What Is the hypthyroidism?

Hyothyroidism is too little thyroid hormone in the blood; it is sometimes referred to as an underactive thyroid. This disease affects a minimum of six million Americans and one out of every 4,000 newborns. Women are much more likely to have hypothyroidism than men are.

Worldwide, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. The most common cause of hypo­thyroidism in the United States and other iodine-sufficient areas of the world is Hashimoto's thyroiditis (see Chapter 8). Regardless of the cause of hypothyroidism, treatment is safe, simple, and very effective.

As can be seen on the following list, there are many signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism. Individual hypothyroid patients may have none, some, or many of these signs and symptoms, depending upon the severity of their disease. These signs and symptoms are often present in other diseases as well. Even if patients have many of these signs and symptoms, they may not be hypothyroid. Therefore, hypothyroidism cannot be diagnosed by signs and symptoms alone; the diagnosis can only be confirmed after a thorough medical history, physical examination, and the appropriate laboratory tests.