Download Hypothyroidism

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According to the American Thyroid Association, more than
12% of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition
during their lifetime.
The Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland is located in the
lower part of the neck, wrapped
around the windpipe. This gland
makes, stores, and releases several
different hormones that are essential
to the function of all organs in the
body.
Contact Information
ProAct, Inc.
6333 Route 298, Suite 210
East Syracuse, NY 13057
Syracuse, Newark, Orlando, Houston,
Chicago, New York, Minneapolis
Hypothyroidism or under-active thyroid disease, is a common
disorder. Hypothyroidism means that the thyroid gland cannot make
enough of the thyroid hormone to keep the body functioning properly.
The thyroid gland is located in the front lower part of your neck. The
hormones that the thyroid releases travels through the bloodstream
and can affect nearly every part of the body. The thyroid controls how
an individual’s body cells use energy from food through the process
of metabolism. Your metabolism affects your heartbeat, how you burn
calories and your body temperature. If the body does not have enough
of this hormone, the body starts to slow down, lose energy and your
metabolism becomes sluggish.
Causes
There are numerous factors that can cause hypothyroidism. The most
common cause is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This is an inflammation of
the thyroid gland, which is considered an autoimmune disorder. With
this disorder, the body will produce antibodies that will attack and
destroy the thyroid gland. Other causes of hypothyroidism are:
• Radiation therapy to the neck area will damage the thyroid
which in turn makes it harder for the gland to produce
hormone.
• Radioactive iodine treatment.
• Use of certain heart, psychiatric or cancer medications.
• Thyroid surgery.
• Too little iodine in the diet.
• Pregnancy.
Hypothyroidism is more likely to develop in women and in those
individuals where a close family member has an autoimmune disease.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Hypothyroidism symptoms vary and can be vague and mimic other conditions. Symptoms include but are not
limited to the following:
• Depression
• Dry hair and skin
• Fatigue
• Slow heart rate
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Sensitivity to cold
• Low body temperature
Be sure to contact your physician if you or someone you know has the above symptoms. It is very important to
remember that many, if not all, of these symptoms can be caused by other medical conditions, therefore seeing your
doctor is the best solution. If you have these symptoms and your doctor feels it may be related to hypothyroidism,
he/she will order a blood test to check your hormone levels. Some of the levels tested are the Thyroid-stimulating
hormone, and T4 (thyroxine). If the blood test or physical exam of the thyroid comes back abnormal, a thyroid
ultrasound or scan could be next to check for inflammation.
Treatment
If an individual is diagnosed with hypothyroidism, their doctor will prescribe them a synthetic thyroid hormone
that is to be taken daily. Regular blood tests to check the thyroid hormone levels will be needed to adjust medication
dose if needed. It is extremely important to keep hypothyroidism under control as it can result in myxedema, a very
severe case of the disease that can cause loss of consciousness or death.
Medications
• Synthroid (Levothyroxine): Levothyroxine is a synthetically prepared isomer of thyroxine (T4), which is a
hormone secreted by the thyroid gland. Levothyroxine is indicated for the treatment of primary, secondary, and
tertiary hypothyroidism. It is the preferred treatment option because the hormonal content is standardized and
the effects of the drug are more predictable.
• Cytomel (Liothyronine): Liothyronine is a synthetic version of triiodothyronine (T3). Liothyronine has a much
faster onset of action than levothyroxine due to the fact that it is already in its active form and does not need to
be converted. Levothyroxine needs to be converted from T4 to its active T3 form to elicit an effect.
• Armour Thyroid, Nature Thyroid, Westhroid (Desiccated Thyroid): Desiccated thyroid is a naturally occurring
thyroid hormone derived from the thyroid glands of pigs. Unlike synthetic versions, desiccated thyroid contains
both T3 and T4. There are also larger variations in the T3 and T4 content compared to the available synthetic
versions.