Hypothyroidism is the process where the thyroid gland does not produce enough Thyroid Hormone. This results in weight gain due to slow metabolism.
On top of significant weight gain, people suffering from Hypothyroidism may experience tiredness, constipation and even depression. Hypothyroidism is also perceived to be a factor in a person being overweight or obese.
Statistics in the United States show that approximately 10 Million people are affected by Hypothyroidism. It is also said that around 10% of women suffer from thyroid hormone deficiency.
Another condition associated with Hyperthyroidism is Thyroiditis. This happens when the Thyroid Gland becomes inflamed.
Thyroiditis has three common types namely Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, De Quervain’s Thyroiditis, and Silent Thyroiditis. The symptoms for Hypothyroidism also manifest Thyroiditis.
How Hypothyroidism Is Diagnosed
Hypothyroidism cannot be treated without an initial diagnosis, which needs to be made by a licensed physician. The physician will start by discussing the patient’s symptoms with them and take a look at their medical history. Questions regarding the presence of Thyroid-related conditions in the patient’s family also needs to be addressed. The physician may also conduct a physical exam on the patient.
If Hypothyroidism is suspected, the physician needs to order certain blood tests to get a reading on how well the patient’s Thyroid is currently producing hormones. This is also known as Thyroid function testing. There are different tests that may be used to determine the presence of Hypothyroidism, as well as the severity.
The most popular blood tests used for the diagnosis of Hypothyroidism is to determine the levels of TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and T4 (Thyroxine) in the patient’s blood. In most cases, serum free T4 will be tested as this will provide the physician with a more accurate overview of Thyroid hormone production at the current stage of Hypothyroidism. These test results will also be used to determine how low the patient’s Thyroid hormone levels are, which will help to prescribe a more accurate dosage of drugs to treat the condition.
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