Hypothyroidism: General Causes and Symptoms
It is medically recognized that the main purpose of thyroid hormone in human body is to run the metabolism. Human body requires sufficient amount (neither too high nor too low) of thyroid hormone for optimal metabolism. Excessively high or low amount of thyroid hormone results in two different health conditions. When the amount is too high, ‘overactive’ metabolism will ensue. On the other hand, when the amount is too low, body’s metabolism will be ‘underactive’.
Thyroid hormone deficiency is technically known as hypothyroidism. There are generally two common causes of this underactive thyroid. The first is prolonged thyroid gland inflammation that may deplete thyroid cells in such a way that the cells are incapable of producing sufficient hormone. The second cause of hypothyroidism is medical treatment that requires removal of some or all parts of thyroid gland through surgical procedures. There are also some uncommon health conditions that warrant radioactive iodine therapy, which may kill or damage considerable number of cells.
There are some common symptoms of hypothyroidism whose number and severity may vary from an individual to another. They include fatigue, weakness, weight gain, dry hair, pale and dry skin, hair loss, cold intolerance, constipation, irritability, and some other symptoms. However, since such symptoms may also be found in other health conditions, they can be mistakenly diagnosed as other condition. Therefore, a patient with two or more of the symptoms is recommended to see a physician for a thorough examination.