Hypothyroidism is a condition that occurs when the gland does not produce enough of an essential hormone named thyroxine. This issue is one that will require attention for the rest of one's life in order to keep the symptoms under control. Partnering with a Dallas thyroid doctor can help an individual discover a maintenance approach that is most beneficial for their particular situation.
This is a very common condition with millions of people being inflicted with it, though many of them remain undiagnosed. Anyone can develop hypothyroidism though the chances increase with maturity and women contract it five times more frequently than men. When the hormone is produced in insufficient amounts, several systems withing the body begin to slow down.
Several things may incite the onset of this condition including a severe iodine deficiency and certain medications. The most common cause by far is an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's disease. It causes high inflammation in the gland and prevents it from producing the necessary hormone in sufficient amounts.
Part of the reason so many people remain undiagnosed is because the symptoms are usually subtle and typically attributed to some other condition. Some of these include depression, constipation, fatigue, cold intolerance, hair loss, muscle cramps, swollen legs, dry skin and high cholesterol. As the situation worsens, the signs may become more prominent and correlate to a noticeable slowing of one's metabolism.
If there is suspicion that a person has hypothyroidism, their physician will conduct blood tests to confirm. These results can verify the existence of this condition but not the issue that is causing it. Reviewing the patient's complete clinical history, system scanning, antibody screening and MRI's are a few diagnostic means that might be utilized to determine the root cause.
The simplest and most efficient method of addressing this issue is completely replacing the missing hormone. This is something that will need to continue for the person's entire life. If not left unattended, one is likely to develop severe problems involving their heart and lungs.
This is a very common condition with millions of people being inflicted with it, though many of them remain undiagnosed. Anyone can develop hypothyroidism though the chances increase with maturity and women contract it five times more frequently than men. When the hormone is produced in insufficient amounts, several systems withing the body begin to slow down.
Several things may incite the onset of this condition including a severe iodine deficiency and certain medications. The most common cause by far is an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's disease. It causes high inflammation in the gland and prevents it from producing the necessary hormone in sufficient amounts.
Part of the reason so many people remain undiagnosed is because the symptoms are usually subtle and typically attributed to some other condition. Some of these include depression, constipation, fatigue, cold intolerance, hair loss, muscle cramps, swollen legs, dry skin and high cholesterol. As the situation worsens, the signs may become more prominent and correlate to a noticeable slowing of one's metabolism.
If there is suspicion that a person has hypothyroidism, their physician will conduct blood tests to confirm. These results can verify the existence of this condition but not the issue that is causing it. Reviewing the patient's complete clinical history, system scanning, antibody screening and MRI's are a few diagnostic means that might be utilized to determine the root cause.
The simplest and most efficient method of addressing this issue is completely replacing the missing hormone. This is something that will need to continue for the person's entire life. If not left unattended, one is likely to develop severe problems involving their heart and lungs.
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If you are dealing with weight gain and chronic illness, click this link to visit a Dallas thyroid doctor. Discover what the HealthCore Center can do for you, when you visit our home on the Web today at http://www.healthcorecenter.com.
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