Log in. Interested in AAFP membership? Learn more. He is also an associate editor of the Annals of Internal Medicine. Address correspondence to Victor Adlin, M. Broad St. Reprints are not available from the author.
The aging thyroid. Increased prevalence of elevated serum thyrotropin levels in the elderly. Preventive Services Task Force. Guide to clinical preventive services: report of the U. Baltimore, Md. Helfand M, Crapo LM. Screening for thyroid disease.
Ann Intern Med. Screening for mild thyroid failure at the periodic health examination: a decision and cost-effectiveness analysis. Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. N Engl J Med. Long-term follow-up of treatment of thyrotoxicosis by three different methods. Clin Endocrinol [Oxford]. Development of spontaneous hypothyroidism in patients with Graves' disease treated with antithyroidal drugs: clinical, immunological, and histological findings in 26 patients.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Natural history of autoimmune thyroiditis. Br Med J [Clin Res]. Thyroid failure in the elderly. Microsomal antibodies as discriminant for therapy. L-Thyroxine therapy in subclinical hypothyroidism. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Spectrum of subclinical and overt hypothyroidism: effect on thyrotropin, prolactin, and thyroid reserve, and metabolic impact on peripheral target tissues.
Am J Med. Arem R, Patsch W. Lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels in subclinical hypothyroidism. Effect of levothyroxine therapy. Arch Intern Med. Thyroxine replacement therapy and circulating lipid concentrations. The use and misuse of thyroid hormone.
Endocr Rev. Low serum thyrotropin concentrations as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation in older persons. Ross DS. Hyperthyroidism, thyroid hormone therapy, and bone. This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.
Contact afpserv aafp. Want to use this article elsewhere? Get Permissions. Read the Issue. Too much dietary fiber may prevent your body from getting the hormones it needs. Instead, avoid taking your medicine within several hours of eating high fiber foods. If you take supplements or medications in addition to thyroid medications, try to take them at different times.
Create a hypothyroidism diet plan with these tips. However, there are ways to lessen the effect of hypothyroidism on your quality of life. Hypothyroidism often goes along with other conditions, such as:.
Despite taking medication, you may still experience fatigue from time to time. Find people you can openly express your feelings and experiences to. This can be a therapist, close friend, family member, or a support group of other people living with this condition. Many hospitals sponsor meetings for people with conditions such as hypothyroidism. Learn more about how hypothyroidism can affect your relationships. This causes a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, weight gain, and even depression.
A study found that 60 percent of people with hypothyroidism exhibited some symptoms of depression. Some people with hypothyroidism may only experience mood difficulties. This can make diagnosing hypothyroidism difficult. Instead of only treating the brain, doctors should also consider testing for and treating an underactive thyroid.
The two conditions also have symptoms that may distinguish them from one another. For hypothyroidism, problems such as dry skin, constipation, high cholesterol, and hair loss are common. Depression is often a diagnosis made based on symptoms and medical history. Low thyroid function is diagnosed with a physical exam and blood tests.
If your depression is caused only by hypothyroidism, correcting the hypothyroidism should treat the depression. Explore the link between thyroid conditions and depression here. While hypothyroidism has long been associated with depression, a study indicates it may be associated with anxiety too. Researchers evaluated people between the ages of 18 and 45 years old who have a known history of hypothyroidism. Using an anxiety questionnaire, they found that around 63 percent of them met the criteria for some form of anxiety.
Research to date has consisted of small studies. Larger and more focused studies on anxiety may help determine if a true connection exists between hypothyroidism and anxiety. Women who have hypothyroidism and wish to become pregnant face a particular set of challenges. Low thyroid function or uncontrolled hypothyroidism during pregnancy can cause:.
Some doctors routinely check thyroid levels during pregnancy to monitor for low thyroid hormone levels. If your levels are lower than they should be, your doctor may suggest treatment. Some women who never had thyroid problems before they were pregnant may develop them after having a baby. This is called postpartum thyroiditis. For many women, the condition resolves within 12 to 18 months , and medication is no longer required.
Approximately 20 percent of women with postpartum thyroiditis will go on to require long-term therapy. Continue to take your medication as prescribed. This ensures that the baby is getting enough thyroid hormone for organ development.
Eating a well-balanced diet and taking multivitamins while pregnant can help you maintain a healthy pregnancy. Women with thyroid problems can and very often do have healthy pregnancies.
Find out more about the effect of hypothyroidism on fertility and pregnancy. For that reason, an underactive thyroid is commonly associated with weight gain. The more severe the condition is, the greater your weight gain is likely to be. Most people will gain somewhere between 5 and 10 pounds. Properly treating the condition can help you lose any weight you gained while your thyroid levels were uncontrolled. Symptoms of underactive thyroid, including weight gain, develop over a long period of time.
Instead, it may indicate that your weight gain was the result of lifestyle choices rather than low hormone levels. Work with a doctor, registered dietitian , or personal trainer to develop a focused healthy-eating plan and exercise strategy that can help you lose weight.
Get more tips on managing your weight when you have hypothyroidism. Your body naturally goes through changes as you get older. Explore the effects of hypothyroidism on the body. Your thyroid gland is responsible for growth and metabolism in your body. Here are 10 common signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, or low thyroid….
While hypothyroidism is more common in adults, children can have it too. From slowed growth rate to poor muscle tone, here are symptoms all parents…. Symptoms of hypothyroidism underactive thyroid can disrupt several parts of your life.
Weight gain, for example, often causes significant distress…. You'll initially have regular blood tests until the correct dose of levothyroxine is reached. This can take a little while to get right. You may start on a low dose of levothyroxine, which may be increased gradually, depending on how your body responds.
Some people start to feel better soon after beginning treatment, while others do not notice an improvement in their symptoms for several months. Once you're taking the correct dose, you'll usually have a blood test once a year to monitor your hormone levels. If blood tests suggest you may have an underactive thyroid, but you do not have any symptoms or they're very mild, you may not need any treatment. In these cases, the GP will usually monitor your hormone levels every few months and prescribe levothyroxine if you develop symptoms.
If you're prescribed levothyroxine , you should take it at the same time every day. It's usually recommended that you take your tablet or tablets in the morning, although some people prefer to take them at night.
The effectiveness of the tablets can be altered by other medicines, supplements or foods, so they should be swallowed with water on an empty stomach, and you should avoid eating for 30 minutes afterwards. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, if this is within a few hours of your usual time.
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