Hyporthyroidism is a condition that’s indicated by inadequate production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid glands. Although iodine deficiency can cause this condition, more often than not it’s a consequence of an underlying illness. Most of them are autoimmune conditions, where the immune system assaults the person’s own parts of the body, and in the matter of hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism is a very significant health problem as it involves other systems of the body. Here are some of the conditions which are typically associated with hypothyroidism.

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that is characterized by hyperthyroidism, the opposite disorder of hypothyroidism, wherein the thyroid glands generates too much thyroid hormones. People who have Graves’ disease have a malfunctioning immune system that makes antibodies that mimic thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), causing the thyroid gland to create too much. The treatment of Graves’ disease will involve the use of antithyroid medications, iodine-131 (a radioisotope of iodine), or thyroidectomy, which essentially inhibits or completely gets rid of the thyroid gland. As a result will lead to the hypothyroid state of those who have Graves’ disease.

One more autoimmune disorder that is associated with an under active thyroid is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It is the most frequent cause of hypothyroidism in North America. In this affliction, the immune system directly assaults the thyroid gland, confusing it as a foreign body and triggering its destruction. In this case, antibodies such as leukocytes interrupt thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin, and TSH receptors. This may lead to the inflammation and subsequently, the destruction of the thyroid gland thus developing the hypothyroid condition. It is also believed that this condition is genetic.

Another autoimmune disorder that is also related together with hypothyroidism is Addison’s disease. Addison’s disease is an endocrine problem wherein the adrenal glands generate inadequate quantities of cortisol and aldosterone. Sometimes, this disorder appears in conjunction with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This condition is called Schmidt’s syndrome. Besides the symptoms of Addison’s disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, people who have Schmidt’s syndrome may also develop immunoglobulin A deficiency, vitiligo, sarcoidosis, type 2 diabetes, alopecia, myasthenia gravis, Graves’ disease, pure red cell aplasia, or pernicious anemia.