you may have hypothyroidism without knowing it: here’s what to look for

if you’re suffering from depression, experiencing weight gain or struggling with excess fatigue, you might be tempted to seek help for each of these symptoms individually. it may not occur to you that they could be related and caused by the same condition: hypothyroidism.  

it’s estimated that approximately one in 10 canadians have a thyroid condition. there are many types of thyroid disease. however, the main conditions present in most thyroid illnesses are hypothyroidism (thyroid under-activity) and hyperthyroidism (thyroid over-activity). this is due in large part to the fact that the symptoms of thyroid disease tend to develop slowly and can mimic other conditions. in a study, almost 10 per cent of untreated subjects had an unknown thyroid function abnormality, and 90 per cent of those 10 per cent had thyroid gland failure with elevated serum tsh level (cohort study of n> 24 thousand subjects from 1998) .  

the thyroid is a vital gland that generates the two main hormones — called t3 and t4 — which play a major role in your metabolism, growth and development.   

when you suffer from hypothyroidism, your tsh (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels are high because your body isn’t making enough t3 and t4. when your pituitary gland gets the signal that your body needs more thyroid hormones, it overproduces tsh in an attempt to stimulate your thyroid to release thyroid hormones.  

unfortunately, the common signs and symptoms indicating that something is amiss with your thyroid can often be overlooked.  

common symptoms  

in addition to depression, unexplained weight gain and excess fatigue, common signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism can also include feeling cold all the time, constipation, dry skin, coarse hair or hair loss, and muscle weakness and pain. some people also experience difficulty concentrating and menorrhagia (menstrual bleeding that lasts for more than seven days).  

too often, hypothyroidism symptoms are mistaken for other health conditions. for example, some people who experience them simply chalk them up to aging, as the condition commonly impacts people over 50 and during menopause.   

hypothyroidism is also common among pregnant women and new moms, who may attribute their symptoms to the stress of imminent or recent childbirth.  

early diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism is crucial, as it can lead to serious consequences if not treated.  

a diagnosis of hypothyroidism is of particular concern for pregnant women. both overt and subclinical hypothyroidism may have adverse effects on the course of pregnancy and the development of the fetus, including increased incidence of miscarriage and preterm delivery, and potential damage to fetal neural development.  

hypothyroidism is also connected to celiac disease, putting some adults at greater risk. about one in every 100 adults develops celiac disease, also known as gluten sensitivity. celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder of the small intestine that occurs in people of all ages. in an italian multicenter study from 2001 including 242 patients and 212 control, people diagnosed and not yet treated for celiac disease were three times more likely than the control group to be diagnosed with hypothyroidism.  

diagnosis  

diagnosis of hypothyroidism can be made through a simple tsh blood test. sometimes it’s necessary to test the amount of t4 in your blood and check for thyroid autoantibodies to confirm a diagnosis.   

to detect hypothyroidism early, screening for all adults beginning at age 35 years and every five years thereafter is recommended, as well as screening for all pregnant women over the age of 30.  

if you’re experiencing the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, pay attention and speak up.   

take an online self-assessment and discuss the results with your doctor. hypothyroidism is treatable, and with prompt diagnosis and treatment, you can avoid the many preventable risks of the disease.  

this story was created by content works , healthing.ca’s commercial content division, on behalf of a pharmaceutical company.  

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you may have hypothyroidism without knowing it: here’s what to look for

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