Hypothyroidism is just a fancy term for when a person’s thyroid is underactive and doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones for the body to function properly. Not having the optimum number thyroid hormones available slows down your body’s metabolism. This problem usually develops gradually. The symptoms are common, like fatigue, and you may not even notice them, or attribute the symptoms to not getting enough sleep. Other common symptoms include dry skin and feeling the cold more. Few people really notice feeling the cold more unless it is a drastic change.
An underactive thyroid can be present in adults, and children, even infants. It is more common in older people, and women are more likely to be affected than men. On the other end of the spectrum there is hyperthyroidism. This is when the thyroid produces too many thyroid hormones. The effects are the opposite of Hypothyroidism. Instead of weight loss, there is weight gain. Instead of feeling tired, a person feels shaky and anxious. Neither is pleasant and both require a visit to the doctor for a blood test. Fortunately, both are highly treatable, although not curable.
The medication for both conditions may cause the other to occur. It takes a while to get the exact dosage required for the thyroid to produce the exact amount of hormones required.
