What Is Hypothyroidism, and Is it Treatable?

Dr. Khalid is a physician, a researcher, a health writer, and holds a Ph.D. in clinical research.

What Is Hypothyroidism?

The inappropriate secretion of TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) from the pituitary gland and thyroid gland’s dysfunction facilitates the onset of hypothyroidism (Kostoglou-Athanassiou & Ntalles, 2010). Hypothalamus dysfunction leading to inappropriate TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone) also increases the risk of hypothyroidism and its clinical complications. The primary hypothyroidism is recognized under the following parameters.

1. The decrease in FT4 (free T4)
2. Increase in TSH
3. Subclinical TSH (i.e. TSH elevation and FT4 normalcy
4. Direct involvement of thyroid gland

Overt hypothyroidism in many nations reportedly occurs under the impact of salt iodination. Subclinical hypothyroidism in many scenarios remains asymptomatic or devoid of intense symptoms. Contrarily, clinical hypothyroidism leads to the development of intense symptoms that potentially elevate the risk of serious complications, including coma. The development of clinical hypothyroidism from subclinical hypothyroidism occurs under the impact of several conditions including reproductive complications, neuromuscular symptoms, somatic manifestations, heart failure, and cardiovascular disease. Hypothyroidism also develops among the patients affected by neoplastic diseases under the impact of novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy.

Secondary hypothyroidism is marked by the development of the following manifestations (Kostoglou-Athanassiou & Ntalles, 2010).

1. Reduction in FT4
2. Reduced or normal TSH
3. Direct involvement of hypothalamus/pituitary gland

Thyroid hormone deficiency potentially triggers the development of hypothyroidism and its clinical manifestations (Kostoglou-Athanassiou & Ntalles, 2010). The categorization of hypothyroidism is majorly based on the following parameters.

1. Congenital hypothyroidism (based on the time of onset)
2. Acquired hypothyroidism (based on the time of onset)
3. Primary hypothyroidism (based on endocrine dysfunction level)
4. Central/secondary hypothyroidism (based on endocrine dysfunction level)
5. Clinical hypothyroidism
6. Subclinical/mild hypothyroidism

Causes

Primary hypothyroidism is caused by the following conditions (Kostoglou-Athanassiou & Ntalles, 2010).

1. Dysgenesis/thyroid agenesis
2. Drugs
3. External radiotherapy
4. Radioactive iodine therapy
5. Thyroidectomy
6. Iodine excess or deficiency
7. Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis

Central/secondary hypothyroidism is caused by the following pituitary conditions.

1. Personal history of pituitary apoplexy
2. Personal history of head trauma
3. Personal history of radiotherapy or pituitary surgery
4. Pituitary adenomas

The following hypothalamus complications also lead to the development of central/secondary hypothyroidism.

1. Personal history of radiotherapy or hypothalamic surgery
2. Personal history of suprasellar tumors

The general or most commonly reported causes of hypothyroidism include the following (Patil, Rehman, & Jialal, 2020).

1. Worldwide iodine deficiency
2. Autoimmune thyroid diseases
3. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
4. Lymphoma
5. Iodine fortification
6. Iodine deficient geographical locations
7. Drugs including lithium, interleukin-2, phenobarbital, rifampicin, interferon, stavudine, and amiodarone
8. Thyroid surgery
9. Head/neck radiotherapy
10. Neoplastic disorders of hypothalamus/pituitary
11. Infiltrative conditions of hypothalamus/pituitary
12. Inflammatory complications of hypothalamus/pituitary
13. Iatrogenic disorders of hypothalamus/pituitary
14. Genetic conditions of hypothalamus/pituitary
15. Postpartum complications

Symptoms

The limited production of thyroid hormone inside the human body leads to the development of hypothyroidism. The patients affected with hypothyroidism exhibit a limited level of thyroid hormone in their blood. The deteriorated function of the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland (at the neck’s lower front) potentially reduces the serum level of the thyroid hormone.

Eventually, the reduced concentration of thyroid hormone reaches the body tissues, thereby impacting their energy level. The thyroid hormone assists body physiology by elevating/optimizing the energy level of body organs including muscles, heart, and brain. The sustained deficit of thyroid hormone inside the human body potentially slows down the entire bodily processes. This eventually increases the risk of the following symptom(s) (Mayo Clinic, 2020).

1. Constipation
2. Depression
3. Forgetfulness
4. Dry skin
5. Tiredness
6. Cold feeling
7. Weight gain
8. Memory impairment
9. Reduced heart rate
10. Thinning of hair
11. Irregular or heavy menses
12. Muscle pain/stiffness/tenderness
13. Swelling/stiffness/pain in joints
14. Increase in blood cholesterol level
15. Hoarseness
16. Puffy face

The atypical symptoms of hypothyroidism substantiate the requirement of the TSH blood test for its diagnosis. Hypothyroidism inherits between generations. Accordingly, individuals with a family history of hypothyroidism experience an elevated risk of developing the disease. The annual testing of TSH is necessarily required to evaluate/rule out the development of hypothyroidism in predisposed individuals.

