Hypothyroidism: causes, symptoms and treatment of hypothyroidism
What is it - hypothyroidism is a pathological condition of the human body, caused by dysfunction of the thyroid gland.
This disease is characterized by a deficiency of thyroid hormones and can be both congenital and acquired.
Is one of the most common thyroid gland diseases.
It requires specific hormonal therapy, due to which the symptomatology is reduced to almost zero and the person does not experience any discomfort in normal life.
Why does hypothyroidism develop, and what is it? The disease is of two types: congenital and acquired. In the overwhelming number of cases, a congenital type occurs. It is formed due to deformations of the thyroid gland, for example, its hypoplasia or aplasia.
Also, the cause may be incorrect localization of the thyroid gland when it is placed near the root of the tongue. Another reason for the appearance of hypothyroidism may be a genetic disruption of the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones.
Acquired hypothyroidism has several subtypes:
The appearance of the secondary is possible after damage to the pituitary gland, which causes pathological changes in the cells of the organ and disrupts the production of thyroid-stimulating hormone. Most often this occurs with tumors of the pituitary gland, its injuries.
Tertiary occurs as a result of damage to the hypothalamus, especially those parts that are responsible for the production of the hormone tyroliberin( TRH).
With peripheral hypothyroidism, a blockade of circulating thyroid-stimulating hormones occurs, or the body tissues show resistance to them. The reasons for the formation of a peripheral form have not been thoroughly studied. Many scientists believe that in this case a great role is played by heredity.
In hypothyroidism, after the thyroid gland starts producing significantly less hormones, the work of almost all vital systems of the body worsens: the gastrointestinal tract, the genital area, the nervous and cardiovascular system.
Changes develop gradually, and often become noticeable when the disease is already at a late stage. Symptoms of hypothyroidism in women are extremely diverse, among the most common symptoms it should be noted:
Many doctors refer this condition to a transitional period, when the development of the disease says it's too early, but its symptoms are already beginning to bother the person. Depressive, depressed, depressed, memory impaired.
The manifest, or, as it is also called, true hypothyroidism, is compensated and decompensated. When the decompensated clinical picture is presented most clearly and includes almost all of the above symptoms. With a complicated variant, a significant lesion of various body systems is observed. Most often it is about such serious disorders as heart failure, cretinism, polyserositis. Fortunately, with today's level of medicine, this stage of hypothyroidism is extremely rare
Hypothyroidism is a disease that is difficult to diagnose. The clinical picture for this disease is rather blurred, and the symptoms correspond to many other diseases. Quite often the disease is confused with other endocrinopathies: growth retardation, rickets, chondrodystrophy, Hirschsprung disease.
If hypothyroidism is suspected, you should first check thyroid hormones. To do this, the samples of venous blood are analyzed. As a rule, the picture is typical for the disease, when the level of thyroxin and triiodothyronine is significantly reduced. But the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone can be reduced, as well as increased.
For diagnostics it is also important to perform an ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland. It will provide an opportunity to establish whether there are structural changes in the body that may entail a violation of its functions. If necessary, biopsy of the thyroid gland is also performed.
Treatment of hypothyroidism must necessarily be a comprehensive approach. First of all hormonal therapy will be needed, which compensates for the deficiency of the thyroid gland.
In this case, drugs containing artificial analogs of thyroid hormones are used. Most often it is a question of medicines, the active substance of which is levothyroxine sodium. The dose is selected individually and is based on the stage at which the disease is located and on the individual characteristics of the organism.
In some cases with a shortage of iodine in the body, the patient can be shown taking drugs and products containing iodine in high quantities. However, such therapy can be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor and after appropriate tests that confirm the condition of iodine deficiency.
Hypothyroidism requires constant monitoring of the doctor and regular intake of the necessary drugs. Otherwise, the disease can lead to serious complications, which are fraught with even a fatal outcome. The most serious complication is the hypothyroid coma.
Typically, this condition occurs in elderly patients in whom the disease has been lubricated and has not been timely diagnosed. Hypothyroid can cause such factors as hypothermia, severe stress, trauma. With this condition, there is a strong decrease in body temperature, bradycardia, hypoglycemia. The patient requires immediate intervention of doctors, since such a condition can result in his death.
The negative impact of the disease on the state of the cardiovascular system is noted. Since under the conditions of this disease an increase in the level of so-called "bad" cholesterol( see how to lower cholesterol), the frequency of heart pathologies in patients with thyroid insufficiency is significantly increased.
Especially dangerous congenital hypothyroidism. Children who do not take hormonal drugs to correct their condition may experience a delay in growth, physical and mental development.
Thanks to the timely appeal to doctors, a patient with hypothyroidism, a person gets all the chances for a full life. As a rule, with uncomplicated species, therapy gives excellent results. Symptoms practically disappear, the psychoemotional state of the patient improves.
It should be noted that in most cases, especially when it comes to congenital hypothyroidism, a complete cure is impossible and the patient almost all his life has to take medication. However, their side effects are almost invisible, and the effect allows you to forget about the disease and its possible complications.
The acquired form has good chances for a complete cure. Since it is most often a consequence of a violation of the thyroid gland or other organs, then by eliminating one of these accompanying pathologies, it is possible to achieve and improve the production of missing hormones.
This disease is characterized by a deficiency of thyroid hormones and can be both congenital and acquired.
Is one of the most common thyroid gland diseases.
