Understanding Hypothyroidism And It's Potential Causes

Unfortunately, Hypothyroidism is a common problem faced by millions of people around the world every day. The condition happens when your thyroid gland stops producing enough of the hormones you need to stimulate your body's metabolism. This has the unhelpful effect of slowing down a bunch of important processes your body needs to stay healthy and happy.

There's been a lot of research done on Hypothyroidism over the years, and experts have discovered that people over 50 tend to be more likely to suffer from this condition. That's not to say that people under 50 can't have the disease, it's just that it's not as likely to happen at a younger age. Probably one of the biggest problems caused by Hypothyroidism is the way it can increase your body's cholesterol level, which as you know, can lead to diabetes and heart disease.

The first symptoms people suffering from Hypothyroidism typically notice are mental fatigue and the feeling of general weakness in your body. Sometimes people can have unexplained feelings of depression or deep sadness, with unexplained weight gain also a common symptom.

If you've been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, one of the first things you need to know is that it's very common, and can be managed by using both prescription drugs and natural therapies. There are a wide range of different causes of Hypothyroidism in our modern society, and there's sometimes no way of knowing the cause of the disease. In a small number of people, having unhealthy or unhygienic eating habits can be an cause of thyroid problems, but there are also many other ways you can contract the disease.

If you eat a lot of starchy or sugary foods, they can also cause a range of problems with your thyroid gland. Or if your home or work situation leaves you feeling uptight and stressed, that's another way your thyroid can start to play up. Similarly, there are autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Atrophic Thyroiditis that can cause all kinds of problems for your thyroid. Another cause of Hypothyroidism can be exposure to some types of radiation treatment because they can do damage to your thyroid gland.

Common medications such as Lithium and Interferon Alpha can cause side effects which include Hypothyroidism, as can some kinds of bacterial infections. If your diet is low or severely lacking in iodine, that can be a cause. There are also a number of Pituitary gland diseases, plus things such as Autoimmune Thyroiditis which can cause the disease.

Hypothyroidism can be treated in quite a few different ways. Many people are turning to natural remedies due to the potential side effects of some drugs. While natural treatments for Hypothyroidism don't work for everyone, they can be a good complement to the treatments recommended by your doctor or health professional.