Hypothyroidism

toc    __ HYPOTHYROIDISM __ By: Karissa and Joey =HYPOTHYROIDISM =

The hormones released by the thyroid are crucial for a healthy body. If there is an insufficient production of hormones, produced by the thyroid, it becomes underactive, and the body loses chemical reactions that must take place in order for the body to be in balance. The underactive thyroid is called hypothyroidism. Blood levels are checked to see if the T3, T4, and TSH levels are abnormal. If they are, medication is needed to correct the levels, and doctors prescribe medication. You can tell if you have hypothyroidism because it produces many symptoms, even if they are not so obvious at first. A few examples of the symptoms are dry skin, continual exhaustion, and muscle tenderness. This disease should not be ignored because it could develop as you grow older and become more serious sometimes resulting in a coma or possibly death.

=THE THYROID GLAND =

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that can be found below the Adam's apple which is towards the base of your neck. The thyroid gland is an essential part of the [|endocrine system]; the system that releases hormones so that the human body can regulate metabolism, growth, and puberty, among other important processes. The thyroid, itself, regulates the body's [|metabolism], specifically concerning energy, determines how hormones will effect the body, and also creates proteins. Two thyroid hormones are [|thyroxine] (T4) and [|triiodothyronine] (T3), and the thyroid also produces calcitonin which regulates calcium in the blood. They both control metabolism in the body. T4 has a part in the body's growth rates and overall development. T3 is closely related with [|TSH] (thyroid-stimulating hormone), another thyroidic hormone that helps to create both T3 and T4. T3 is actually created from T4 through a series of chemical changes, but it is not produced in a large quantity. Even though there is less of T3, it controls many processes including heart rate and body temperature.

The [|pituitary gland] and the [|hypothalamus], both located in the brain, control the thyroid and its processes of regulating the body. Just like the thyroid, the hypothalamus regulates body temperature and other necessary processes. As it is located in the brain and directly linked to the nervous system, the hypothalamus links the endocrine system to the nervous system by utilizing the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland, in turn, is actually a part of the endocrine system and is located right below the hypothalamus. This gland releases hormones that effect all other endocrine glands in the body. To release these hormones, the hypothalamus first signals the pituitary gland to create TSH which is determined by the amount of T3 and T4 in the blood. Based on the amount of TSH that the thyroid receives, it will regulate the initiating release of hormones.

= MOLECULAR STRUCTURES =

T3, or otherwise known by its scientific name, Triiodothyronine, is a hormone of the thyroid. Its molecular compound is C15H12I3NO4 and the following is a picture of its molecular structure: Thyroxine, T4, as stated before is another hormone produced by the thyroid and the following is its molecular structure:



=CAUSES =

Hypothyroidism can be caused from taking certain types of medication that will effect the thyroid. Radiation therapy, usually used to kill cancer cells, specifically in the area where the thyroid is located, could affect the thyroid and cause hypothyroidism. Surgery of the thyroid itself will result in a substantial loss of the thyroid's hormone production. People that have [|hyperthyroidism] can sometimes develop the opposite disease when the function of the thyroid is decreased by medications. An uncommon disorder that causes hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or otherwise known as autoimmune disease, occurs when anti-bodies attack tissues in the body which could affect the thyroid. Iodine is a key factor in producing thyroid hormones, so when there is a decreased level of iodine, the thyroid is severely effected. This is not very common in the United States, but in other countries where iodine is not so readily found, it could become a problem. Congenital disease occurs in babies who are born without a thyroid gland or have a defective one. Scientists have not discovered as to why this happens, but it has something to do with inherited genes at birth. Sometimes, pregnancy can cause the body to create anti-bodies along with the hormones produced by the thyroid. This could result in a miscarriage if the hypothyroidism is not treated.

=FACTORS =

The risk of developing hypothyroidism most of the time increases with age, as do other diseases, but it often occurs in women older than 50. You can develop hypothyroidism through heredity. For example, if your mother or uncle had the disease, your chances of developing it will increase. Other factors include thyroid surgery ([|thyroidectomy]), radiation towards the neck or head area, or being treated with anti-thyroid medications.

=SYMPTOMS OF HYPOTHYROIDISM =

If hypothyroidism is neglected, the symptoms will increase slowly and could become severe or life-threatening. The following are symptoms caused by hypothyroidism: dry skin, unexplained weight gain, muscle aches, pain/swelling in joints, hoarse voice, constipation, high sensitivity to cold, elevated blood cholesterol level, puffy face, tenderness in bones, depression, and muscle weakness. These symptoms could start off as barely noticeable, but will become more severe and painful as time passes and could also cause the thyroid to become enlarged. [|Myxedema], advanced hypothyroidism, could be life-threatening because it has symptoms such as decreased body temperature/breathing and could result in a coma. Infants can develop symptoms such as choking, yellowing of the skin, poor growth, excessive exhaustion, and constipation. When hypothyroidism is ignored in children or infants, the result could lead to mental retardation or stunted physical growth.

=TREATMENT =

For people that have hypothyroidism, doctors prescribe additional thyroid hormones to regulate the levels of T3, T4, and TSH. Tablet forms of T3 and T4 are to be taken daily depending upon how much of a dosage you need. Some people have a higher dosage because their thyroid makes a very little amound of hormones. Blood levels are checked often to make sure that the [|medication] is working sufficiently and that the T3, T4, and TSH levels are correct.

= VIDEO CLIP  =

**This video tells more about hypothyroidism:** media type="youtube" key="W7t3Ld9VCPI&hl=en" height="355" width="425"

=FIND OUT MORE! =

Want to know more? Visit these websites: http://youtube.com/watch?v=W7t3Ld9VCPI http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypothyroidism/DS00353/DSECTION=1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothyroidism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroid_hormone http://www.endocrineweb.com/hypo1.html http://www.medicinenet.com/hypothyroidism/article.htm http://thyroid.about.com/od/hypothyroidismhashimotos/Hypothyroidism_Underactive_Thyroid_Hashimotos_Disease.htm http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/hypochecklist.htm http://www.medicinenet.com/hashimotos_thyroiditis/article.htm http://thyroid.about.com/od/thyroiddrugstreatments/Thyroid_Drugs_Various_Treatments_for_Thyroid_Conditions.htm

= REFERENCES/PICTURE SOURCE S = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Triiodothyronine.svg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothyroidism#Treatment http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroid_gland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroxine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroid_hormones http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalamus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pituitary_gland http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypothyroidism/DS00353