
Research shows that a gluten-free diet helps improve thyroid function and is effective in autoimmune thyroid disease. Also, add foods rich in vitamin D, zinc, thiamine, vitamin B6, and selenium to your diet, as theirdeficiencies can worsen the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Also Read: 17 Practical Ideas to Get More Vitamins and Minerals through Diet!
Wondering where to start your gluten-free diet? We got you covered. Check out our certified gluten- free meal plan here.
Physical activity helps in managing several symptoms of hypothyroidism. Exercise promotesenhanced energy and mood and is effective against mood swings in hypothyroidism.
Exercise alsoboosts the metabolism and helps in weight management which is essential for people with low thyroid hormone production.
Hypothyroidism causes fatigue and lowers the energy of the body, followed by mood swings.Studies show that adequate sleep helps fight fatigue and constant mood changes.
Somestudies also highlight that normal sleep promotes the release and helps regulate thyroid hormones. Experts recommend that sleeping7 to 9 hours a night is ideal for adults.
Struggling with insomnia? Check out our guide to deal with sleeplessness here.
Constantstress can worsen the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue and weight gain. Long-term stress also leads to depression, a common symptom of hypothyroidism.
Stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation, therapy, and exercise effectively manage stress levels. Low stress levels also translate to improved mood and energy.
It is crucial to analyze what to eat and what to avoid if you have hypothyroidism, as certain foods can worsen the condition. Here are some foods that you should avoid if diagnosed with hypothyroidism:
Goitrogens are the compounds thatinhibit the production of thyroid hormones by several mechanisms.Studies show that goitrogens can interfere with thyroid metabolism, aggravating the effects of iodine deficiency.
You should avoid or limit consuming cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, which are high in goitrogens.
Several studies show that excess soy and soy product consumption can affect thyroid functioning andinterfere with hormonal treatment for hypothyroidism. You must avoid or limit the consumption of foods containing soy, including soy milk, soy sauce, soybeans, and tofu.
A gluten-free diet is associated with alower risk of developing autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto’s disease.Studies indicate that low gluten intake positively influences thyroid functioning and reduces inflammation.
Related Link: Gluten-Free Meal Plan!
You should avoid bread, pasta, and bakery items high in gluten to limit the gluten count in your diet.
Ultra-processed foods are high in refined sugar and unhealthy fats that negatively influence metabolism. Consuming ultra-processed foods also increases the risk ofweight gain andinflammation, worsening the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Also Read: The Ugly Truth About Overly Processed Foods!
Some common ultra-processed foods are fried items, ice cream, bakery goods, sausages, and carbonated drinks.
According to the studies, biotin has no effects on the body's thyroid function and can not help with hypothyroidism. However, consuming biotin interferes with laboratory tests for T3 and T4 and results in incorrect reports.
Hypothyroidism slows down the metabolism, resulting in fat build-up in the body. It also causes weight gain due to fluid retention in the body.
Yes, hypothyroidism treatment, which is thyroid hormone replacement by a medicine called levothyroxine, continues for life. There is no cure for hypothyroidism, and regular medication is the only treatment option.
Low thyroid hormone levels in the blood test are a manifestation of hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid. Fatigue, weight gain, lack of concentration, and many other symptoms of hypothyroidism resemble those of other health conditions. This is why diagnosing hypothyroidism in the early stage is challenging.
However, if hypothyroidism is diagnosed, the treatment is possible by replacing thyroid hormones via the medicine levothyroxine. Treatment is effective but needs to continue for life to control the thyroid hormone levels at normal.
Lifestyle and diet also play a significant role in managing hypothyroidism. Choosing the right food to eat, exercise, stress management, and sleep are among the factors that help relieve the symptoms of hypothyroidism.