Hypothyroidism is a condition whereupon the human body does not produce enough thyroid hormone to properly regulate bodily functions.
The thyroid gland assists in regulating a number of functions in the human body such as muscle tone and efficiency, digestion of food, and mental sharpness and capability.
It is also responsible for proper development and differentiation of body cell, metabolic rate, long bone growth, and protein synthesis.
Hypothyroidism is touted as being a highly common, and widely undiagnosed condition.
Estimates may vary, though it is hypothesized that approximately 10 million Americans have hypothyroidism, and as many 10% of women may harbor some degree of the ailment.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism can be subtle and are often confused with old age, stress, or even depression.
Symptoms may include as slower heart rate, physical and mental fatigue, constipation, inability to tolerate cold temperatures, infertility, dry or thin hair, forgetfulness, and muscle spasms.
The thyroid gland is dependent upon not only dietary requirements in order to maintain proper regulation of production of thyroid hormone, but also direction from the pituitary gland; there are therefore numerous causes for hypothyroidism.
Of these numerous causes three distinct categories can be formed, causes occurring within the body by way of disease or injury of the thyroid or pituitary gland, causes brought on by medical treatment, and those brought on by chemical or medicinal elements.
Thyroid malfunction may result from injury to the thyroid caused by swelling resulting from a goiter, or injury.
Often swelling can result in cell death within the thyroid gland and as a result less of the thyroid remains, and likewise less of the thyroid hormone is produced.
Likewise, as the pituitary gland also plays a significant role in the function of the thyroid, injury to the pituitary or illness thereof can also have negative effects on the thyroid resulting in hypothyroidism as well.
Another cause for hypothyroidism is Autoimmune Thyroiditis (also known as Hashimoto's Thyroiditis), which is an autoimmune disease wherein the individual's own body attacks it's thyroid gland causing irreversible damage.
In addition to illness such as autoimmune disease, cancer of the thyroid can also result in significant damage to the gland, and illness aside, a select few individual's are simply unfortunate enough to be born with malfunctioning thyroid glands for no obvious reason.
Cell death can also result from radioactive iodine therapy that is used to treat goiters.
Thyroid injury can also be sustained during certain medical procedures, or part of the thyroid might even itself be surgically removed, such as may be required to alleviate thyroid cancer or other conditions of the thyroid.
Finally, some chemicals have been found to alter the state and function of the thyroid gland.
These include chemicals as common as fluoride, a chemical often added to drinking and tap water under the assumption that it has positive effects on maintaining teeth.
Other chemicals such as flame retardants, also known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), have also been shown to affects the thyroid and may be found in everyday objects from televisions and computer screens to carpeting and polyurethane foam in furniture.
Studies regarding the effects of these chemicals on pituitary and thyroid glands have been widely published by researchers at the University of California.
Hypothyroidism may also pose a range of dangers to those afflicted if left untreated.
In a state of hypothyroidism, pituitary glands often over-produce a chemical known as TSH to attempt to stimulate the thyroid to produce more hormone.
In this state of constant TSH bombardment, a thyroid my swell and goiters may form.
Hypothyroidism may become exacerbated if left untreated and in rare cases may result in heart failure, a coma-state, or even severe depression.