Hypothyroidism

December 4, 2020Females 1

Your thyroid gland is responsible for providing energy to nearly every organ in your body. It controls functions like how your heart beats and how your digestive system works. Without the right amount of thyroid hormone your body’s natural functions begin to slow down and as a result of less production of thyroid hormone hypothyroidism disease appears.

Thyroid is a small , butterfly shaped gland situated at the base of the front of your neck . Hormones produced by the thyroid gland- triidothyroxine(T3), thyroxine( T4) , Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) – have an enormous impact on your health , affecting all aspects of your metabolism.

It is also called as Underactive Thyroid. Hypothyroidism affects women more frequently than men.

Symptoms –

• Fatigue

• Depression

• Constipation

• Feeling cold

• Dry skin

• Weight Gain

• Muscle weakness

• Decreased Sweating

• Slowed heart rate

• Elevated blood cholesterol

• Hoarseness of voice

• Pain and stiffness in your joints

• Puffy sensitive face

• Dry thinning of hair

• Impaired memory

• Fertility problems

• Irregular menstruation

Causes-

• An autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

• Over response to hyperthyroidism treatment.

• Thyroid surgery

• Radiation therapy

• Medications like lithium

• Congenital disease

• Pituitary disorder

• Iodine Deficiency

Risk Factors –

your risk of developing Hypothyroidism increase if you comes under following –

• Woman

• Older than 60 yrs

•Family history

• Received radiation over neck or chest

• Had radiation therapy

• Previously treated with radioactive iodine or antithyroid medication.

• Have an autoimmune disease

Complication –

• Goiter

• Heart problems

• Mental health issues

• Peripheral neuropathy

• Myxoedema

• Infertility

• Birth defects to the infants from untreated mother’s having thyroid.

Diagnosis –

Blood test showing low level of thyroxine and high level of TSH indicate an Underactive Thyroid.

Treatment –

Hypothyroidism is best treated by using laevothyroxine .In most cases , people with Hypothyroidism must remain on this medication their entire lives , however it is not necessary to continue on same dose of medication as it fluctuate according to your thyroid hormone levels.

Ayurvedic Perspective –

According to Ayurveda the thyroid function is controlled by Pitta dosha.Pitta is responsible for all the metabolic actions carried out by the thyroid hormones. In Underactive thyroid condition coating by Kapha dosha and Meda dhatu prevents pitta dosha in cellular level functions. Treatment is aimed to remove coating of Kapha dosha and Meda dhatu and thus increasing metabolism.

Line of treatment –

1) Shodhan chikitsa –

• Virechana -It is done to cleanse full body.