A decline in mood and strength, lack of appetite, drowsiness, reduced the ability to work … Who does not have from time to time? However, if this condition is delayed and new symptoms are added, quite possible that it is hypothyroidism – a violation of the thyroid gland and a decrease in the production of thyroid hormones, which are necessary for the successful functioning of all systems of the body.
Hypothyroidism can be congenital (if the thyroid gland has not developed or absent at all) and acquired.
In turn, acquired hypothyroidism can be:
- Primary – it occurs when thyroid gland damages directly;
- Secondary – appears due to pathological changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary system responsible for the functioning of the thyroid gland.
Most common causes of acquired hypothyroidism
The most common cause of acquired hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroiditis. It is a chronic disease of the thyroid gland of an inflammatory nature, as a result of which the thyroid gland is damaged by antibodies that have arisen in the body.
The following for the prevalence of the cause – these are operations on the thyroid gland and treatment with radioactive iodine.
Hypothyroidism is found in women much more often than in men. As a rule, women in the category from 40 to 50 years old (especially during the period of climax) are at high risk, but in general, this disease can appear in a person of absolutely any age.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
Signs of hypothyroidism can be very different. These include:
- weakness and drowsiness
- reduction of working capacity
- lowered temperature
- memory problems
- numbness
- loss of hair
- pale or yellowish skin
- depression
- dryness and peeling of the skin
- a gradual increase in weight
- fuzzy language due to swollen vocal cords
- hand sweating and muscle aches
As we see, the symptoms of hypothyroidism are nonspecific, that’s why many patients turn to the doctor is not immediately. But a person suffering from this disease for a long time has quite a typical look: yellowish dry skin, swollen faces, eyelids, and limbs, brittle and dull hair.
Treatment of hypothyroidism
Treatment of hypothyroidism consists of the appointment of special medications containing the necessary hormones for normal functioning of the body. These are such medications as Eltroxin, Thyro3, Thyronorm, Tiromel. They will have to take them throughout their lives.
Pregnancy with hypothyroidism
Getting pregnant with hypothyroidism is quite difficult, because the ability to conceive significantly reduced, but though remains. Also, if pregnancy still comes, then it is possible:
- miscarriage
- preterm labor
- gestosis
Hypothyroidism of a future mum is very dangerous for the baby: it can affect the development of the fetus, causes fatalities or pathologies, damage his nervous system. That’s why it’s so important to begin treatment as soon as possible. If a woman with hypothyroidism firmly decided to become a mother, she should undergo substitution therapy (to take drugs containing the necessary hormones) both before and during pregnancy – then the above horrors will not affect both of them.