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.
Millions of people have this very common condition though a larger percentage of them go undiagnosed. Hypothyroidism may develop in anyone regardless of age, gender or race, with it becoming more likely as one matures and women having a probability five times higher than men. The severe lack of the necessary hormone can cause body systems to respond more slowly.
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 a physician has any suspicion that their patient has hypothyroidism, they will use blood tests to verify it. While the results will tell if the condition is present, it will not always point to its underlying cause. To find that out, they may use additional diagnostic tools like antibody screenings, the individual's complete medical history, MRI's or body scans.
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.
Millions of people have this very common condition though a larger percentage of them go undiagnosed. Hypothyroidism may develop in anyone regardless of age, gender or race, with it becoming more likely as one matures and women having a probability five times higher than men. The severe lack of the necessary hormone can cause body systems to respond more slowly.
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 a physician has any suspicion that their patient has hypothyroidism, they will use blood tests to verify it. While the results will tell if the condition is present, it will not always point to its underlying cause. To find that out, they may use additional diagnostic tools like antibody screenings, the individual's complete medical history, MRI's or body scans.
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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