Hypothyroid Treatment - Being Diagnosed With Hypothyroidism

More women than men are likely to have hypothyroidism, especially if the woman is over the age of fifty. If you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, then this means that your thyroid gland is not producing enough of certain hormones that your body needs to function properly. Symptoms of this disease usually take time to show up, but you can have hope through hypothyroid treatment. Whether you choose to treat it naturally or by prescription medications, the important thing is to know what symptoms to look for, and not to ignore them.

Since symptoms may not show up until later on, it is important to be able to spot things that may not stand out brightly. This is extremely important if there are certain risk factors such as hereditary working against you. Some symptoms of hypothyroidism are weight gain, pain in your joints, heart disease, and even infertility. You may even notice things subtly over the years such as fatigue, increased sensitivity to the cold, pale or dry skin, heavy menstrual periods, depression, and elevated cholesterol. Once these symptoms are diagnosed as hypothyroid disease, you can focus on which hypothyroid treatment will be best for your personal situation.

Knowing what causes hypothyroidism can be a little complex. Several things can set off this disease. Certain medical issues such as autoimmune disease, radiation therapy, certain medications, thyroid surgery, and even treatment for an overactive thyroid can cause your thyroid gland to under produce. Sometimes, but less common, hypothyroidism could be caused from pregnancy, congenital disease, a pituitary disorder, or iodine deficiency.

The most common type of hypothyroid treatment given is to give a daily dose of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine. This helps by restoring your hormone levels to a normal stage. Some patients have noticed less fatigue just after two weeks of starting this treatment. It can also lower your cholesterol levels gradually and reverse the effects hypothyroidism has had on your weight. The good news is that side effects caused by this synthetic hormone are very rare, making this hypothyroid treatment an excellent option for just about everyone. If you have certain problems such as heart disease, your doctor may start you out on a lower does so that your heart can adjust gradually to the increase in your metabolism.