What Are the Risk Factors of Hypothyroidism?

Some of the significant risk factors of hypothyroidism include the following:

1. Pregnancy or postpartum complications
2. History of partial thyroidectomy
3. Radiation therapy to upper chest and neck
4. Anti-thyroid therapy
5. Autoimmune diseases, including celiac disease and type-1 diabetes mellitus
6. Family history of thyroid complications
7. Age greater than 60 years
8. Female gender

How Is Hypothyroidism Tracked or Diagnosed?

No well-defined characteristic symptoms/clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism have been reported so far in the medical literature (American Thyroid Association, 2020). Sometimes, hypothyroidism symptoms remain undiagnosed or unexplored due to other co-morbidities and their clinical manifestations. The physicians, therefore, require carefully observing the clinical history and symptoms of the patients suspected of hypothyroidism. They require observing the following points while recording the personal/family history of the suspected patients.

1. The family history of thyroid disease
2. Medication history based on thalidomide, interleukin-2, interferon-alpha, lithium, and amiodarone
3. Personal history of radiation therapy for neck cancer
4. Personal history of thyroid surgery
5. Health-related changes leading to a reported slow-down in the body’s physiological processes

The physical assessment should effectively evaluate/rule out the following attributes.

1. Reduction in heart rate
2. Decreased reflexes
3. Swelling over the thyroid gland
4. Dry skin

The following lab tests help in diagnosing hypothyroidism in the suspected patients.

1. TSH level indicates the body’s overall T4 (thyroid hormone) demand. The elevated TSH level in blood reveals the body’s increased requirement for producing T4. Accordingly, the TSH test helps in tracking T4 level elevation in the context of diagnosing hypothyroidism.
2. Thyroxine binding globulin attaches a major portion of T4 while disallowing its transport into the body tissues. The unattached T4 (constituting 1-2 percent of the entire T4) enters into the body tissues to support their normal physiology. The tests including free T4 index and free T4 help in evaluating the serum concentration of unaffixed T4 in the human body.

Are There Any Complications?

Hypothyroidism, if left untreated, results in the development of the following complications.

1. Birth defects
2. Infertility
3. Myxedema
4. Peripheral neuropathy
5. Mental health complications
6. Cardiac problems
7. Goiter

How Is It Treated?

Hypothyroidism cannot be cured; however, regular maintenance of T4 and TSH levels is possible through dietary interventions, exercise, and medication. The functional disruption of thyroid appears reversible in individuals affected with viral thyroiditis. Pregnancy-induced hypothyroidism also reverses with time.

T4 replacement therapy is an approved intervention for normalizing the level of thyroid hormone in hypothyroid patients. The administration of synthetic thyroxine pills helps to overcome free T4 deficiency in hypothyroid patients. However, synthetic thyroxine is not recommended for the patients affected by life-threatening hypothyroidism or severe myxedema.

Some of the hypothyroid patients who do not benefit from thyroxine alone require the co-administration of Cytomel® (T3) for enhancing their therapeutic outcomes. The hypothyroid patients require modifying their thyroxine dosage based on their clinical manifestations under medical supervision.

What Are the Risks Associated With Synthetic Thyroxine?

The excessive administration of synthetic thyroxine increases the risk of the following symptoms (American Thyroid Association, 2020).

1. Skipping/racing heart
2. Shortness of breath
3. Muscle weakness
4. Exercising difficulty
5. Feel of hotness and shakiness
6. Nervousness
7. Appetite elevation
8. Sleeping difficulty
9. Fatigue

Is It Possible to Prevent or Control Hypothyroidism?

The primary prevention of hypothyroidism is based on reducing the risk factors among healthy individuals. The secondary prevention of hypothyroidism is based on occult disease screening (Cooper & Ridgway, 2002). However, tertiary prevention is based on reducing the risk of thyroid hormone overdose and iatrogenic disease. The optimal medical care for hypothyroid patients is highly needed to effectively reduce the risks of severity enhancement of their disease condition (Azizi et al., 2018). Some of the significant measures for reducing the risk of autoimmune hypothyroidism are mentioned below (Laurberg et al., 2013).

1. Smoking cessation
2. Optimization of dietary iodine
3. Alcohol intake moderation

The regular assessment of TSH and FT4 are highly required during levothyroxine therapy to check the disease intensity. Some of the hypothyroid patients experience a persistently elevated TSH level based on the following factors (Chakera et al., 2012).

