Hypothyroidism is a relatively typical disease and roughly 3% to 5% of the population have it. It is characterized by a deficiency of thyroid hormones that may directly or indirectly involve the thyroid gland. Here are some of the principal factors behind hypothyroidism.

One of the main reason behind an under active thyroid is the genetic condition referred to as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It is an autoimmune disorder wherein the immune system assaults the thyroid gland. Because of this, the thyroid gland becomes enlarged and has a diminished ability to create thyroid hormones. Women are 5 to 10 times more prone to have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis than males, thus making them a lot more susceptible to hypothyroiditis.

Iodine deficiency can also bring about hypothyroidism. Iodine is an crucial major component in the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine and therefore a shortage of it in the body can cause difficulties in the production of these necessary hormones.

One more reason behind an under active thyroid is a condition of the thyroid glands referred to as lymphocytic thyroiditis. A white blood cell called lymphocyte results in the inflammation of the thyroid glands. This is very typical right after giving birth, affecting 8% of women soon after childbirth. The disease will be initiated by a hyperthyroid period where the thyroid gland secretes too much quantities of thyroid hormones. It is accompanied by the hypothyroid period that may continue about 6 months.

Ironically, a few treatments can also result in hypothyroidism. Iodine-131, a radioisotope of iodine that is employed to take care of a thyroid condition called Graves’ disease, can greatly damage the thyroid gland. Other medicines which are utilized to treat hyperthyroidism might also trigger an under active thyroid too such as methimazole and propylthiouracil. The psychiatric drug lithium and medicines that contain huge amounts of iodine like amiodarone and potassium iodide can also change the thyroid function, resulting in the hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism that not directly involves the thyroid glands are classified as secondary and tertiary hypothyroidism. This happens when there is problem in the pituitary glands and the hypothalamus, respectively, and so they can’t signal the thyroid glands to create sufficient hormones. This occurs when the pituitary glands cannot give off thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), most of the time due a tumor in the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus.

Hypothyroidism Disease

Hyporthyroidism is a medical condition that is marked by limited production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid glands. Though iodine deficiency can cause this condition, much of the time it is a direct result of an underlying disorder. Most of them are autoimmune conditions, in which the immune system assaults the person’s own parts of the body, and in the case of hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism is definitely a serious health issue since it includes other systems of the body. Below are a few of the diseases that are typically associated with hypothyroidism.

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by hyperthyroidism, the opposite condition of hypothyroidism, in which the thyroid glands produces excessive thyroid hormones. Those who have Graves’ disease have a malfunctioning immune system that produces antibodies that mimic thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), causing the thyroid gland to produce too much. Treating Graves’ disease requires the use of antithyroid medications, iodine-131 (a radioisotope of iodine), or thyroidectomy, which basically suppresses or totally gets rid of the thyroid gland. This in turn will lead to the hypothyroid condition of those who have Graves’ disease.

One more autoimmune disease that is linked to hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It is one among the frequent cause of hypothyroidism in North America. In this ailment, the immune system directly assaults the thyroid gland, confusing it as a foreign body and triggering its destruction. In this case, antibodies like leukocytes get involved with thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin, and TSH receptors. This may lead to the swelling and consequently, the devastation of the thyroid gland hence developing the hypothyroid condition. It’s also theorized that this condition is genetic.

An additional autoimmune disorder that is also related together with hypothyroidism is Addison’s disease. Addison’s disease is an endocrine problem wherein the adrenal glands create not enough amounts of cortisol and aldosterone. Sometimes, this condition appears along with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This disorder is called Schmidt’s syndrome. Besides the symptoms of Addison’s disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, those who have Schmidt’s syndrome may also develop type 2 diabetes, alopecia, myasthenia gravis, Graves’ disease, pure red cell aplasia, pernicious anemia, immunoglobulin A deficiency, vitiligo, or sarcoidosis.