Thyroid gland and hypothyroidism

The thyroid gland is very important as it regulates metabolism. In America, it is estimated that more than 27 million people suffer from one kind of thyroid disease or the other, 50% of which don't know about their condition. It is also believed that more than 10% of Americans will suffer from one of the thyroid-related complications in their lifetime.

Thyroid imbalance is more common in women than in men, with risks increasing with age and more prevalent in women aged over 50 years. One of the main factors affecting the thyroid gland is stress. Maintaining the balance of thyroid hormone is very important since underproduction leads to hypothyroidism while overproduction causes hyperthyroidism, which is believed to affect approximately one in every thousand women in the United States.

Proper functioning of different body process, such as burning of calories, heartbeat, and temperature defines the wellbeing of a person. When the levels of thyroid hormone fall below the required levels, then the body's metabolism is affected, slowing down the aforementioned processes. This can be caused by:

• Inflammation of the thyroid gland, commonly known as Hashimoto thyroiditis, which is caused by a viral infection;
• Radiation therapy for conditions such as lymphoma that can damage thyroid cells;
• Radioactive iodine treatment of hyperthyroidism;
• Some drugs used for treating heart complications, cancer, and psychiatric conditions;
• Thyroid surgery;
• Iodine deficiency;
• Congenital hypothyroidism (in infants);
• Damage to the pituitary gland.

There might be other common causes of hypothyroidism, but the above are the mainly known causes. The primary cause can only be determined after comprehensive diagnostic tests have been conducted.

Common symptoms of Hypothyroidism

To most people, detecting hypothyroidism can be tricky since the symptoms are not always clear and can sometimes resemble those of other conditions. However, the following are the most common ones you should watch out for:

• Menstrual cycle change in women;
• Dry hair and loss of hair;
• Depression and constipation;
• Reduced heart rate and increased sensitivity to cold;
• The thyroid gland may swell;
• Unjustified weight gain and difficulties shedding off extra calories.

Some symptoms can be vague, especially in children. The above list is not conclusive. The above-mentioned symptoms don't necessarily point towards hypothyroidism due to their resemblance to other medical conditions.

Diagnosis of Hypothyroidism

A series of tests have to be conducted to establish the nature of your condition. The tests primarily involve checking the levels of thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The levels of T4 if they are lower than normal may indicate possible hypothyroidism. This may call for follow up tests aimed at establishing possible inflammation or nodules through a thyroid scan or thyroid ultrasound.

Hypothyroidism-related complications

Failure to treat hypothyroidism can result in a number of complications, such as the heart, joint pain, obesity, infertility and heart-related problems. In pregnant women, this condition may affect the mental development of the fetus because it entirely relies on the mother for thyroid hormone during the first trimester. If the thyroid hormone levels are extremely low, you risk suffering from a condition known as myxedema, which may cause a coma or even one to lose consciousness and even death due to extremely low body temperatures.

Treatment

In the event that the above tests turn out positive for hypothyroidism, then your doctor can prescribe a drug aimed at boosting your T4 thyroid hormone, especially Synthroid Levothyroxine. During the course of the treatment, regular blood tests will be conducted to establish the levels of the thyroid hormone in it. The dosage may have to be reviewed and adjusted regularly until your attain stable hormone levels. You have to be patient because thus may take some time.

What is Synthroid Levothyroxine

Synthroid Generic, an active ingredient Levothyroxine sodium, is a prescription-only narrow therapeutic index (NTIC) drug used for treating hypothyroidism. It mainly works by restoring correcting imbalance of thyroid hormone. The effectiveness of this medication requires precision in dosage at all the time to ovoid cases of over and under-replacement. In most cases, this is a lifetime medicine.

This drug should be taken on a daily basis as prescribed by the doctor. In the beginning, close monitoring of your TSH levels in the blood is paramount. The tests can be conducted after every two months just to be certain that you attain the much-needed hormonal balance. The dosage will vary and how people respond to treatment also differs. You must therefore work closely with your doctor during the cause of the treatment.

Synthroid Levothyroxine: Best Practices

Taking any form of medication, including Synthroid Levothyroxine, requires a lot of discipline. You must ensure that you adhere to the doctor's prescription all the time. The surest way to do this is to come up with a morning routine. This goes a long way in increasing absorption rate, which is important in helping you manage the condition. Some of the routines include:

• Always have the drug in sight. The first thing you see in the morning will guide your priorities for the day. Having the medicine by the bedside will help you remember to take it. You can use sticky notes, have the drug near your toothbrushes or the first thing you do in the morning.
• In case your risk forgetting whether you have taken or not, you should do something to the medicine bottle such as turning it upside down. This way, you reduce the risk of abusing the drug which may result in an overdose.
• You can set up a daily reminder, either on your calendar, email, or text message.
• You are urged to take the medicine at the same time daily the best relief.

Daily routines vary and depend on various factors. This is essential medicine which should be taken as per the doctor's prescription. Always try to customize your routine to suit your lifestyle.

Precaution

Your doctor should explain the common side effects and their levels of severity. Some of the most common ones include headache, nervous or irritable feeling, sleeping problems/insomnia, changes in appetite and weight gain, increased heartbeats, sweating, and change in menstrual period. To lower risks of adverse effects, ensure that you share with your doctor your medical history, allergies, and current drugs you are using, among others. Synthroid Levothyroxine is likely to interact with other drugs. Adhere to the dosage guidelines and call the doctor if you feel any of the aforementioned symptoms.