Introduction to Hypoactive Thyroid - Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

When the thyroid gland is not responding to the pituitary gland's release of thyroid stimulating hormone, the result is a hypoactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, and insufficient levels of thyroid hormone in the blood. This condition affects more women than men, and requires life long treatment to replace the hormones not being produced by the thyroid.

Thyroid hormones

The hormones secreted by the thyroid are: Thyroxine (T4), which contains four atoms of iodine. Triiodothyronine (T3), has three atoms of iodine attached

Thyroxine is turned into Triiodothyronine by the liver, and it is these hormone levels that determine the type of thyroid disease that is present. These hormones work to regulate the rate at which your body burns energy. They affect weight and sleep patterns, menstrual cycle changes in women and erectile dysfunction (ED) in men.

Another hormone involved in this process is thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), manufactured by the pituitary gland. When thyroid hormone levels in the blood are low, the pituitary gland releases TSH, which stimulates the thyroid to produce and secrete more hormone.

Symptoms: Subclinical hypothyroidism is the term that describes the initial symptoms of hypothyroidism that can be overlooked and mimic other conditions. Symptoms include:

Fatigue Intolerance to cold Dry and/or pale skin Hair loss and brittle nails sore muscles, slow movements and weakness Hoarse voice a change in facial expression Depression Memory deficits and difficulty in concentrating Increased weight Constipation fertility problems and increased risk of miscarriage heavy, irregular or prolonged menstrual periods Bradycardia (slow heart rate)

Goiter is a swelling in one or both lobes that site on either side of the thyroid gland, that appears as an enlargement on the lower aspect of the neck.

Causes: Hypothyroidism is more common in older people. Women are more likely to be affected than men. Autoimmune conditions such as diabetes, vitiligo, and Addison's disease. Certain medications, such as lithium carbonate (psychotropic med) and amiodarone (for the heart) Inefficient amount of iodine Autoimmune Hashimoto's thyroiditis Problems with hypothalamus or pituitary gland

Hypothyroidism is diagnosed by testing the blood TSH levels and thyroid hormone levels in the blood. A diagnosis of autoimmune hypothyroidism is usually determined by the presence of certain antibodies in the blood, which show as a problem with autoimmunity.

Treatment: Treatment for Hypothyroidism involves replacing the thyroid hormones that are absent. This is easily accomplished by taking oral levothyroxine. The dosage will need to be adjusted by your physician to get the correct dosage for you. Regular blood testing will be required to check hormone levels. Medication will then be adjusted accordingly. Medication and treatment for underactive hypothyroid will continue for the rest of the patient's life. Once the correct dose of thyroxine replacement has been determined, yearly blood tests will be needed to ensure appropriate hormone levels are maintained.

Fetal thyroid development occurs after the 12th week of pregnancy. Until then the fetus depends on the mother's thyroid hormone levels for nervous system development. The mother can feel safe in taking her thyroid supplements. She needs it for her health, as well as for the health of the developing fetus.

If you are hypothyroid and plan to have children sometime in the future, let your doctor know of your plans so that your health can be in the most optimal condition as possible.

Multiple Sclerosis - Do the Bureaucrats Really Understand Enough to Try to Help in a Helpful Way?

Today I talked with my sister who was very upset.

Debbie stated that the Canadian government had set up a new program for disabled in which savings by the person would be matched. The problem, however, was that the only financial institution that would set up the account was the Bank of Montreal (now known as BMO).

Deb and her family live on a farm that is several miles south of a village in Saskatchewan that has only a Credit Union. Because she isn't mobile and hasn't left the house in over two years, she didn't know how she would be able to open an account to start the program.

I offered to find information for her and, throughout the process wondered how many individuals (healthy or not)would have the stamina to make it to a point that they could define as "success".

First I went to the BMO website and tried to find the appropriate telephone contact. I hoped to speak with a "real" person but had to go through a number of recorded messages and menus until that happened. The lady who I spoke with was polite but didn't have the information I needed. She then transferred me to the Mutual Fund department.

I explained the situation to the polite gentleman who confirmed that an active account in the BMO was required. He also stated that this needed to be done by Deb in person so that a profile could be set up with her. I explained that she hadn't been away from the house in over two years and asked the location of nearest branch. He asked for her postal code and did enough research to inform me that Regina (the capital of Saskatchewan) had a branch. I explained that this was approximately two and a half hours from her home.

I offered to go to the nearest BMO branch in my city and have her on the telephone with a Customer Relations officer at the same time. The bank representative explained that we would need two pieces of identification for her but didn't know if they could be sent by FAX.

He stated that he would contact his supervisor to see what options were available and even offered to telephone either me or Debbie once he had that information.

Finally, he asked me for Deb's age which is 52 years. It was then that he explained that the matching program was only available to those who were 49 years of age or younger as of December 31, 2008.

I wonder who developed this program? It seems obvious that they didn't know anything about the limitations of disabilities, the inconvenience of living in rural areas or the fact that disabilities don't disappear after 49 years of age.

I truly hope that others who are eligible for this federal government program are tenacious and able enough to not only be able to benefit from it but will also have an opportunity to help educate society about the realities of the situation.

Just when you think that life will be a positive adventure, you fall in a pothole!