| Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body lacks | | | | what causes their Hypothyroidism but fortunately this |
| sufficient thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism is also | | | | condition can be well managed and even reversed in |
| known as an under active thyroid. It occurs when the | | | | some cases. |
| thyroid gland does not make enough thyroxine. Many | | | | Another common cause for hyperthyroidism is |
| of the symptoms of hypothyroidism are very subtle | | | | Graves' disease that records for about 70% of almost |
| and are experienced by people without thyroid | | | | all the cases. It is an autoimmune disorder wherein the |
| disease. Thus, a lot of physicians overlook the | | | | immune system manufactures thyroid antibodies called |
| symptoms of fatigue, weight gain and depression and | | | | as TSI. These antibodies direct thyroid cells to |
| attribute them to other causes. | | | | overproduce the thyroid hormone and release into the |
| Hypothyroidism is the condition where the Thyroid | | | | bloodstream. Many times thyroiditis (inflammation of |
| gland which is located in the neck doesn't produce | | | | thyroid gland) can also cause hyperthyroidism where |
| enough Thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones regulate | | | | inflamed cells produce more thyroid hormones. Most |
| our growth and metabolism and so they are vitally | | | | forms of thyroiditis are considered to be autoimmune in |
| important to our well being. When there are not | | | | origin. |
| enough of these hormones produced we may suffer | | | | Another symptom of hyperthyroidism is exophthalmos, |
| from symptoms such as low body temperature, | | | | in which there is protrusion of the eyeballs. In severe |
| constipation, dizziness, extreme tiredness and | | | | cases, the degree of protrusion is so great that it |
| potentially many more. The causes of Hypothyroidism | | | | stretches the optic nerve enough to damage it. The |
| include a build up of toxins in the body, Iodine deficiency | | | | eyeballs also do not close completely when asleep or |
| or it can even be the result of the immune system | | | | when the patient blinks, causing further damage to the |
| attacking the Thyroid gland. | | | | eyes. |
| Conventional methods of treating Hypothyroidism are | | | | Surgical removal of most of the thyroid gland is the |
| usually done by replacing the hormones not produced | | | | most direct treatment for hyperthyroidism. Prior to the |
| by the Thyroid gland with a synthetic version of the T4 | | | | operation, the patient is first administered with doses of |
| hormone Thyroxine. This treatment works well for | | | | propylthiouracil, which decreases hormone function, until |
| many but unfortunately there are people who are | | | | the patient’s metabolic rate returns to normal. Then, |
| sensitive to this treatment and suffer from side | | | | large doses of iodides are administered for one to two |
| effects. | | | | weeks immediately before the operation, causing the |
| The causes of this condition include Iodine deficiency, | | | | gland to recede in size and its blood supply to diminish. |
| toxicity of the body or it can even be because the | | | | These procedures have decreased the operative |
| immune system wrongly identifies the Thyroid gland as | | | | mortality to 1 in 1000 operations from 1 in 25 prior to |
| a threat and attacks it. Many people never find out | | | | development of modern procedures. |