1. Thyroid hormone resistance
2. The activity of heterophil antibodies and their impact on laboratory assay
3. Autoimmune gastritis/celiac disease
4. Malabsorption
5. Consumption of levothyroxine with diet
6. Concomitant drug interactions
7. Reduced medication compliance
8. Inappropriate dosage of levothyroxine

The hypothyroid patients require controlling the above-mentioned factors to reduce the risk of their TSH elevation. Some of the commonly practiced hypothyroidism management measures include the following (Medical News Today, 2020).

1. Utilization of iodine supplements
2. Consumption of prenatal vitamins and iodized salt during pregnancy
3. Administration of vitamin D
4. Administration of probiotics

Can Hypothyroidism Be Treated With Herbs?

The below-mentioned herbs prove advantageous in treating the clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism or sub-clinical hypothyroidism in research settings (Metro, et al., 2018, Sinadinos & Herbalist, n.d.). However, you should consult with your primary healthcare provider before starting any treatments.

1. Aloe barbadensis miller juice
2. Astringents
3. Demulcents
4. Female hormone optimizing herbs
5. Immune system modulating herbs
6. Lymphatic herbs
7. Circulatory system stimulating herbs
8. Hepatics
9. Adrenal herbal tonics
10. Adaptogen herbs
11. Iodine rich seaweeds
12. Withania somnifera
13. Centella asiatica
14. Eleutherococcus senticosis
15. Panax quinquefolium
16. Panax ginseng
17. Glycyrrhiza glabra
18. Glycyrrhiza uralensis
19. Aralia californica
20. Oplopanax horridum
21. Codenopsis pilosula
22. Ganoderma sinensis
23. Schisandra chinensis
24. Rehmannia glutinosa
25. Berberis
26. Silybum marianum
27. Curcuma longa
28. Rumex crispus
29. Zanthoxylum americanum
30. Zingiber officinale
31. Ginkgo biloba
32. Crataegus oxycantha
33. Asclepias Asperula
34. Ceanothus americanus
35. Galium aparine
36. Phytolacca Americana
37. Phytolacca decandra
38. Vitex agnus-castus
39. Cimicifuga racemose
40. Angelica sinensis
41. Brassica nigra
42. Sinapis alba

References

American Thyroid Association. (2020). Hypothyroidism. Retrieved from https://www.thyroid.org/hypothyroidism/

Azizi, F., Mehran, L., Hosseinpanah , F., Delshad, H., & Amouzegar, A. (2018). Secondary and Tertiary Preventions of Thyroid Disease. Endocrine Research, 124-140. doi:10.1080/07435800.2018.1424720

Chakera, A. J., Pearce , S. H., & Vaida, B. (2012). Treatment for primary hypothyroidism: current approaches and future possibilities. Drug Design, Development, and Therapy, 1-11. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S12894

Cooper, D. S., & Ridgway, E. C. (2002). Thoughts on Prevention of Thyroid Disease in the United States. Thyroid, 925-929. doi:10.1089/105072502761016566

Kostoglou-Athanassiou, I., & Ntalles, K. (2010). Hypothyroidism - new aspects of an old disease. Hippokratia, 14(2), 82-87. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2895281/

Laurberg, P., Andersen, S., Pedersen, I. B., Knudsen, N., & Carlé, A. (2013). Prevention of Autoimmune Hypothyroidism by Modifying Iodine Intake and the Use of Tobacco and Alcohol Is Manoeuvring Between Scylla and Charybdis. Hormones, 30-38. doi:10.1007/BF03401284

Mayo Clinic. (2020). Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/symptoms-causes/syc-20350284

Medical News Today. (2020). What is hypothyroidism? Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163729

Metro , D., Cernaro, V., Papa, M., & Benvengac, S. (2018). Marked improvement of thyroid function and autoimmunity by Aloe barbadensis miller juice in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Journal of Clinical and Translational Endocrinology, 18-25. doi:10.1016/j.jcte.2018.01.003

Patil, N., Rehman, A., & Jialal, I. (2020). Hypothyroidism. In StatPearls. Treasure Island (Florida): StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519536/

Sinadinos, C., & Herbalist, C. (n.d.). Herbal Therapeutic Treatments for Hypothyroidism. Retrieved from https://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/sites/default/files/sinadinos_christa_-_herbal_support_for_hypothyroidism.pdf

This content is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for formal and individualized diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed medical professional. Do not stop or alter your current course of treatment. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.

© 2020 Dr Khalid Rahman

Discussion

Dr Khalid Rahman (author) from India on March 03, 2020:

My pleasure :-)

Thanks for your valuable feedback.

Audrey Hunt from Idyllwild Ca. on March 02, 2020:

I take levothyroxine for my thyroid problem. Thanks for this informative and helpful article.

remedylist on February 29, 2020:

Interesting, excellent

Dr Khalid Rahman (author) from India on February 28, 2020:

@Sarah Khalid

Thanks a lot :-)

Sarahkhalid on February 28, 2020:

Interesting, excellent and very helpful. It was a great article. I came to know everything whatever article you wrote.