Understanding Hypothyroidism: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Corresponding Author(s) : Prabha Bhandari, MD
The American Journal of Patient Health Info,
Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024)
Abstract
- Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone, leading to symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, and a feeling of cold.
- While the diet's lack of iodine is the leading cause of hypothyroidism, Hashimoto thyroiditis occurs in places with sufficient iodine.
- Women are more likely to develop hypothyroidism, with family history, autoimmune disease, and previous thyroid issues adding to the increased risk.
- Blood tests measuring serum-free thyroxine levels and thyroid-stimulating hormones can diagnose the condition. High TSH and low FT4 levels usually indicate Hypothyroidism.
- Levothyroxine is the mainstay of treatment. Treatment usually lasts for a time, with regular follow-ups to adjust the medication, especially during stress, illness, and pregnancy.
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- American Thyroid Association (ATA). Hypothyroidism [Internet]. American Thyroid Association. American Thyroid Association; 2019. Available from: https://www.thyroid.org/wp-content/uploads/patients/brochures/Hypothyroidism_web_booklet.pdf
- Wyne KL, Nair L, Schneiderman CP, Pinsky B, Flores OA, Guo D, et al. Hypothyroidism prevalence in the United States: A retrospective study combining national health and Nutrition examination survey and claims data, 2009–2019. Journal of the Endocrine Society [Internet]. 2022 Nov 10;7(1). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvac172
- Osinga JAJ, Liu Y, Männistö T, Vafeiadi M, Tao FB, Vaidya B, et al. Risk Factors for thyroid Dysfunction in Pregnancy: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis. Thyroid [Internet]. 2024 May 1;34(5):646–58. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2023.0646
- Chaker L, Razvi S, Bensenor IM, Azizi F, Pearce EN, Peeters RP. Hypothyroidism. Nature Reviews Disease Primers [Internet]. 2022 May 19;8(1). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-022-00357-7
- Taylor PN, Albrecht D, Scholz A, Gutierrez-Buey G, Lazarus JH, Dayan CM, et al. Global epidemiology of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Nature Reviews Endocrinology [Internet]. 2018 Mar 23;14(5):301–16. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2018.18
- Chaker L, Bianco AC, Jonklaas J, Peeters RP. Hypothyroidism. The Lancet 2017;390:1550–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30703-1.
- Jordan B, Uer O, Buchholz T, Spens A, Zierz S. Physical fatigability and muscle pain in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis. J Neurol 2021;268:2441–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-020-10394-5.
- Jansen HI, Boelen A, Heijboer AC, Bruinstroop E, Fliers E. Hypothyroidism: The difficulty in attributing symptoms to their underlying cause. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023;14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1130661
- P HH, G S, K P, Penumalla S, Kandimalla R. Hypothyroidism and Its Impact on Menstrual Irregularities in Reproductive-Age Women: A Comprehensive Analysis at a Tertiary Care Center. Cureus 2024. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.63158.
- McDermott MT. Hypothyroidism. Ann Intern Med 2020;173:ITC1–16. https://doi.org/10.7326/AITC202007070.
- Gharib H, Papini E, Garber JR, Duick DS, Harrell RM, Hegedus L, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Endocrinology, and Associazione Medici Endocrinologi Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Nodules - 2016 Update Appendix. Endocrine Practice 2016;22:1–60. https://doi.org/10.4158/EP161208.GL.
- Wilson SA, Stem LA, Bruehlman RD. Hypothyroidism: diagnosis and treatment [Internet]. AAFP. 2021. Available from: https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0515/p605.html
- Livett T, LaFranchi S. Imaging in congenital hypothyroidism. Curr Opin Pediatr 2019;31:555–61. https://doi.org/10.1097/MOP.0000000000000782.
- Davis MG, Phillippi JC. Hypothyroidism: Diagnosis and Evidence‐Based Treatment. Journal of Midwifery & Women S Health [Internet]. 2022 Apr 5;67(3):394–7. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13358
- Jonklaas J. Optimal thyroid hormone replacement. Endocrine Reviews [Internet]. 2021 Sep 20;43(2):366–404. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1210/endrev/bnab031
- Ahluwalia R, Baldeweg SE, Boelaert K, Chatterjee K, Dayan C, Okosieme O, et al. Use of liothyronine (T3) in hypothyroidism: Joint British Thyroid Association/Society for endocrinology consensus statement. Clinical Endocrinology [Internet]. 2023 Jun 5;99(2):206–16. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/cen.14935
- Feller M, Snel M, Moutzouri E, Bauer DC, De Montmollin M, Aujesky D, et al. Association of thyroid hormone therapy with quality of life and Thyroid-Related Symptoms in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. JAMA [Internet]. 2018 Oct 2;320(13):1349. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.13770
- Pearce EN. Management of hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy. Endocrine Practice [Internet]. 2022 Jul 1;28(7):711–8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eprac.2022.05.004
- Biondi B, Cappola AR, Cooper DS. Subclinical Hypothyroidism. JAMA 2019;322:153. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.9052.
