What is Hypothyroidism?

Before we understand what hypothyroidism is, we must first understand the anatomy of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland located in the front of the neck. It makes hormones that affect almost every organ in the body and most importantly, helps control your most important functions. Without thyroid hormones, your breathing, heart rate, weight, digestion and mood will be affected and may slow down. 

When the thyroid gland becomes underactive, it does not produce enough of the hormones needed. As the symptoms of this condition develop slowly and may be mistaken for other diseases, hypothyroidism is generally considered to be chronic. The first signs of hypothyroidism are fatigue and weight gain, which could be attributed to getting older and your metabolism getting slower. However, as less and less hormones are produced, the symptoms become worse. 

Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism:

• Fatigue
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Weight gain
• Puffy face
• Hoarse voice
• Muscle weakness
• High blood cholesterol level
• Muscle aches
• Stiffness/swelling of joints
• Heavy or irregular menstrual periods
• Thinning hair
• Slowed heart rate
• Depression
• Enlarged thyroid gland

Hypothyroidism occurs for various reasons. One may be suffering from autoimmune disease also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or could result from over-response to hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) treatment, thyroid surgery, radiation therapy, or medication. 

There are increased risk factors for hypothyroidism:

• Are a woman older than 60
• Has a family history of thyroid disease
• Is suffering from type 1 diabetes or celiac disease
• Has been treated with radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medications
• Received radiation to your neck or upper chest
• Had thyroid surgery
• Had been pregnant or had a baby within the past 6 months. 

However, hypothyroidism can be treated with synthetic thyroid hormones such as levothyroxine, which can restore hormone levels. For more holistic approaches, one can speed up metabolism by doing moderate to high intensity aerobic exercise and by increasing protein intake. A healthy diet with fruits and vegetables is also highly recommended, while avoiding certain foods with high levels of goitrogens, commonly found in highly processed foods. 

Bibliography

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12120-hypothyroidism

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/hypothyroidism-diet#foods-to-eat

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350289