Hypothyroidism is basically caused by the lack of thyroid hormones in the thyroid gland. However, acquiring such condition may have specific causes in some cases. There are thyroid-related conditions which lead to Hypothyroidism itself such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
This happens when the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. What happens is that the immune system mistakenly identifies thyroid cells as a threat to the body. The inflammation caused by Hashimoto’s disease causes the thyroid gland to underperform. Then, the thyroid tissue gradually decays which hamper’s the gland’s ability to produce hormones.
Women are more prone to Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis than men. 10 million people living in the United States alone are affected by Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis with 10% of them being women over the age of 30.
Thyroidectomy
Thyroidectomy is the process of removing a part of the thyroid gland. In some serious cases, the removal of the entire gland is required. The process can be done by means of surgery, or Radioactive Iodine, which is commonly used for an overactive thyroid. This process usually flips the switch towards an underactive thyroid depending on how much of the gland was removed.
This process is usually done for cases such as Goiter and Thyroid cancer.
Iodine deficiency
Iodine is essential in the creation of thyroid hormones. Any deficit of the trace element can cause the gland to underproduce.
There must be a balance in your iodine intake in order to avoid thyroid related-problems. The lack of iodine intake could also cause Goiter, which would require Thyroidectomy to remove.
Central Hypothyroidism
Although a very rare case, the pituitary gland, and hypothalamus can sometimes cause Hypothyroidism. Their hormonal production can influence how the thyroid gland functions. All three glands are part of the endocrine system which may explain why their function can influence each other.
Medication
Hyperthyroid medication is designed to slow down the production of thyroid hormones. A high dose can cause the thyroid gland to slow down its production of the thyroid hormone which might cause Hypothyroidism.
Drugs used to treat mental illnesses, especially those with Lithium can also cause Hypothyroidism.
Obesity
The majority of publications that provide details on how Hypothyroidism is linked to obesity tend to list obesity to being secondary to Hypothyroidism. While there is validity to such claims, as weight gain is one of the most common symptoms associated with an underactive Thyroid, an opposite connection may also exist. One study explains that obesity causes leptin levels to increase – and, in turn, elevated leptin levels may contribute to the development of autoimmune Hypothyroidism.
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