


Thyroid function decreases during 3 to 5 percent of pregnancies. Here are some of the less common causes of hypothyroidism. Most doctors keep an eye out for thyroid issues, but it’s super important to let them know about any symptoms at your regular checkups. Radiation treatments for cancer can change or damage your thyroid. If you take any meds that list hypothyroidism as a potential side effect and you’ve noticed symptoms, contact a healthcare professional. Some medications can cause a drop in thyroid hormone levels. But you’ll usually experience a sharp drop in thyroid hormone levels 1 to 3 months after this spike. For a few months, this will cause too much hormone to circulate in your body. Your thyroid can become inflamed and leak hormones (yikes). Sometimes, surgery can cause your thyroid to stop producing hormones altogether. Thyroid surgeries may decrease the amount of hormones your thyroid makes. Sometimes, these medications do their work a little too well, causing the thyroid to produce too little hormone. Treatment includes medications that reduce thyroid hormone production. Hyp erthyroidism happens when your thyroid makes too much hormone. Autoimmune disorders cause your immune system to attack your tissues and organs, including your thyroid. Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Some of the more common causes of hypothyroidism are: Your thyroid can become underactive for a bunch of different reasons. Sedatives, infections, and other physical stress combined with an underactive thyroid can lead to a myxedema coma. People with this condition can’t tolerate cold and become excessively drowsy to the point that they lose consciousness. Myxedema is one of the most severe side effects of undiagnosed hypothyroidism. However, early detection of hypothyroidism can prevent delays from permanently affecting a baby’s health.
Hypothyroidism medication full#
Congenital anomaliesīabies born to women with hypothyroidism may have a higher risk of developmental delays and congenital anomalies than the children of women with full thyroid function. Nerve damage may result in pain, tingling, or numbness in your fingers, your toes, or other parts of your body. Your nerves are responsible for carrying information from your brain to the rest of the body. Depending on where the nerves are in your body, this damage may cause central neuropathy (in your central nervous system) or peripheral neuropathy (in your hands, feet, arms, or legs). Peripheral neuropathyĭecreased production of thyroid hormone can lead to nerve damage. Research suggests this may contribute to a higher risk of heart disease and heart failure further down the line. Hypothyroidism can cause an increase in your level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (that’s the bad kind). The effects seep into your mental and physical health, which can affect your emotional health too. Left to its own devices, an underactive thyroid can do some serious damage. slower physical growth, resulting in short stature.Hypothyroidism has developmental symptoms in teens, including: However, children and teens are still growing. Symptoms in children/teensĬhildren and teens experience many of the same hypothyroidism symptoms as adults. Regular well-child checkups can also help doctors stay on top of thyroid problems. Many states require a thyroid screening at birth to catch a problem before it reaches the danger zone. Undiagnosed hypothyroidism in infants can be dangerous, leading to potentially serious physical and mental delays. But as the symptoms progress, an infant may not grow as expected and may have difficulty feeding. Symptoms are often unnoticeable in infants. The symptoms for infants are a little different from those of adults: But it can happen, and when it does, they can’t tell you something doesn’t feel right (not all babies are Stewie Griffin). Infants are far less likely to develop hypothyroidism than older adults. goiter (an enlarged thyroid that forms a visible lump on your neck).forgetfulness and slowed mental function.sore, aching muscles and muscle tenderness.It’s yet another reason hypothyroidism can be sneaky. Many people dismiss the symptoms as typical aches, pains, and fatigue that would normally come along with aging. Hypothyroidism becomes more common after you hit 60 years of age. But being aware of them can help you seek treatment before complications develop. The list of potential symptoms is long - you may not experience all of them. They can be slippery and hard to spot at first.

Symptoms are also gradual and vary based on your age, medical conditions, and biochemistry. The decrease in thyroid hormone is usually slow, making it hard to recognize the change. It’s not like one day you’re happy, motivated, and svelte and the next you’re laid out on the couch packing an extra 20 pounds.
