| Abstract: |
This fact sheet outlines the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of hypothyroidism, a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone. Symptoms can include feeling tired, depressed, sluggish, or cold; having dry skin and hair; being constipated; experiencing muscle cramps; gaining weight; or, for women, having a heavier menstrual flow. Some patients have a goiter, a swelling in the front of the neck, due to thyroid enlargement. In the United States, most hypothyroidism is caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a condition in which the patient’s immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid. Diagnosis is based on symptoms, a physical examination, and laboratory tests that measure the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine, and antithyroid antibodies. Treatment usually consists of a daily oral dosage of synthetic thyroxine. The fact sheet concludes by recommending regular annual follow-up by a health care provider to check hormone levels and make sure the drug therapy dosage is correct. Readers are referred to the American Thyroid Association website at www.thyroid.org for more information. 3 references. |