Underactive thyroid meaning

Roshini Raj, MD, is Health magazine's medical editor and coauthor of What the Yuck?!. Board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine, Dr. Raj is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at New York University Medical Center, a contributor on the Today show, and a co-founder of the Tula skin care line. In order to diagnose you with hypothyroidism, a healthcare provider will order a blood test to measure the levels of two hormones: thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH is produced by your brain's pituitary gland and regulates how much T3 (another thyroid hormone) and T4 your thyroid releases. When you have an underactive thyroid, as is the case with hypothyroidism, your brain releases more TSH in an effort to increase thyroid hormone levels. This is why high levels of TSH (above 5.9 mIU/L) and low levels of T4 (below 5.0 μg/dL) indicate an underactive thyroid, which in turn results in a hypothyroidism diagnosis, per In the case of a borderline underactive thyroid, your TSH levels are high but your T4 reading is relatively normal (that is, between 0.5 and 5.0 mIU/L). This is also called subclinical hypothyroidism. It's an early form of hypothyroidism and it affects up to 20% of adults, according to a 2019 review published in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. In 70% of cases, subclinical hypothyroidism is asymptomatic (meaning you won't have symptoms). Still, this subclinical form increases a person's chances of developing hypothyroidis...

Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, develops when the thyroid gland fails to produce or secrete as much thyroxine (T 4) as the body needs. Because T 4 regulates such essential functions as heart rate, digestion, physical growth, and mental development, an insufficient supply of this hormone can slow life-sustaining processes, damage organs and tissues in every part of the body, and lead to life-threatening complications. Description Nicknamed "Gland Central" because it influences almost every organ, tissue, and cell in the body, the thyroid is shaped like a butterfly and located just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid stores iodine the body gets from food and uses this mineral to create T 4. Low T 4 levels can alter weight, appetite, sleep patterns, body temperature, sex drive, and a variety of other physical, mental, and emotional characteristics. There are three types of hypothyroidism. The most common is primary hypothyroidism, in which the thyroid doesn't produce an adequate amount of T 4. Secondary hypothyroidism develops when the pituitary gland does not release enough of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) that prompts the thyroid to manufacture T 4. Tertiary hypothyroidism results from a malfunction of the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls the endocrine system. Drug-induced hypothyroidism, an adverse reaction to medication, occurs in two of every 10,000 people, but rarely causes severe hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is at least twice as commo...

An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) is where your thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. Common signs of an underactive thyroid are tiredness, weight gain and feeling depressed. An underactive thyroid can often be successfully treated by taking daily hormone tablets to replace the hormones your thyroid is not making. There's no way of preventing an underactive thyroid. Most cases are caused either by the immune system attacking the thyroid gland and damaging it, or by damage to the thyroid that occurs during some treatments for an When to see a GP For example, if you are an age where you may be expecting the menopause, you may think you have started the menopause rather than having an underactive thyroid. You should see a GP and ask to be tested for an underactive thyroid if you have symptoms including: • tiredness • weight gain • • being sensitive to the cold • dry skin and hair • muscle aches The only accurate way of finding out whether you have a thyroid problem is to have a Read more about Who's affected Both men and women can have an underactive thyroid, although it's more common in women. Children can also develop an underactive thyroid and some babies are born with it. All babies born in the UK are screened for congenital hypothyroidism using a Treating an underactive thyroid Treatment for an underactive thyroid involves taking daily hormone replacement tablets, called You'll initially have regular blood tests until the correct dose of levothyroxi...

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It's very important that an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is diagnosed as soon as possible. Low levels of thyroid-producing hormones, such as triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), can change the way the body processes fat. This can cause Therefore, you should see a GP and ask for a Thyroid function test A blood test measuring your hormone levels is the only accurate way to find out whether there's a problem. The test, called a thyroid function test, looks at levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4) in the blood. Doctors may refer to this as "free" T4 (FT4). A high level of TSH and a low level of T4 in the blood could mean you have an underactive thyroid. If your test results show raised TSH but normal T4, you may be at risk of developing an underactive thyroid in the future. The GP may recommend that you have a repeat blood test every so often to see whether you eventually develop an underactive thyroid. Blood tests are also sometimes used for other measurements, such as checking the level of a hormone called triiodothyronine (T3). However, this is not routinely offered. Less commonly, a thyroid antibody test may be recommended after a thyroid function test. This is to help diagnose or rule out autoimmune thyroid conditions, such as Referral A GP may refer you to an endocrinologist (a specialist in hormone disorders) if you: • are younger than 16 • are pregnant or trying to get pregnant • have just given birth • have another health conditio...

Definition Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid. Alternative Names Myxedema; Adult hypothyroidism; Underactive thyroid; Goiter - hypothyroidism; Thyroiditis - hypothyroidism; Thyroid hormone - hypothyroidism Causes The thyroid gland is an important organ of the endocrine system. It is located at the front of the neck, just above where your collarbones meet. The thyroid makes hormones that control the way every cell in the body uses energy. This process is called metabolism. Hypothyroidism is more common in women and people over age 50. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is thyroiditis. In people with thyroiditis, swelling and inflammation damage the thyroid gland's cells. Causes of this problem include: • The immune system attacking the thyroid gland • Viral infections (common cold) or other respiratory infections • Pregnancy (often called postpartum thyroiditis) Other causes of hypothyroidism include: • Certain medicines, such as lithium and amiodarone, and some types of chemotherapy • Congenital (birth) defects • Radiation treatments to the neck or brain to treat different cancers • Radioactive iodine used to treat an overactive thyroid gland • Surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid gland • Sheehan syndrome, a condition that may occur in a woman who bleeds severely during pregnancy or childbirth and causes the destruction of the pituitary gland (which...