Hypothyroidism: Signs and Prevention
In countries like Germany, around five in 100 people have an underactive thyroid. This condition slows down your metabolism. It can lead to different complaints, but these are relatively unspecific. Experts explain which symptoms may indicate the metabolic disease and how it can be prevented.
At a Hypothyroidism (Hypothyroidism) the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. The thyroid is a vital organ. Thyroid hormones control numerous processes in the human body. When these hormones are missing, various ailments can arise. Experts explain what symptoms can occur.
Possible symptoms
Like the German Society for Endocrinology (DGE) on their website reported, the typical physical signs of an underactive thyroid are:
- Increased freezing, sensitivity to cold
- Weight gain
- Slow pulse rate
- fatigue
- Cold, dry skin, hair loss
- Water retention (edema)
- Muscle weakness
- High need for sleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Depressed mood
- constipation
The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) reports on its portal “gesundheitsinformation.de“About other possible symptoms:
- shortness of breath
- Apathy (lethargy)
- Enlarged thyroid gland (also called goiter or goiter)
- A deep, hoarse voice
- An enlarged tongue
- Heavy menstrual bleeding or disorders of the menstrual cycle, impaired fertility
- Errektionsstörungen
- Hearing loss
- Tingling or numbness
- Slowed reflexes
Causes of an underactive thyroid
According to the DGE, the following causes of an underactive thyroid are common:
- Autoimmunthyreoiditis (Hashimoto-Thyreoiditis)
- Too low a dose of thyroid hormone treatment
- Too high a dose of medication to treat hyperfunction
And these causes of underactive are very rare:
- Congenital hypofunction (one child for every 3,500 births)
- Subacute thyroiditis (De Quervain)
- Pituitary gland malfunction
Furthermore, a pronounced iodine deficiency or certain medications such as antidepressants can lead to an underactive thyroid. How this happens depends on its cause. If the hypofunction is not treated, a variety of problems, sometimes serious, can develop. But sometimes the thyroid also recovers on its own – for example, when the inflammation subsides.
Diagnosis and treatment
To make a diagnosis, the doctor will first ask about symptoms and feel the thyroid gland. Since many symptoms of an underactive thyroid can have other causes, blood tests are done to make a clear diagnosis.
In order to be able to recognize and treat congenital hypothyroidism early, the TSH value (thyroid-stimulating hormone) is routinely determined in all newborns (screening). If the result is abnormal, the thyroid hormone levels are also measured. Screening is not recommended for adults.
In the treatment of hypofunction, the missing thyroid hormone thyroxine is replaced by a drug that corresponds to the body’s own hormone. The active ingredient brings the hormone levels into the normal range. As a result, the symptoms usually go away completely. It takes about two to three months for the hormone level in the body to level off.
Depending on the cause, hypothyroidism is treated temporarily or for life. In the case of latent hypofunction, only the TSH value is increased, the hormone level is normal. Experts disagree as to whether it should be treated.
So prevent
As the IQWiG writes, an underactive thyroid due to iodine deficiency can be prevented by a sufficient supply of iodine. In this country, however, iodine deficiency is rarely the cause. It is recommended by experts to ensure adequate iodine intake in the diet. It is sufficient if milk or dairy products and more often sea fish are on the menu every day. It is also recommended to use iodized table salt.
Some dietary supplements also contain iodine. However, the daily intake of such agents can be problematic if they contain more than 100 µg iodine: If you constantly consume too much iodine, you increase the risk of an overactive thyroid. However, overdosing with food is hardly possible. An exception is dried algae, especially seaweed. (ad)
Author and source information
This text complies with the requirements of specialist medical literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Important NOTE:
This article is for general guidance only and is not intended to be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.
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