Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism Care Hypothyroidism Disease The thyroid is a central part of the body’s metabolism. In hypothyroidism, the rate of many bodily functions slow significantly, meaning that an array of physical processes, such as the pace at which calories are burned, are slowed as well. As a result, maintaining a stable weight can be an ongoing challenge for those with under-active thyroids. Still, though the constant weight struggle that many hypothyroid patients grapple with daily can be frustrating, thyroid health experts maintain that there is hope. The single most important step hypothyroid men and women can take to maintain a healthy weight or begin to shed excess pounds is to adhere strictly to the prescription drug regimen established by a licensed physician. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is the only known treatment that has been shown to be able to restore thyroid function to the normal range. This is the most reliable way to ensure that your thyroid -- and, by extension, your metabolism -- functions properly. However, if you already have a prescription regimen for hypothyroidism that you’re following closely, you may still be frustrated by the challenge of maintaining a healthy weight or slimming down. If that’s the case, there are some additional steps you can take to promote healthy weight loss. Consult with your physician to select the best approach for your situation. Decreased serum T4, resin T3 uptake, and free T4 index - the degree of depression of these indices depends on the extent of destruction of the thyroid gland. Increased serum TSH - this is the single most important diagnostic laboratory test for primary hypothyroidism.  This might be elevated, even with a normal free T4 index.  TSH is low or undetectable in cases of secondary hypothyroidism. Every cell in the body depends on having enough thyroid hormone. If your thyroid gland becomes dysfunctional, every cell in the body suffers. This is why thyroid disorders can cause so many problems. Symptoms Associated with Hypothyroid • fatigue (the most profound symptom) • headache • dry skin • swelling • weight gain • cold hands and feet • poor memory • hair loss • hoarseness • nervousness • depression • joint and muscle pain • burning or tingling sensations in the hands and/or feet (hypothyroid neuropathy) • yellowing of skin from a build up of carotene (conversion of carotene to vitamin A is slowed by hypothyroidism) • carpal tunnel syndrome • problems with balance and equilibrium (unsteadiness or lack of coordination) • constipation (from slowed metabolism) • myxedema (nonpitting edema due to the deposition of mucin in the skin) around the ankles, below the eyes, and elsewhere • obsevation of delayed Achilles tendon reflex test • hypertension (high blood pressure) • angina (chest pain) • atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) • hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) • hyperhomocysteinenemia (a marker for heart disease) • menstrual irregularities • infertility • PMS • fibrocystic breast disease • polycystic ovary syndrome • reactive hypoglycemia • psoariasis • urticaria • allergic rhinitis