Health Advice An answer to your medical questions » Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism and Pregnancy

Kevin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:03:48 +0000

Hypothyroidism is a condition where your thyroid gland is not producing the correct amounts of the thyroid hormone. This condition is most commonly a female affliction, and a concern when the female is pregnant.

Hypothyroidism and pregnancy have to be monitored closely to ensure safety.

The best way to ensure safety with hypothyroidism and pregnancy is to follow the directions of your doctor closely. It is also very important to have your levels checked regularly. These levels are the key to keeping your thyroid treatment on schedule and accurate, and should be followed throughout your entire pregnancy.

The reason that your thyroid hormone levels are so important is because you are sharing them with your baby. The baby has no thyroid function early on, and you are providing them with these thyroid hormones during this developmental stage. If they are low, your baby could miscarry, or even be developmentally delayed upon birth.

Most mothers that have hypothyroidism are on medication to keep the levels stabilized and this medication is very important. Hypothyroidism left untreated can result in horrifying problems with your baby. If treated correctly, however, the risks of a complicated pregnancy are much lower. The dangers come from not taking the medication properly.

Another common concern with hypothyroidism and pregnancy is a mother’s concern over breast feeding. Nursing your baby with hypothyroidism and while taking the medication is actually quite safe. The low degree excreted in breast milk is generally of no concern. You should first consult with your doctor, however, before breast feeding while on medication.

Another common concern includes a concern that the baby will have the same problems. This is not a common occurrence, and should not generally be the case. Hypothyroidism and pregnancy are primarily two individual things that can affect each other if either is ignored or not treated. If you have Hashimoto’s disease, for example, this does not mean that your baby is likely to have it as well. The statistics do not bear this out. Also, it takes many years for this disease to appear as a rule. Infants with this problem are rarities.

Congenital Hypothyroidism

Kevin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:01:44 +0000

The condition known as congenital hypothyroidism is when a baby is born with a thyroid hormone deficiency. This condition is highly treatable, and also very dangerous is left untreated.

As such, it is very important to have all babies checked for congenital hypothyroidism upon birth. This is standard at virtually every hospital in the world now.

A common cause of congenital hypothyroidism is iodine deficiencies, but the condition is still quite a mystery. The causes of congenital hypothyroidism are thought to be genetic by some, and environmental by others. Whatever the cause, the condition is marked by a problem in the thyroid gland itself.

The thyroid can be absent, abnormal, or even just not working correctly in infants. This can be another common cause of congenital hypothyroidism. The development of a healthy thyroid gland is essential to a baby avoiding congenital hypothyroidism. Any defects in the thyroid gland can result in congenital hypothyroidism. The effects of congenital hypothyroidism can be quite alarming. Mental retardation, and slow development can result if left untreated.

Treatment for congenital hypothyroidism is much the same as for adults. The child is given small doses of the thyroid hormone, and then the medicine is adjusted throughout the child’s lifetime. The medicine will increase as the child grows older and the need for more thyroid hormone increases.

The symptoms of congenital hypothyroidism can be tough to recognize as they are often things we see in infants anyway. The most common of these include sleeping to much, constipation, jaundice, and a body temperature that is too low. In a child where the gland was missing at birth, the symptoms may be exaggerated and other symptoms may appear. Some infants are born with a larger than usual tongue if they are completely without the thyroid hormone.

Thankfully, congenital hypothyroidism is a condition that rarely goes untreated. The medicine is very inexpensive, and is widely available to most anyone. The condition is almost always caught at birth nowadays, and it responds well to current treatment techniques.

Hypothyroidism advice

Kevin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:59:20 +0000

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is not producing enough of the thyroid hormone. Many people do not realize that they suffer from hypothyroidism until they start to experience symptoms that they can not ignore.

Hypothyroidism is commonly noticed in people who are always feeling cold when others are warm.

The thyroid gland is commonly referred to as the internal thermostat of the body. It actually will produce two hormones that regulate our body temperature through calories and energy burn. If the thyroid gives off to much hormone, it will result in a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. When the gland gives off to little, then hypothyroidism is the result. Hypothyroidism is primarily a female affliction, though a small percentage of men do have the problem as well.

Hypothyroidism is often caused by a condition known as Hashimoto’s Disease. Hashimoto’s Disease causes the body to become allergic to thyroid hormone. Goiter is one of the many symptoms that can come as a direct result of Hypothyroidism. Studies are still being made on the connections between Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism.

The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism are fatigue and consistently feeling cold at inappropriate times. The list of other symptoms is incredibly long, as the thyroid plays a part in many bodily functions. Some of the more prominent symptoms of hyperthyroidism include painful menstruation, dry skin, weight gain, hair loss, constipation, and a problem fighting off infections. There are a number of other symptoms that can occur in specific cases. Only a doctor is qualified to identify thyroid problems accurately due to this huge list of potential symptoms.

There are a number of tests that a doctor may order to test for thyroid problems. Blood tests, iodine absorption tests, and X-rays are the most common. A good self test is to take your temperature as soon as you wake every morning. If the temperature is consistently below 97.6 then you need to check with a doctor for hypothyroidism. This test is by no means 100 percent accurate and is to be used only as a guideline. If you suspect any problem with your thyroid or hypothyroidism, then you should consult with a doctor immediately.