If I had a rupee for every person who said, “I feel tired all the time, and I am gaining weight,” I could open another clinic! These can be signs of an underactive thyroid, but they can have other causes too.
What is hypothyroidism?
It means the thyroid is not making enough hormone, so the body’s engine runs slow. It is more common in women and becomes more common with age.
Common symptoms
- Tiredness and sleepiness.
- Feeling cold when others are comfortable.
- Weight gain, usually small, a few kilos.
- Dry skin, brittle nails and hair fall.
- Constipation.
- Slow thinking and low mood.
- Heavy or irregular periods.
- Swelling of the face or hands, hoarse voice.
Common causes
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: the body’s defence system attacks the thyroid. This is the most common cause in areas with enough iodine.
- Previous thyroid surgery or radioiodine treatment.
- Some medicines, like lithium or amiodarone.
- Severe iodine lack, less common now due to iodised salt.
How is it found?
A blood test for TSH is the first step. A high TSH with low T4 confirms hypothyroidism. Sometimes anti-TPO antibodies are checked to look for Hashimoto’s.
Treatment
The treatment is simple: a daily tablet of levothyroxine, taken on an empty stomach. Dose depends on weight and TSH and is adjusted every 6 to 8 weeks at first. Most people feel much better in a few weeks, though full recovery can take a few months.
Do not ignore it
Untreated hypothyroidism can raise cholesterol, harm fertility and affect the heart. But with treatment, most people lead completely normal lives.
Our clinic in Gopanpally, Gachibowli offers thyroid testing and follow-up for people from Gowlidoddi, Nallagandla, Tellapur, Nanakramguda and the Financial District. Book a visit if your symptoms match.
Keep reading
- How to take your thyroid tablet correctly
- Thyroid and weight
- Mildly raised TSH
- Your thyroid questions, answered
Your family doctor,
Akhila Reddy
MBBS, DNB (Family Medicine) | TSMC Reg. No. APMC/FMR/74261
AMC Hospital, Gopanpally, Gachibowli, Hyderabad
This article is for general health education and does not replace a check-up. Every person is different, so please speak to your doctor before changing any medicine. In an emergency, call 108 or go to the nearest hospital.
References
- Garber JR et al. Clinical practice guidelines for hypothyroidism in adults (ATA/AACE). Thyroid 2012;22(12):1200-1235.
- Chaker L et al. Hypothyroidism. Lancet 2017;390(10101):1550-1562.
- American Thyroid Association. Hypothyroidism. https://www.thyroid.org/hypothyroidism/