Hypothyroidism

What causes hypothyroidism?

There are a range of reasons why someone might have hypothyroidism. It can be caused by many different factors.

You may be genetically predisposed to an underactive thyroid if one or more close blood relatives has it. It’s always worth talking to your family to see if there are any diagnosed cases that you might not have been aware of.

It can be caused by your thyroid gland being attacked by your immune system (otherwise known as an auto-immune disease). Auto-immune conditions are defined as illnesses in which the body’s cells attack each other. They can end up causing problems with other organs in the body. Conditions such as coeliac disease, lupus and type 1 diabetes are all examples of auto-immune illnesses.

There is also a condition called Hashimoto’s disease, which is classed as another auto-immune illness, which causes some of the same symptoms of an underactive thyroid. This can lead to later development of hypothyroidism.

When your thyroid gland is attacked in this way, it produces less of the hormone thyroxine. This is the hormone you need to keep your metabolism in check as it converts fat into energy. Your diet plays an important role in keeping your thyroid gland functioning, lack of iodine from foods such as fresh fish, seafood and dairy products like cheese and milk can affect it too.

In some very rare cases, it’s possible to be born without a properly developed thyroid gland, which can cause an underactive thyroid to develop. In these cases, it’s important to detect it as soon as possible and start treatment. This will usually be for life.

What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?

If your body doesn’t produce enough thyroxine, you might feel as if you’re going in slow motion, as your body has to conserve all the energy it needs in order to carry on day to day.

Therefore, you might notice symptoms such as:

• fatigue, which isn’t always improved by lots of sleep or taking a daytime nap
• feeling cold, or you’ve become more sensitive to temperature changes
• muscle aches and cramps
• dry and parched skin. You might find you need to use more body cream or moisturiser than you normally would
• tummy troubles such as constipation
• sexual issues, including loss of sex drive.

Can hypothyroidism lead to other problems?

Many people who have hypothyroidism are diagnosed, start treatment and begin to feel better over time. It’s often a gradual recovery, but a noticeable one.

In some people who have the condition but perhaps don’t know they have it or have left it untreated, complications can occur. These include:

• Goitre: if your thyroid gland has to work extra hard to produce the hormones it needs then it can sometimes become enlarged. Once this happens it can cause what’s known as a goitre, which is a swelling of the thyroid. This isn’t usually a painful condition but it can sometimes lead to occasional problems with swallowing.
• Heart problems: in some patients, there can be an increased risk of heart disease if hypothyroidism is left untreated. This is because an underactive thyroid can sometimes cause an increase in LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream.
• Myxoedema coma. This is an incredibly rare phenomenon, but it can cause feelings of intense cold and tiredness which can then lead to drowsiness and unconsciousness.
  pregnancy complications. If you’re pregnant and have undiagnosed hypothyroidism then this can cause several issues which will need medical care.
• Anaemia (loss of iron), high blood pressure, muscle pain and weakness are all signs that shouldn’t be ignored.
• In rare cases, miscarriage and stillbirth can occur.

If you have an underactive thyroid, our clinicians can help. We'll talk through treatment options with you and recommend the right medications for you.