Do you always find yourself depressed even for no apparent reason? Are you frequently tired? Do you easily gain weight? If you answer yes to all these questions, then there’s a likelihood that you have an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism may not seem like a serious disorder. You may heave a sigh of relief upon learning that there are minimal symptoms during the early stages of this condition. But over time and if left untreated, this ailment can bother you. Health problems may arise from an under-active thyroid.  Still, be thankful that hypothyroidism can be treated by using hormone tablets to replace the hormones that the thyroid is not making.

Symptoms

Hypothyroidism is usually hard to determine because its symptoms are often confused for something else. The symptoms are also slow to develop that it may take years for a patient to actually notice them. You can actually dismiss the symptoms to be caused by something else. But don’t write off symptoms like unexplained fatigue, sudden weight gain, chronic episodes of depression and muscle aches. When you notice that you have been experiencing these things regularly, then you must see a doctor immediately. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism are dry skin and hair and sensitivity to the cold. The only way to determine if you have hypothyroidism is for you to take a blood test to assess your hormone levels.

Complications

Never regard hypothyroidism as something not serious. In reality, the condition can lead to more dangerous health problems. One complication of this disorder is goiter, as constant stimulation of the thyroid to release hormones may result to a larger gland. Goiter does not pose serious health troubles but can ruin your looks and interfere with your swallowing and breathing.   Hypothyroidism can also increase risk of heart disease as people with an under performing thyroid are prone to developing high levels of bad cholesterol. It can also lead to heart failure and an enlarged heart.  The ailment can also cause slower mental function and worse, mental health issues since depression may happen to people with hypothyroidism. If you have no offspring, be worried as hypothyroidism can cause infertility. Women with an under-active thyroid gland are also risking their babies as they may give birth to a newborn with birth defects.

Treatment

The standard treatment for this condition is the daily intake of Synthroid, a synthetic thyroid hormone replacement. The drug works through the replacement of the thyroid hormone that the thyroid gland is unable to produce. An oral drug, Synthroid restores normal hormone levels and reversing the symptoms of hypothyroidism.  The drug can influence positive results in just a week or two after the patient takes it. If you use this drug, you’ll notice that you don’t feel exhausted easily. Your weight gain will be arrested and the cholesterol levels raised by the disease will go back to normal. But Synthroid can also have its side effects. You may notice partial hair loss, muscle weakness and changes in menstrual period. It can also cause weight loss, which explains why some people go to the extent of using Synthroid to shed pounds when in fact it should not be used as a weight loss medication.