HYPOTHYROIDISM

By Mikael Häggström (All used images are in public domain.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8566743

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What is the thyroid gland?
The thyroid gland a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. 

Thyroid hormones control the way the body uses energy, so they affect nearly every organ in your body, even the way your heart beats. Without enough thyroid hormones, many of your body’s functions slow down. 
thyroid hormone is responsible for coordinating energy, growth and metabolism in your body.

Hypothyroidism (AKA underactive thyroid) - condition when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones for proper bodily functioning. 

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism:
Symptoms that can vary from person to person, but may include:

• fatigue
• low energy
• sluggishness
• weakness / muscle weakness
• aches (pain) in muscles / tenderness and/or stiffness
• joint pain / pain, stiffness or swelling in your joint
• weight gain
• feeling cold
• trouble tolerating cold / increased sensitivity to cold
• constipation
• a puffy face
• dry skin
• itchy skin
• dry hair
• hair loss / thinning hair
• decreased sweating
• heavy or irregular menstrual periods
• fertility problems
• troubling concentrating
• memory issues / impaired memory
• feeling down
• depression
• slowed heart rate
• elevated blood cholesterol level
• goiter (abnormal enlargement of your thyroid gland)
• hoarseness (possibly due to throat swelling / goiter)

Because hypothyroidism develops slowly, many people don’t notice symptoms of the disease for months or even years.  Many of these symptoms, especially fatigue and weight gain, are common and don’t always mean that someone has a thyroid problem.
In summary, hypothyroidism can result in problems with your hair, skin, muscles,  digestion, memory, and mood, as well as the immune system. 
   
Hypothyroidism has several causes, including

•     thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid)
•     Hashimoto’s disease / Hashimoto's thyroiditis
  
•     congenital hypothyroidism (present at birth)
  
•     surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid
  
•     radiation treatment of the thyroid
  
•     some medicines
  
•     too much or too little iodine in the diet
  
•     pituitary disease
  

Sources:
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [NIDDK]          Health Information Center ... Home / Health Information / Endocrine Diseases /              Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid)
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hypothyroidism

10 Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/hypothyroidism-symptoms

Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/symptoms-causes/syc-20350284

Photo & Illustration Credits:

1. Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands
   http://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/endocrine/glands/thyroid.html
   This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.

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