Hypothyroidism is a medical symptom caused due to abnormally low production of thyroid hormone resulting in many disorders in the human body. The disorders caused due to the hypothyroidism have the direct as well as the indirect influence on the thyroid gland. The inadequate production of the thyroid gland has far flung consequence on the human body.
What exactly are thyroid hormones?
The thyroid gland of the human body produces the thyroid hormones. The actual location of the thyroid gland in the human body is in the lower part of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. The shape of the gland is very much similar to the shape of the butterfly constituted by the two wings (very much like the wings of the butterfly) called lobes connected by a central part called isthmus.
The thyroid gland consumes iodine which is available from foods having large contents of sodium chloride like seafood, pickles, all junk food etc. The two important forms of thyroid hormones are thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) that constitutes 99 and 1 respectively of thyroid hormones present in the blood. The T3 hormone results in all the biological activity. On the other hand when the T4 hormone is get released into the blood from the thyroid gland, the big amount of T4 hormone gets transformed into the T3 hormone. The T3 hormone is considered as the active hormone which exercises influence on the metabolism of cell in the body.
The various symptoms of hypothyroidism
Generally the symptoms of hypothyroidism are insidious. To be more precise the symptoms are not very explicit. The symptoms of hypothyroidism may resemble the symptoms resulting from other conditions also. These become more apparent when the condition worsens gradually as the symptoms are connected to the metabolic retardation of the human body.
The common symptoms resulting from hypothyroidism are as follows:
•Depression
•Fatigue
•Excessive sleepiness
•Modest weight gain
•Increased cholesterol levels
•Cold intolerance
•Dry, coarse hair
•Muscle cramps
•Dry skin
•Constipation
•Swelling of legs
•Vague aches and pain
•Decreased concentration
If the ailment becomes more chronic, it may result in puffiness around the eyes, dropping of body temperature and even slowing of heart rate thereby resulting in heart failure. In most of its intense form, acute hypothyroidism can be life threatening resulting in myxedema coma. An individual suffering from severe hypothyroidism may develop myxedema coma which is generally triggered by traumatic injury, stress, severe illness, complicated surgery etc. It’s a serious condition which requires prompt treatment and hospitalization in which it is adequately essential to inject the thyroid hormones. Correctly diagnosed hypothyroidism is completely curable and can be easily treated by the replacement of thyroid hormones which is not a very complicated surgery.
Ignoring hypothyroidism can prove to be fatal. It may result in the accretion of fluids all along the lungs, commonly termed as pleural effusion and the enlargement of the heart termed as cardiomyopathy which can even lead to heart failure. So if you are diagnosed with the hypothyroidism, it is always advisable to consult your doctor immediately.
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