- Larsen D, Singh S, Brito M. Thyroid, diet, and alternative approaches. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism [Internet]. 2022 Aug 11;107(11):2973–81. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgac473
- Galanty A, Grudzińska M, Paździora W, Służały P, Paśko P. Do brassica vegetables affect thyroid Function?A comprehensive systematic review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences [Internet]. 2024 Apr 3;25(7):3988. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25073988
- Alkhatib D, Shi Z, Ganji V. Dietary patterns and hypothyroidism in U.S. adult population. Nutrients [Internet]. 2024 Jan 28;16(3):382. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16030382
References
American Thyroid Association (ATA). Hypothyroidism [Internet]. American Thyroid Association. American Thyroid Association; 2019. Available from: https://www.thyroid.org/wp-content/uploads/patients/brochures/Hypothyroidism_web_booklet.pdf
Wyne KL, Nair L, Schneiderman CP, Pinsky B, Flores OA, Guo D, et al. Hypothyroidism prevalence in the United States: A retrospective study combining national health and Nutrition examination survey and claims data, 2009–2019. Journal of the Endocrine Society [Internet]. 2022 Nov 10;7(1). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvac172
Osinga JAJ, Liu Y, Männistö T, Vafeiadi M, Tao FB, Vaidya B, et al. Risk Factors for thyroid Dysfunction in Pregnancy: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis. Thyroid [Internet]. 2024 May 1;34(5):646–58. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2023.0646
Chaker L, Razvi S, Bensenor IM, Azizi F, Pearce EN, Peeters RP. Hypothyroidism. Nature Reviews Disease Primers [Internet]. 2022 May 19;8(1). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-022-00357-7
Taylor PN, Albrecht D, Scholz A, Gutierrez-Buey G, Lazarus JH, Dayan CM, et al. Global epidemiology of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Nature Reviews Endocrinology [Internet]. 2018 Mar 23;14(5):301–16. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2018.18
Chaker L, Bianco AC, Jonklaas J, Peeters RP. Hypothyroidism. The Lancet 2017;390:1550–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30703-1.
Jordan B, Uer O, Buchholz T, Spens A, Zierz S. Physical fatigability and muscle pain in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis. J Neurol 2021;268:2441–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-020-10394-5.
Jansen HI, Boelen A, Heijboer AC, Bruinstroop E, Fliers E. Hypothyroidism: The difficulty in attributing symptoms to their underlying cause. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023;14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1130661
P HH, G S, K P, Penumalla S, Kandimalla R. Hypothyroidism and Its Impact on Menstrual Irregularities in Reproductive-Age Women: A Comprehensive Analysis at a Tertiary Care Center. Cureus 2024. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.63158.
McDermott MT. Hypothyroidism. Ann Intern Med 2020;173:ITC1–16. https://doi.org/10.7326/AITC202007070.
Gharib H, Papini E, Garber JR, Duick DS, Harrell RM, Hegedus L, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Endocrinology, and Associazione Medici Endocrinologi Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Nodules - 2016 Update Appendix. Endocrine Practice 2016;22:1–60. https://doi.org/10.4158/EP161208.GL.
Wilson SA, Stem LA, Bruehlman RD. Hypothyroidism: diagnosis and treatment [Internet]. AAFP. 2021. Available from: https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0515/p605.html
Livett T, LaFranchi S. Imaging in congenital hypothyroidism. Curr Opin Pediatr 2019;31:555–61. https://doi.org/10.1097/MOP.0000000000000782.
Davis MG, Phillippi JC. Hypothyroidism: Diagnosis and Evidence‐Based Treatment. Journal of Midwifery & Women S Health [Internet]. 2022 Apr 5;67(3):394–7. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13358
Jonklaas J. Optimal thyroid hormone replacement. Endocrine Reviews [Internet]. 2021 Sep 20;43(2):366–404. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1210/endrev/bnab031
Ahluwalia R, Baldeweg SE, Boelaert K, Chatterjee K, Dayan C, Okosieme O, et al. Use of liothyronine (T3) in hypothyroidism: Joint British Thyroid Association/Society for endocrinology consensus statement. Clinical Endocrinology [Internet]. 2023 Jun 5;99(2):206–16. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/cen.14935
Feller M, Snel M, Moutzouri E, Bauer DC, De Montmollin M, Aujesky D, et al. Association of thyroid hormone therapy with quality of life and Thyroid-Related Symptoms in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. JAMA [Internet]. 2018 Oct 2;320(13):1349. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.13770
Pearce EN. Management of hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy. Endocrine Practice [Internet]. 2022 Jul 1;28(7):711–8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eprac.2022.05.004
Biondi B, Cappola AR, Cooper DS. Subclinical Hypothyroidism. JAMA 2019;322:153. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.9052.
Larsen D, Singh S, Brito M. Thyroid, diet, and alternative approaches. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism [Internet]. 2022 Aug 11;107(11):2973–81. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgac473
Galanty A, Grudzińska M, Paździora W, Służały P, Paśko P. Do brassica vegetables affect thyroid Function?A comprehensive systematic review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences [Internet]. 2024 Apr 3;25(7):3988. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25073988
Alkhatib D, Shi Z, Ganji V. Dietary patterns and hypothyroidism in U.S. adult population. Nutrients [Internet]. 2024 Jan 28;16(3):382. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16030382