Hypothyroidism: signs

Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. Iodine deficiency is often referred to as the most common cause of hypothyroidism, but this condition can be caused by many other factors. Severe hypothyroidism in children leads to cretinism, in adults - to the disease myxedema (there is swelling of the organs and tissues). For the first time as a disease, this condition was described in 1873. Today, it is not considered a disease a specific condition of the body, called hypothyroidism. Symptoms of it usually disappear when compensating for missing hormones.

Since the symptoms of hypothyroidism are nonspecific and erased, the doctors do not always correctly diagnose, believing that the problems are related to other diseases and overwork. They do not refer to a blood test to determine the level of thyroid hormones, since they do not diagnose hypothyroidism. Signs in this case indicate a slowdown in all metabolic processes.

There are three forms of hypothyroidism. Primary hypothyroidism - the most common form, is of an autoimmune nature, occurs as a result of therapy with radioiodine hyperthyroidism. Secondary - pituitary gland (due to damage, tumor, radiation or surgery) does not create a sufficient level of thyroid-stimulating hormone, which triggers the thyroid gland to produce the necessary amount of thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Tertiary - the hypothalamus can not produce a sufficient amount of thyrotropin-releasing hormone, hypothalamic-pituitary hypothyroidism occurs.

In the early stages of symptoms or their complete absence, little characterizes hypothyroidism. Symptoms for this condition can be divided into 4 groups: early, late, unusual and characterizing subclinical hypothyroidism. The early stage is accompanied by increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, weight gain, fluid retention, bradycardia, fatigue, decreased sweating, muscle cramps and joint pain, dry skin itching, thin brittle nails, rapid thinking model, depression, muscle hypotonia, female infertility, Problems with the menstrual cycle, hyperprolactinaemia and galactorrhea, elevated cholesterol level in the blood.

Edemas of tissues and organs are already at a late stage characterized by hypothyroidism. Signs accompanying this stage: an increase in the thyroid gland (goiter), slow speech and a hoarse, tearing voice (the timbre of the voice also changes due to the edema of Reinke - the swelling of the vocal cords due to fluid accumulation). Also characteristic is dry swollen skin (especially on the face), the sign Hertoghe (thinning or loss of the outer third of the eyebrow), abnormal menstrual cycle, low basal body temperature, depression.

Hypothyroidism also has unusual signs. These are memory impairments, cognitive functions of the brain and inattention. Slowed pulse, changes in the ECG, decreased cardiac output and decreased contractility of the heart muscle. Reactive hypoglycemia, flaccid reflexes, hair loss. Anemia caused by a violation of hemoglobin synthesis, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, increased drowsiness, irritability and mood changes, impaired renal function with decreased glomerular filtration rate, yellowing of the skin due to a violation of beta-carotene conversion, acute psychosis, decreased libido in men due to A violation of the synthesis of testosterone, anosmia, gynecomastia, deafness, an advanced language. With an increased concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone and a normal concentration of thyroxin and triiodothyronine, subclinical hypothyroidism occurs. Diagnosis of this condition is carried out using highly sensitive methods.

People with insufficient thyroid function should not include goitrogens (zobogenic substances) in their diet. These are natural substances that are contained in some foods and interfere with the production of thyroid hormones. These are often consumed products: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, radish, soy, peanuts, pine nuts, peaches and millet. Many health professionals believe that cooking can inactivate goitrogens. Although these products provide many benefits for a healthy diet, but zobogenic potential should alert people at risk. These are people who have had cases of hypothyroidism in the family, or those who already have symptoms, as well as women approaching menopause. Food for hypothyroidism should be selective: avoiding goitrogens can mitigate the symptoms of hypothyroidism.