It requires specific hormonal therapy, due to which the symptomatology is reduced to almost zero and the person does not experience any discomfort in normal life.
Causes of hypothyroidism
Why does hypothyroidism develop, and what is it? The disease is of two types: congenital and acquired. In the overwhelming number of cases, a congenital type occurs. It is formed due to deformations of the thyroid gland, for example, its hypoplasia or aplasia.
Also, the cause may be incorrect localization of the thyroid gland when it is placed near the root of the tongue. Another reason for the appearance of hypothyroidism may be a genetic disruption of the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones.
Acquired hypothyroidism has several subtypes:
- primary
- secondary
- tertiary
- peripheral
The appearance of the secondary is possible after damage to the pituitary gland, which causes pathological changes in the cells of the organ and disrupts the production of thyroid-stimulating hormone. Most often this occurs with tumors of the pituitary gland, its injuries.
Tertiary occurs as a result of damage to the hypothalamus, especially those parts that are responsible for the production of the hormone tyroliberin( TRH).
With peripheral hypothyroidism, a blockade of circulating thyroid-stimulating hormones occurs, or the body tissues show resistance to them. The reasons for the formation of a peripheral form have not been thoroughly studied. Many scientists believe that in this case a great role is played by heredity.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
In hypothyroidism, after the thyroid gland starts producing significantly less hormones, the work of almost all vital systems of the body worsens: the gastrointestinal tract, the genital area, the nervous and cardiovascular system.
Changes develop gradually, and often become noticeable when the disease is already at a late stage. Symptoms of hypothyroidism in women are extremely diverse, among the most common symptoms it should be noted:
- increased fatigue
- drowsiness
- deterioration of memory processes and thinking
- constipation
- menstrual irregularities in the female part of the population
- causeless weight gain
- dryness of skin and hair
- swelling
- dyspnea and painin the heart with physical activity
- increased chilliness, "cold limb syndrome"
Many doctors refer this condition to a transitional period, when the development of the disease says it's too early, but its symptoms are already beginning to bother the person. Depressive, depressed, depressed, memory impaired.
The manifest, or, as it is also called, true hypothyroidism, is compensated and decompensated. When the decompensated clinical picture is presented most clearly and includes almost all of the above symptoms. With a complicated variant, a significant lesion of various body systems is observed. Most often it is about such serious disorders as heart failure, cretinism, polyserositis. Fortunately, with today's level of medicine, this stage of hypothyroidism is extremely rare
Diagnostics
Hypothyroidism is a disease that is difficult to diagnose. The clinical picture for this disease is rather blurred, and the symptoms correspond to many other diseases. Quite often the disease is confused with other endocrinopathies: growth retardation, rickets, chondrodystrophy, Hirschsprung disease.
If hypothyroidism is suspected, you should first check thyroid hormones. To do this, the samples of venous blood are analyzed. As a rule, the picture is typical for the disease, when the level of thyroxin and triiodothyronine is significantly reduced. But the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone can be reduced, as well as increased.
For diagnostics it is also important to perform an ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland. It will provide an opportunity to establish whether there are structural changes in the body that may entail a violation of its functions. If necessary, biopsy of the thyroid gland is also performed.
Treatment of hypothyroidism
Treatment of hypothyroidism must necessarily be a comprehensive approach. First of all hormonal therapy will be needed, which compensates for the deficiency of the thyroid gland.
In this case, drugs containing artificial analogs of thyroid hormones are used. Most often it is a question of medicines, the active substance of which is levothyroxine sodium. The dose is selected individually and is based on the stage at which the disease is located and on the individual characteristics of the organism.
In some cases with a shortage of iodine in the body, the patient can be shown taking drugs and products containing iodine in high quantities. However, such therapy can be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor and after appropriate tests that confirm the condition of iodine deficiency.
Complications of hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism requires constant monitoring of the doctor and regular intake of the necessary drugs. Otherwise, the disease can lead to serious complications, which are fraught with even a fatal outcome. The most serious complication is the hypothyroid coma.
Typically, this condition occurs in elderly patients in whom the disease has been lubricated and has not been timely diagnosed. Hypothyroid can cause such factors as hypothermia, severe stress, trauma. With this condition, there is a strong decrease in body temperature, bradycardia, hypoglycemia. The patient requires immediate intervention of doctors, since such a condition can result in his death.
The negative impact of the disease on the state of the cardiovascular system is noted. Since under the conditions of this disease an increase in the level of so-called "bad" cholesterol( see how to lower cholesterol), the frequency of heart pathologies in patients with thyroid insufficiency is significantly increased.
Especially dangerous congenital hypothyroidism. Children who do not take hormonal drugs to correct their condition may experience a delay in growth, physical and mental development.
Prognosis of treatment
Thanks to the timely appeal to doctors, a patient with hypothyroidism, a person gets all the chances for a full life. As a rule, with uncomplicated species, therapy gives excellent results. Symptoms practically disappear, the psychoemotional state of the patient improves.
It should be noted that in most cases, especially when it comes to congenital hypothyroidism, a complete cure is impossible and the patient almost all his life has to take medication. However, their side effects are almost invisible, and the effect allows you to forget about the disease and its possible complications.
The acquired form has good chances for a complete cure. Since it is most often a consequence of a violation of the thyroid gland or other organs, then by eliminating one of these accompanying pathologies, it is possible to achieve and improve the production of missing hormones.