42 million people in India have thyroid disorders and hypothyroidism is the most common of thyroid disorders in India, affecting one in ten adults.
In hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of certain important hormones. Think of thyroid as the furnace of the body – you need it to break down food, maintain metabolism. What happens when the furnace can’t function properly?
Obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease. But these develop later as in the early stages there are seldom any symptoms.
Women, especially those older than age 60, are more likely to have hypothyroidism.
Some of the most common symptoms are weight gain or inability to lose in spite of exercise, feeling cold, fatigue, dry skin, puffy face, among others.
The more severe your hypothyroidism, the more weight you are likely to gain.
The prevalence of hypothyroidism in India is 11%, compared with only 2% in the UK and 4·6% in the USA. This is possibly linked to long-standing iodine deficiency in the country, which has only been partly corrected over the past 20 years.
Apart from iodine deficiency, environmental factors can play a part in hypothyroidism. Exposure to cyanogenic compounds are said to have an adverse impact on iodine metabolism. Unregulated use of pesticides and exposure to endocrine disruptors, contaminated drinking water industrial pollutants can be likely causes.
If diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you can visit a doctor who may prescribe thyroid hormone replacement medication. The disease can be treated and early diagnosis is key to preventing damage, especially in children and pregnant women.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
Thyroid glad has a huge effect on nearly every aspect of our health; from weight to mood to heart rate to energy level. Here’s a look at the many symptoms of hypothyroidism to help you stay prepared.
- Dry skin
- Fatigue/li>
- Muscle Cramps
- Constipation
- Intolerance to cold
- Puffy Eyelids
- Excessive Weight Gain
- Irregular Menstrual Flow
What is Thyroid?
Thyroid is a Butterfly shaped gland that rests inside the neck, just below the Adams apple. Proper secretion of the hormones from the thyroid gland is essential for the normal functioning of the body.
Role of thyroid gland
The thyroid gland synthesizes and secretes 2 hormones namely T4 (Thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). These hormones affect metabolism,brain development, breathing, functioning of the heart and nervous system, body temparature, muscle strength, skin, menstrual cycles, weight and cholestrol.
Types of thyroid disorders
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland becomes underactive and does not produce enough thyroid hormones. It can affect growth, cellular process and many other body functions.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
- Excessive Weight Gain
- Intolerance to cold
- Muscle Cramps
- Dry Skin
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Puffy Eyelids
- Irregular Menstrual Flow
- Infertiit
Hyperthyroidism
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism
- Nervousness
- Difficulty Sleeping
- Weight Loss
- Moist Palms
- Rapid and Irregular Heartbeat
- Bulging Eyes
- Unblinking Stare
- Vision Changes
- Excessive Hunger
- Frequent Bowel Movements
- Heat Intolerance
Thyroid function tests
What are thyroid function tests?
Thyroid function tests are used to check for thyroid problems. The tests measure the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3) in your blood.
The pituitary gland in your brain makes TSH and sends it to your thyroid gland. TSH controls the production of thyroid hormones.
TSH is usually tested first. The combination of a TSH test and tests for the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 is known as a thyroid function test (TFT).
Additional thyroid tests include thyroid antibodies.
Why would I need thyroid function tests?
Your thyroid gland has an important role in controlling your metabolism. Hormones made by your thyroid gland influence your:
- heart rate
- blood pressure
- body temperature
- weight
Too much or too little of these hormones can make you ill.
You might need thyroid function tests if you have symptoms of:
- hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid)
- hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid)
- you are taking thyroid hormone replacement treatment
- you are female and being investigated for infertility
Signs of hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) are:
- sensitivity to heat
- weight loss
- fast heartbeat
- nervousness
- sweating
- increased frequency of stools (pooing)
Signs of hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) are:
-
- tiredness
- weakness
- weight gain
- muscle aches
- constipation
- slow heart rate
- sensitivity to cold
How to prepare for thyroid function tests?
There is no preparation needed for a TSH blood test.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any medicine, especially medicine for thyroid disorders.
