If left untreated, hypothyroidism can become a serious problem. Physically, it could lead to a goiter and mentally lead to depression. Myxedema, or advanced hypothyroidism, is rare but can become life-threatening. Low blood pressure, decreased breathing, lowered body temperature, unresponsiveness, and a coma are signs and symptoms of the advanced stage that could ultimately lead to death.
Newborns who suffer from hypothyroidism will exhibit jaundice, frequent choking, a large, protruding tongue, and a puffy face. If the condition progresses, your infant may have trouble feeding, constipation, poor muscle tone, or be excessively sleepy. If untreated, hypothyroidism could lead to severe physical and mental underdevelopment.
All pregnant women with an enlarged thyroid (goiter), family history of hypothyroidism, or high blood levels of thyroid antibodies should get tested. Ask your doctor for selenium supplementation if you have high antibody levels at the time of preconception. Women taking thyroid hormone replacement prior to pregnancy need to monitor their levels, especially during the first trimester. Doses might increase as the pregnancy progresses. After delivery (postpartum hypothyroidism), women may experience depression, memory and concentration issues, or thyroid enlargement.
Children with hypothyroidism need to see a doctor regularly because, as they grow, the dosage of medication will change. Severe consequences may occur if the dosage is incorrect.
Screening those who are not at risk and show no symptoms provides little benefit and is not encouraged. [7] X Research source American College of Physicians guidelines on screening for thyroid disease. Ann Intern Med 1999 Feb 2;130(3):246 Women who are over 50 and have one or more symptoms, however, should be screened. [8] X Research source American College of Physicians guidelines on screening for thyroid disease. Ann Intern Med 1999 Feb 2;130(3):246
To get an accurate reading, you must take your temperature when you first wake up in the morning, before you even sit up in bed. Keep it under your arm for ten minutes. Perform this for four consecutive days and write it down. Your normal temperature should be between 97. 8 and 98. 2°F (36. 6 and 36. 8°C). If your temperature is below 97. 8°F *(36. 6°C), your thyroid could be underperforming. Check with your doctor of thyroid supplements. Remember, hypothyroidism cannot be confirmed as a condition with home testing alone. Only an official blood test conducted by your doctor can confirm any type of diagnosis. Even if home testing does not reveal hypothyroidism, you should remain wary since it is extremely difficult to detect and oftentimes takes several years to fully develop.
Doctors will pay particular attention to whether you mother or a close relative was ever diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Try to find this information before going to see your doctor. Cancer survivors, especially those who received radiation around the neck, or neck surgery, will be closely scrutinized. [11] X Research source Another important red flag is medication that could cause hypothyroidism, such as amiodarone, lithium, interferon alpha, or interleukin-2. [12] X Research source
If the tests come back atypical, anti-thyroid antibody tests may determine whether you have the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, in which the body’s defense system attacks the thyroid gland. Ultrasound is only used in rare cases to evaluate a thyroid gland that appears abnormal. Instead, a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland may be done to look for any changes in these areas of the brain.
In most cases, your symptoms will begin to abate and you will gain some energy back two to six weeks after beginning treatment. Another benefit to this drug treatment is the lowering of cholesterol, which may reduce weight gained during the pregnancy. Infants and children with hypothyroidism should always be treated.
Taking medicine everyday for the rest of your life is no easy chore and as physical symptoms disappear, you might be tempted to stop taking your medication. In this case, the symptoms will reappear and you will have to start all over again. The thyroid often returns to normal if the cause of your hypothyroidism was a result of a serious illness or infection. You may briefly stop taking your medication to see if your thyroid is functioning normally. If the thyroid can produce enough hormones by itself, treatment can end. Continue checkups annually while on medication.
Avoid taking iron and calcium supplements with your medication because they reduce the amount of thyroid hormone absorbed by the body. Calcium supplements, however, can be taken prior to or after four hours of taking medication. Foods such as walnuts, soybean flour, and cottonseed meal should also be avoided because they could interact with your medication and, therefore, reduce its overall effectiveness. If you take birth control pills or other hormone medication, talk to your doctor about adjusting the dose of your medicine. Many health food stores carry “natural” ingredient thyroid hormone supplements. These products are unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Therefore, be wary of the quality and effectiveness of these products. Some do have active ingredients that work, but can still be dangerous to certain people. Consult your doctor if you are interested in these supplements.
