by J. van der Gaag

Created on: December 29, 2009   Last Updated: December 30, 2009

Hypothyroidism, or under-active thyroid, is a very common medical condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone.  It is more than twice as common in females, occurs more often after the age of 50, and may run in families.  The effects of hypothyroidism are numerous and can become serious if left untreated.  Fortunately, both diagnosis and 

treatment are easy, effective, and affordable.

The Thyroid

The thyroid is a small gland located in the front of the neck just below the larynx or “Adam’s apple”.  Shaped like a butterfly, it is made up of a left and right lobe, which are joined in front of the windpipe (trachea) by a small bridge of tissue.  One of the thyroid’s main functions is to produce, store, and release two different hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).  It is controlled by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus, which lie deep in the brain.  These hormones control many aspects of the body’s metabolism including heart rate, body temperature, and digestion processes. 

Hormones

A hormone is a specialized chemical produced in one part of the body that controls or regulates some other organ or body process.  Examples of non-thyroid hormones include estrogen, testosterone, and insulin.  Besides T3 and T4, two other hormones are important to thyroid function – TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone) and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone).  TRH is produced by the hypothalamus.  It stimulates the pituitary to release TSH, which in turn acts on the thyroid, causing it to increase or decrease production of T3 and T4.  Anything that interferes with this feedback loop can lead to thyroid problems.   

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

The thyroid is critical to the control of overall metabolism, acting almost like a thermostat.  If it produces too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) the metabolic rate surges - too little (hypothyroidism) and metabolism slows to a crawl.  The symptoms of hypothyroidism can include dry skin, weight gain, tiredness or lethargy, depression, constipation, feeling cold, slow heart rate, high cholesterol, muscle problems, goiter, low sex drive and brittle hair and nails.  Female infertility and birth defects have been linked to hypothyroidism.  Babies born with hypothyroidism are at risk for severe

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