Understanding your results
A high TSH result might mean that you:
- have hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland)
- have a problem with your pituitary gland
- are receiving too little thyroid hormone medicine
A low TSH result might mean that you:
- have hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland)
- have a problem with the pituitary gland
- you are taking too much thyroid hormone medicine
If your TSH test result isn’t normal, your doctor will often ask for your thyroxine (T4) and/or triiodothyronine (T3) levels to be tested.
T3 test
Triiodothyronine (T3) is a thyroid hormone. It plays an important role in the body’s control of metabolism (the many processes that control the rate of activity in cells and tissues).
This test can be done to measure the amount of T3 in your blood.
How to Prepare for the Test
Your health care provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before the test that may affect your test result. Do not stop taking any medicine without first talking to your provider.
Medicines that can increase T3 measurements include:
- Birth control pills
- Estrogens
- Methadone
- Certain herbal remedies
Medicines that can decrease T3 measurements include:
- Amiodarone
- Anabolic steroids
- Androgens
- Antithyroid medicines (for example, propylthiouracil and methimazole)
- Lithium
- Phenytoin
- Propranolol
Normal Results
The range for normal values are:
- Total T3 — 60 to 180 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), or 0.9 to 2.8 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L)
- Free T3 — 130 to 450 picograms per deciliter (pg/dL), or 2.0 to 7.0 picomoles per liter (pmol/L)
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different specimens. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.
Normal values are age specific for people less than age 20. Check with your provider about your specific results.
What Abnormal Results Mean
A higher-than-normal level of T3 may be a sign of:
- Overactive thyroid gland (for example, Graves disease
- T3 thyrotoxicosis (rare)
- Toxic nodular goiter
- Taking thyroid medicines or certain supplements (common)
- Liver disease
A high level of T3 may occur in pregnancy (especially with morning sickness at the end of the first trimester) or with the use of birth control pills or estrogen.
A lower-than-normal level may be due to:
- Severe short-term or some long-term illnesses
- Thyroiditis (swelling or inflammation of the thyroid gland — Hashimoto disease is the most common type)
- Starvation
- Underactive thyroid gland
T4 test
Thyroxine (T4) is one of the hormones made by your thyroid gland. Your thyroid gland is the small, butterfly-shaped organ in your throat that wraps around your windpipe (trachea). It makes and releases a few different hormones, including T4, that help control the following processes:
- How your body turns the food you eat into energy (metabolism)
- How fast food moves through your digestive system
- Your heart rate and body temperature
- Brain development in children
- How your muscles contract
- The rate at which your body replaces dying cells
T4 is the inactive form of your thyroid hormone; it must be changed into the active form, triiodothyronine (T3), for your organs and cells to use. The cells in a few of your organs can convert T4 into T3, including your:
- Brain and spinal cord
- Pituitary gland
- Thyroid
- Muscles
- Brown fat tissue (the kind of fat that stores and burns energy to keep your body temperature stable)
- Liver
- Kidneys
Normal T4 range
While normal ranges may vary between laboratories, typical values include:
- Total T4: 5.0 to 12.0 µg/dL (micrograms per deciliter).
- Free T4: 0.8 to 1.8 ng/dL (nanograms per deciliter).
- High T4 Levels: Often indicate hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland is overactive.
- Low T4 Levels: Suggest hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland is underactive.
- Normal T4 Levels: Indicate balanced thyroid hormone production.
The T4 Test is an essential diagnostic tool for assessing thyroid health and identifying thyroid-related conditions. Its ability to provide accurate insights into hormone levels ensures effective management of thyroid disorders. By incorporating the T4 Test into routine healthcare, individuals can maintain optimal thyroid function and overall well-being.
TSH, T3, T4 tests are used to determine the cause and help predict the future course of thyroid problems.
Discuss the results of your tests with your doctor to find out what they mean for you.
What is thyroid medicine?
Thyroid medicines are tablets used to treat thyroid gland disorders. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland inside your neck that produces the thyroid hormone.
Thyroid disorders include hypothyroidism, which is when the thyroid is underactive and does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Another thyroid disorder is hyperthyroidism, which is when the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone. These disorders cause the body’s metabolism (natural chemical reactions) to slow down or speed up.
