You’ve been feeling run down lately. You have admittedly put on a couple of extra pounds and unusually notice your hair is also falling out. Something is up, you see the GP. He organises a blood test which reveals you are suffering from hypothyroidism. A condition requiring you to take pills daily for the rest of your existence.

It’s not all bad though. In the UK, this essentially means you now qualify for exemption on all prescription charges for the rest of your life also. Every cloud right? 

Hypothyroidism, as the name suggests, is a condition involving the thyroid gland. More specifically, it occurs when the thyroid gland cannot produce enough of a hormone called thyroxine.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped gland located in the neck.

A healthy thyroid gland produces two important hormones; thyroxine (approx 80%) and triiodothyronine (approx 20%). Ironically thyroxine is inactive – pretty useless. It is the triiodothyronine form which is active and responsible for a load of widespread bodily functions including; brain development, muscle control, digestion, bone health and regulating the rate of metabolism. Luckily, organs such as the liver and kidneys are well equipped to convert inactive thyroxine into active triiodothyronine, keeping levels up.

Hormones are chemical messengers that control and regulate many bodily activities.

Untreated hypothyroidism in pregnant women or children can lead to impaired physical development and learning disorders. In adults, effects like fatigue, memory loss, low heart rate, reduced appetite, depression and infertility tend to manifest.

Treatment

Levothyroxine is the drug used to treat hypothyroidism, it tops up the thyroxine levels to meet the body’s required needs. The thyroxine levels need to be tightly controlled, therefore in order to determine your exact dosage, you will need to undergo a number of blood tests and dosage adjustments until your prescribed strength is just right. Interestingly, eating raw cruciferous vegetables like brussel sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower, may disrupt thyroid hormone levels, so do let the doctor know if you suddenly develop an appetite for these.

Those with extremely low levels of thyroxine are given an alternative drug called Liothyronine. This is a synthetic version of triiodothyronine, and may cause temporary hair loss at the beginning of treatment.

Medical disclaimer: This information does not replace the advice of a doctor, or other medical professional. Always see a doctors or pharmacist for any medical concerns.