Hypothyroidism and how it affects The Human Body
Monday, February 1st, 2016

Hypothyroidism and how it affects The Human Body

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that can be located around the neck area. Although the size of this gland is tiny compared to the other bodily systems, it has a key role to play. It secretes hormones that help the body’s metabolism, growth, and development, thus, making it one of the most important parts of the human being. However, just like any bodily element, there is a chance that the thyroid will experience various inconveniences, which can put the person’s well-being at risk. One example would be, Hypothyroidism.

Symptoms in Varying Age Groups

Hypothyroidism is a condition wherein the secretion of the thyroid hormone is in decline. Everyone knows that, in order for the human body to function properly and correctly, its hormonal levels must be balanced, and if the thyroid does not produce enough hormones for the body, people who are experiencing this illness, may encounter these following symptoms:

Although hypothyroidism often affects women who are in their middle-aged years and older, it does not mean that it cannot affect anyone else. From newborns to old-age, and everyone in between, hypothyroidism can happen to anyone. One must remember however, that the symptoms of hypothyroidism varies, and depends on the person’s age.
Babies – especially newborns – who have hypothyroidism, will exhibit frequent choking, yellowing of the skin, a puffy appearance to the face, and a large, protruding tongue. In children and teens however, their symptoms include: a stunted growth, delayed development of permanent teeth and puberty, and poor mental development.
What Causes Hypothyroidism
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disorder called, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. When this happens, the thyroid gland is inflamed because when your body realizes that the disorder is attacking your system, it will send antibodies which will destroy the thyroid gland.

Other causes of hypothyroidism include:

Thankfully, with the help of modern medicine, hypothyroidism can be remedied in the best ways possible. When someone is diagnosed with this illness, doctors would normally screen their patients first before they administer the correct hormonal therapy method so that the body’s hormonal levels will become balanced. Usually, the medicine that doctors will prescribe their patients, often involves replacing the lost hormones. The most common remedy would be Levothyroxine. Patients who take this pill must reverently follow their scheduled intake because if they were to stray away from the recommended dosage, chances are that their metabolic rate will have a hard time reverting back to normal.

It is also a good idea to change one’s diet when one has hypothyroidism. Food that can interfere with the production of the thyroid hormone should be avoided. Some of these items include:

Hypothyroidism is an illness that could happen to anyone, and although its symptoms can be confused with other sicknesses, taking them lightly will lead to deadly consequences. Taking care of one’s body should always be the number one priority because even the slightest hormonal imbalance can disrupt the body’s function.