Underactive thyroid
An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) is where your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormones.
Common signs of an underactive thyroid are tiredness, weight gain and feeling depressed.
An underactive thyroid can often be successfullytreated by taking daily hormone tablets to replace the hormonesyour thyroid isn't making.
There's no way of preventing an underactive thyroid. Most cases are caused either by the immune system attacking the thyroid gland and damaging it,orby damage to the thyroid that occurs during some treatments for an Thyroid, overactive or thyroid cancer .
Both men and women can have an underactive thyroid, althoughit's more commonin women. In the UK, it affects 15 in every 1,000 women and1 in 1,000 men. Children can also develop an underactive thyroid.
Around 1 in 3,500-4,000 babiesare born with anunderactive thyroid (congenital hypothyroidism).All babies born in the UK are screened for congenital hypothyroidismusing a blood spot test when the baby is about five days old.
Treatment for an underactive thyroid involves taking dailyhormone replacement tablets, called levothyroxine,to raise yourthyroxine levels. You'll usually need treatment for the rest of your life. However, with proper treatment, you should be able to lead a normal, healthy life.
If an underactive thyroid isn't treated, it can lead to complications, including heart disease , goitre , pregnancy problems and a life-threatening condition called myxoedema coma (although this is very rare).
and the complications of an underactive thyroid .
An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) is where your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormones.
Read more about the symptoms of an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), including tiredness, weight gain, depression and increased sensitivity to cold.
Read about the causes of an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), including the immune system attacking the thyroid gland and previous thyroid treatment.
Read about the importance of correctly diagnosing an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) using a specialised type of blood test called a thyroid function test.
Read about how an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is treated. The first line treatment is a daily hormone replacement tablet called levothyroxine.
Read about the complications of an untreated underactive thyroid, including heart problems, goitre and pregnancy-related complications.