Patients Learn About Solutions For Hypothyroidism With Dallas Thyroid Doctor

By Kelly Blomquist


Hypothyroidism occurs when the gland stops producing a proper amount of thyroxine, an essential hormone. People who develop the condition will need to attend it for their entire life if they are to control symptoms and avoid complications. By working with a Dallas thyroid doctor, a course of action can be designed that is best suited to the particular needs of the individual.

Millions of people have this very common condition though a larger percentage of them go undiagnosed. Hypothyroidism may develop in anyone regardless of age, gender or race, with it becoming more likely as one matures and women having a probability five times higher than men. The severe lack of the necessary hormone can cause body systems to respond more slowly.

Particular medications and a severe lack of iodine are just two of many things that can trigger the condition's onset. An autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's disease is the cause that is most common. Indications of this are inflammation of the gland which interrupts and prevents it from making enough of the needed hormone.

One reason many people do not realize they have it is because the symptoms tend to be non-specific and are usually assumed to be part of something else. Examples of these are constipation, depression, cold intolerance, fatigue, muscle cramps, hair loss, dry skin, high cholesterol and swollen legs. The signs may become more pronounced and come with a noticeable lag in one's metabolism as the situation grows worse.

If a physician has any suspicion that their patient has hypothyroidism, they will use blood tests to verify it. While the results will tell if the condition is present, it will not always point to its underlying cause. To find that out, they may use additional diagnostic tools like antibody screenings, the individual's complete medical history, MRI's or body scans.

Complete hormone replacement is the easiest, steadiest and most efficient way to handle the problem. This method of care will have to be continued throughout the patient's lifetime. Very serious lung and heart issues may develop if one leaves their condition unattended.




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