What is Hypothyroidism?
Nearly nine million people in the United States alone suffer from hypothyroidism, and while it may go undiagnosed for years, it
is a rather serious problem for the body, and it can greatly affect the overall quality of one’s life. It may be hard to imagine, but
every year, people begin to suffer from this troublesome health problem, and it can cause a huge amount of pain and suffering.
The question for most, at the outset, is “what is hypothyroidism”, but the question almost always turns into how this condition
can so change one’s life.
The Basics
In the most basic of terms, this health problem is the result of what occurs when the thyroid, which is a very important part of the
body, is unable to create the hormones necessary to maintain a good quality of life. The thyroid gland is considered to be
underactive, and this can cause massive problems which can greatly impact how a person feels on a daily basis.
The thyroid is a gland in the neck that is considered to be one of the largest endocrine glands in the body, and it actually
controls a great deal of your daily body functions. The thyroid is responsible for controlling how quickly the body burns energy
and how it makes proteins. It is also responsible for controlling the hormones in the body and how the body reacts to these
hormones. For instance, children who are born with a deficiency tend to have both physical and mental development issues.
Likewise, women who have an underactive thyroid later in life may find other problematic symptoms like the inability to have a
normal menstrual period.
How is It Controlled?
The body runs fairly well on it’s own without help from us most of the time. In a normal course of the day the body is running on
perfect homeostasis, and the control system is regulating the body and telling the cells how much thyroid the body needs to
run. There are detector cells in the brain that measure not only the amount of thyroid that is in the blood, but how much is
needed. When the level drops, a message is sent to the gland letting the body know that more of the hormone is needed. Once
it is released, the body is back to running smoothly again.
Those who wonder “what is hypothyroidism” are likely pondering this question because they feel that they may have a very
serious problem. There are a number of symptoms that come along with the condition, including fatigue, increased weight
gain, a decreased libido, hair loss, and irritability. The first step in discovering whether or not you suffer from this condition is
getting a doctor’s diagnosis.
Diagnosing
If you are asking the question “what is hypothyroidism” and believe that you have some of the symptoms, it is a good idea to
speak with your physician. Fortunately, the condition is fairly easy to diagnose. In the first round of testing a physician will check
the levels of the thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH that is in the blood. If the levels are high, it will indicate that the thyroid is
not making enough of the thyroid hormone. Other tests, however, may also be done to double-check the findings, including a
prolactin test, an antithyroid antibodies test, a test for anemia, and a basal body temperature, as those who have the condition
eventually succumb to having a lower basal body temperature than a normal person. Anyone who is worried that they may have
hypothyroidism should visit a doctor immediately to help avoid long term problems.
Nearly nine million people in the United States alone suffer from hypothyroidism, and while it may go undiagnosed for years, it
is a rather serious problem for the body, and it can greatly affect the overall quality of one’s life. It may be hard to imagine, but
every year, people begin to suffer from this troublesome health problem, and it can cause a huge amount of pain and suffering.
The question for most, at the outset, is “what is hypothyroidism”, but the question almost always turns into how this condition
can so change one’s life.
The Basics
In the most basic of terms, this health problem is the result of what occurs when the thyroid, which is a very important part of the
body, is unable to create the hormones necessary to maintain a good quality of life. The thyroid gland is considered to be
underactive, and this can cause massive problems which can greatly impact how a person feels on a daily basis.
The thyroid is a gland in the neck that is considered to be one of the largest endocrine glands in the body, and it actually
controls a great deal of your daily body functions. The thyroid is responsible for controlling how quickly the body burns energy
and how it makes proteins. It is also responsible for controlling the hormones in the body and how the body reacts to these
hormones. For instance, children who are born with a deficiency tend to have both physical and mental development issues.
Likewise, women who have an underactive thyroid later in life may find other problematic symptoms like the inability to have a
normal menstrual period.
How is It Controlled?
The body runs fairly well on it’s own without help from us most of the time. In a normal course of the day the body is running on
perfect homeostasis, and the control system is regulating the body and telling the cells how much thyroid the body needs to
run. There are detector cells in the brain that measure not only the amount of thyroid that is in the blood, but how much is
needed. When the level drops, a message is sent to the gland letting the body know that more of the hormone is needed. Once
it is released, the body is back to running smoothly again.
Those who wonder “what is hypothyroidism” are likely pondering this question because they feel that they may have a very
serious problem. There are a number of symptoms that come along with the condition, including fatigue, increased weight
gain, a decreased libido, hair loss, and irritability. The first step in discovering whether or not you suffer from this condition is
getting a doctor’s diagnosis.
Diagnosing
If you are asking the question “what is hypothyroidism” and believe that you have some of the symptoms, it is a good idea to
speak with your physician. Fortunately, the condition is fairly easy to diagnose. In the first round of testing a physician will check
the levels of the thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH that is in the blood. If the levels are high, it will indicate that the thyroid is
not making enough of the thyroid hormone. Other tests, however, may also be done to double-check the findings, including a
prolactin test, an antithyroid antibodies test, a test for anemia, and a basal body temperature, as those who have the condition
eventually succumb to having a lower basal body temperature than a normal person. Anyone who is worried that they may have
hypothyroidism should visit a doctor immediately to help avoid long term problems.
| Copyright 2009 HypothyroidismHelp.com Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Medical Disclaimer | Contact Us | Hypothyroidism Info |
| Hypothyroidism Treatment Reviews | Top 3 Hypothyroidism Treatments: Thyromine - Thyax - Thyroid Assist | What is It All About? |