Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism means under active thyroid. This condition happens when the thyroid gland fails to make as much thyroxine or (t4) as the body needs. This is important because thyroxine helps several of the body functions, such as your heart rate, mental development, your digestion and your actual physical growth. Thyroxin is a hormone and without enough to regulate the bodies functions it can lead to complications, including damage to organs and tissues all over the body.
Having hypothyroidism is very common in the United States and is one of the most common chronic diseases. Most of the time you may not even know you have it, until it completely stops working. It can display itself as other diseases with the symptoms.
Sometimes an under active thyroid can be mistaken for menopause or just aging.
The location of thyroid is just below what we call our Adam’s apple and it has a similar shape to that of a butterfly. It is sometimes nicknamed Gland Central, kind of like grand central because it can affect almost every cell in your body, organ and your tissue.
If you have low levels of this hormone, it affects your sleep, appetite, sexual appetite, and your weight, and again your mental and emotional state of being. The thyroid gland store iodine it gets from your food and creates the hormone, T4.
This condition is more prominent in women then men and it usually effect middle-age women. You can develop hypothyroidism at any age, and even newborns are tested. If a newborn is discovered to have an under active thyroid, treatment in the first few months of their life can prevent the infant from having mental retardation and other physical issues, or abnormalities.