How does thyroid medicine work?
Thyroid medicines work by either replacing missing thyroid hormone, or blocking its production. In hypothyroidism, thyroid medicine replaces the thyroid hormone that the body cannot produce in the right amounts. In hyperthyroidism, thyroid medicine blocks thyroid hormone production, because the body produces too much.
Thyroid medicines are only available with a doctor’s prescription. Thyroid medicine should only be used if you have been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder.
What types of thyroid medicine might I be prescribed?
Thyroid medicines are available as tablets, and only with a doctor’s prescription.
If you’re diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you may be prescribed medicine which replaces the hormones normally produced by the thyroid gland.
Levothyroxine is commonly used to treat hypothyroidism and replaces the hormone T4.
Liothyronine replaces the hormone T3 and is usually only prescribed after careful consideration by a thyroid specialist (endocrinologist).
There are several different thyroid medicines that can treat hyperthyroidism. They include propylthiouracil and carbimazole.
These medicines work by blocking the production of hormones in the thyroid gland.
All of these thyroid medicines are available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), however, some brands may cost more than others.
Search your medicines by brand name or active ingredient using the healthdirect Medicines tool.
How do I take thyroid medicine?
Thyroid medicine is usually taken daily, although some people may take their medicine weekly or take a different dose on certain days of the week.
If you have been prescribed levothyroxine by your doctor, it is recommended that you take your dose as soon as you wake up in the morning, and at least 30 – 60 minutes before eating. Other medicines (including supplements) should not be taken at the same time as levothyroxine.
There are several different brands of levothyroxine tablets available in Australia, and it is important that you remember the brand name of your medicine. Not all brands can be substituted for each other, so be sure to let your pharmacist know which brand you take.
Some brands of levothyroxine need to be stored in a fridge — check with your pharmacist to see if this applies to your medicine.
Always tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist if you are taking medicines to manage a thyroid disorder.
Does thyroid medicine have any side effects or risks associated with it?
Side effects of thyroid medicines are rare, so long as you are taking the correct dose.
If you are taking thyroid medicines to treat hypothyroidism, side effects can include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- stomach discomfort
- rash
Rare but serious side effects include a decrease in white blood cells and liver injury.
Tell your doctor immediately if you’re taking thyroid medicine and have any of the following side effects:
- fever
- mouth ulcers
- sore throat
- rash
- severe fatigue
- nausea
- abdominal pain
- yellowing skin or eyes (jaundice)
If you are experiencing side effects from thyroid medicine, it is important to see your doctor, as you may need a different dose or type of medicine.
Depending on how you respond to the medicine, your doctor may change your dose.
Because some other medicines and vitamins might affect how thyroid medicines work, it is important to let your doctor know about any other medicines you are taking. Tell your doctor about all of your prescription medicines, non-prescription medicines and supplements.
When should I see my doctor?
If you have symptoms of a thyroid disorder or notice changes in your thyroid gland, such as a lump on your neck, it is important to see a doctor. Your doctor will most likely refer you for tests to see if you have a thyroid disorder before you begin treatment.
You should see your doctor if you have been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder and your symptoms are changing or you are experiencing side effects from your thyroid medicine.
Thyroid medicine and pregnancy
Because pregnancy may affect the thyroid gland, you should have your thyroid disorder monitored by a doctor if you are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant or are breastfeeding.
Your health team will monitor your thyroid disorder regularly during pregnancy, and your doctor may need to adjust the dose or type of thyroid medicine you are using. Some thyroid medicines used to treat hyperthyroidism have been associated with birth defects. For this reason, your doctor may prescribe a different type of thyroid medicine for you to use during pregnancy.
Are there any alternatives to this medicine?
For people with a thyroid disorder, it is important to take the thyroid medicine as prescribed by their doctor.
For some patients with hyperthyroidism, radioactive iodine — which damages and destroys the overactive thyroid cells, or surgery — to remove part of, or all of the thyroid gland may be required. Your thyroid specialist will recommend the most appropriate treatment for you,
