Family Friendly & Specialty Dentists in London, UK
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Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
- Poor ability to tolerate cold
- Feeling tired
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Swelling of the front part of the neck due to goitre
Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypothyroidism
- Blood tests measuring thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine levels confirm the diagnosis
- Salt iodization has helped prevent hypothyroidism in many populations
- Thyroid hormone replacement with levothyroxine is the main treatment
- Dose adjustment is based on symptoms and normalization of thyroxine and TSH levels
- Thyroid medication is safe during pregnancy
Prevalence and Demographics of Hypothyroidism
- Worldwide, iodine deficiency in the diet is the most common cause of hypothyroidism
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause in countries with sufficient dietary iodine
- Other causes include previous treatment with radioactive iodine, hypothalamus or anterior pituitary gland injury, certain medications, lack of a functioning thyroid at birth, or previous thyroid surgery
- About one billion people worldwide are estimated to be iodine-deficient
- In the United States, hypothyroidism occurs in 0.3-0.4% of people
Effects of Hypothyroidism on Pregnancy
- Untreated hypothyroidism during pregnancy can lead to delays in growth and intellectual development in the baby
- Even mild or subclinical hypothyroidism can increase the risk of infertility and miscarriage
- Hypothyroidism in early pregnancy may increase the risk of pre-eclampsia and lower intelligence in offspring
- Subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy is associated with gestational diabetes, low birth-weight, placental abruption, and preterm birth
- Hypothyroidism affects 0.3-0.5% of pregnancies in women
Related Disorders and Complications of Hypothyroidism
- Thyroid hormone abnormalities are common in major psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder, mood disorders, and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders
- Screening for thyroid dysfunction is recommended among individuals with psychiatric disorders
- Myxedema coma is a rare but life-threatening state of extreme hypothyroidism
- Myxedema coma can occur in those with established hypothyroidism during acute illness
- Myxedema coma is characterised by low body temperature, confusion, slow heart rate, reduced breathing effort, and physical signs of hypothyroidism
